With A Little Help From My Friends
Donation protected
It's not just a Beatles song, you know... It's a little something I need right now...
For those of you who know me well, you know how difficult the last five years of my life has been. And if you pay even the slightest bit of attention to me on Facebook or even in "real life," then you definitely know how much Autumn, my 5 year old golden retriever, means to me.
I know I've told this story on Facebook several times, so I apologize if you've already read it. Autumn SAVED MY LIFE. I know it's not something family and friends like to hear, but I 100% believe I would not be here today if she hadn't come into my life when she did. After the accident and Jennifer's death, life seemed pointless. I was to the point where ending my own life was something I thought about every day. Then something I consider to be a sign that I was meant to live happened. I was given the opportunity to adopt a little four month old golden retriever puppy. This opportunity came to me on the very day Jennifer was due to have our child. This little golden furball brought me back to life. She gave me a purpose and a reason to live and love again.
(After bringing her home, that first day...)
So now we need to ask for a little help. You think I'd be used to this by now, but it really never gets easier and I HATE doing it. So many people have helped me out these last few years, whether it be with funeral donations, medical and/or other bills, buying things I was selling to make some money, help with groceries, or just randomly giving me money to help me keep my head above water. I appreciate you all so much, you have no idea.
For several years, Autumn has had the worst problems with her skin, ears, allergies, etc. She has a permanent bald spot on her chest from a time she scratched herself raw a few years back. We have tried everything I know, and my current vets don't seem to know anything to help fix the problems. My CareCredit card is maxed out at $500 because of her vet visits the last year. She also suffers from hypothyroidism, which means she has to take medicine for her underactive thyroid twice a day for the rest of her life. In addition, she is on an antihistamine that she takes two-three times daily. I spend roughly $50-$60 every month on her medication.
This coming week, we are going to be going to a new vet and hopefully getting some answers. She will most likely have Intradermal allergy testing done, which is several hundred dollars. In three weeks, she is also due for her distemper/parvo/bordatella shots and she is VERY overdue for a heartworm test. All of this is going to cost money I really do not have.
Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated, even if it's $1, $5, whatever... It all adds up and will be more than I started with, so every single cent counts. I hate that it has come to this, but I have to take care of her. In frustration because of money and because of how nothing seems to be helping anymore, I've briefly considered giving her away, but then I've immediately felt bad for even thinking it. I will not give up on her. She was there when I needed something to help me rise out of my despair, and to this day she still provides me with joy on some of my darker days. I will do whatever I have to do. If that means asking for help, I'll set aside my pride and say... "I need your help, if you can..."
Love to you all, from Autumn, and most sincerely, from me.
For those of you who know me well, you know how difficult the last five years of my life has been. And if you pay even the slightest bit of attention to me on Facebook or even in "real life," then you definitely know how much Autumn, my 5 year old golden retriever, means to me.
I know I've told this story on Facebook several times, so I apologize if you've already read it. Autumn SAVED MY LIFE. I know it's not something family and friends like to hear, but I 100% believe I would not be here today if she hadn't come into my life when she did. After the accident and Jennifer's death, life seemed pointless. I was to the point where ending my own life was something I thought about every day. Then something I consider to be a sign that I was meant to live happened. I was given the opportunity to adopt a little four month old golden retriever puppy. This opportunity came to me on the very day Jennifer was due to have our child. This little golden furball brought me back to life. She gave me a purpose and a reason to live and love again.
(After bringing her home, that first day...)So now we need to ask for a little help. You think I'd be used to this by now, but it really never gets easier and I HATE doing it. So many people have helped me out these last few years, whether it be with funeral donations, medical and/or other bills, buying things I was selling to make some money, help with groceries, or just randomly giving me money to help me keep my head above water. I appreciate you all so much, you have no idea.
For several years, Autumn has had the worst problems with her skin, ears, allergies, etc. She has a permanent bald spot on her chest from a time she scratched herself raw a few years back. We have tried everything I know, and my current vets don't seem to know anything to help fix the problems. My CareCredit card is maxed out at $500 because of her vet visits the last year. She also suffers from hypothyroidism, which means she has to take medicine for her underactive thyroid twice a day for the rest of her life. In addition, she is on an antihistamine that she takes two-three times daily. I spend roughly $50-$60 every month on her medication.
This coming week, we are going to be going to a new vet and hopefully getting some answers. She will most likely have Intradermal allergy testing done, which is several hundred dollars. In three weeks, she is also due for her distemper/parvo/bordatella shots and she is VERY overdue for a heartworm test. All of this is going to cost money I really do not have.
Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated, even if it's $1, $5, whatever... It all adds up and will be more than I started with, so every single cent counts. I hate that it has come to this, but I have to take care of her. In frustration because of money and because of how nothing seems to be helping anymore, I've briefly considered giving her away, but then I've immediately felt bad for even thinking it. I will not give up on her. She was there when I needed something to help me rise out of my despair, and to this day she still provides me with joy on some of my darker days. I will do whatever I have to do. If that means asking for help, I'll set aside my pride and say... "I need your help, if you can..."
Love to you all, from Autumn, and most sincerely, from me.
Organizer
Chad Kautz
Organizer
Pekin, IL