Support Sailor's Fight for Life

Amber Adams is organizing this fundraiser.

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UPDATE 7/9:

Every day we visit Sailor, she shows clinical improvement. She's full of energy, eagerly biting at her IV, playing in her cage, loving her dog food meatballs, and even graduated to a plastics collar because she is now acting like a true puppy and getting in trouble. However, today's check-up revealed little to no progress on her x-ray and oxygen saturation, which is surprising given her recent strides. As a final effort, the vet has initiated treatment with an intense antibiotic called Meropenem. We're hopeful this will aid her lungs. Sailor received her first dose of Meropenem this morning. In 48 hours, she'll undergo another chest x-ray to assess any improvement.

UPDATE 7/7:

From our visit with Sailor this morning, there's been noticeable improvement! She's been able to get deep sleep and rest, though her breathing still shows some strain, it's far better than when she was first admitted. She's even started eating heartily and taking bathroom breaks. However, she remains quite ill and still requires the same level of supplemental oxygen.

Unfortunately, her recent chest X-rays from last night indicate her pneumonia has worsened, but it's important to note that X-rays lag behind the current clinical condition by about 24 hours. Given this, it's expected to see some worsening despite the antibiotics being recently initiated. Sailor has been through a lot with a broken leg, severe malnutrition, multiple intestinal worms, neglect, and now a severe pneumonia, yet she continues to fight bravely without proper medical care until now.

Tomorrow, the critical care specialist will reassess her condition, which will be crucial since they have been away for the weekend. We believe she just needs more time with antibiotics and oxygen to recover. Updates with daily pictures and estimated medical costs are available at the end of her story.

Thank you sincerely for sharing her story and for all the generous donations. Your support means the world to us!

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On July 2nd, my husband and I chose to rescue a 12-week-old puppy from the city shelter in San Antonio, Texas, where she was slated for euthanasia. We decided to foster her, aiming to provide a nurturing environment until we found her a permanent home. Despite being described as "otherwise perfectly healthy" with a healing left hind tibia fracture from a car accident, I, a nurse, and my husband, an orthopedic surgery resident, believed she was in capable hands for a speedy recovery.

Upon picking her up, it was evident she was in distress—she had nasal and eye discharge, severe malnutrition, lethargy, and intermittent labored breathing. As we drove home, her condition worsened with frequent coughing and gagging fits, leading me to suspect kennel cough. I provided her a calm area to rest at home with food and fluids nearby, but her symptoms escalated throughout the afternoon.

The next morning, her breathing became more strained. Unable to secure a prompt appointment at the shelter's medical clinic until July 10th, I expressed my concerns to the foster counselor regarding their oversight in her medical records. Frustrated by their negligence, I immediately sought help from our personal vet, who accommodated us that morning.

By Wednesday, she showed no appetite or interest in drinking, prompting me to hydrate her with Pedialyte via syringes throughout the day. At the vet, she was diagnosed with a potential upper respiratory infection or even distemper virus, both severe conditions requiring immediate treatment. We initiated oral antibiotics and were advised to monitor her closely, with plans for further evaluation and chest x-rays if her condition did not improve by Friday. That evening, we made the heartfelt decision to officially adopt her, naming her Sailor, and ensuring she never returned to the neglect she endured at the shelter.

On July 4th, despite efforts to nourish her with goat's milk mixed with puppy formula, Sailor's breathing worsened, accompanied by continuous coughing and gagging. I rushed her to the ER, where she was promptly admitted and placed in an oxygen chamber. Tests revealed she was hypoxic with a dangerously high white blood cell count and severe pneumonia. Immediate intervention was crucial, leading to her admission to the ICU for 2-3 days of intensive care, IV fluids, and antibiotics.

When we initially chose to foster Sailor, we could not have anticipated the extent of her medical challenges. Despite these unforeseen difficulties, we are committed to giving Sailor every chance to overcome this and thrive. We've included an estimate from the ER for her ICU stay in hopes of receiving any support to aid in Sailor's recovery. Your kindness and generosity are deeply appreciated in helping Sailor fight for her life. Thank you for your consideration and support!