Happy Blessed New Years Eve 2013..

From all of us here at the K9 Angel Corps, we want to take a minute to thank all of our new friends, twitter followers, and Angels for helping to get us through this past year.  We, like so many, are more than ready to let this year go and begin the new one!...I know it's been a while since we have posted, we've been so busy with our personal health woes, and Spike struggling with head to toe cysts, that time just got away from us..However, we are in the process of creating some fun og and cat collars, as well as other handmade goodies for your fur baby that will help us to raise not only awareness to K9 glaucoma, but also to help us raise funds to help other families struggling with the same.  As far as Spikes personal update goes, it looks like we're going to have to pay for the surgery to remove his blind eye after all..It just keeps getting infected, and as much as I want to hold onto him and he always looked, his comfort is more important.  That's it for now folks..Be safe!!

TGIF!!

Happy Friday!

Spike and I just dropped in to give yall a quick update since it's been so busy around here.  His blind eye is still struggling with inflammation and ongoing infections, while his remaining seeing eye is glaucoma free!! Yay! We count our blessings every day, and grateful for every moment we have him in our lives.  At 12 yrs aof age, he's lived a wonderful life and we look forward to spending whatever time has left making him feel on top of the world.  

We hope today brings you peace, love, light, and joy and we wil upload photos and more updates very soon..

Blessings!

July 13th, 2013 update

Hey everyone!!! Please forgive me for not having updated everyone for quite some time.  Between going to two colleges, tending to spike, and both my husband and my son turning new ages over the next few days things have been hectic and somehow time has slipped away.  So here's the update on spike..Spike's blind eye is still struggling with eye infection after infection but his good eye is still free from Glaucoma!! The longer we hold it off the better! However, time is just unkind to him, as his entire body from head to paws is covered in cysts many of which are so huge and spreading out quickly.  While they arent cancerous, because of his age they wont remove them and some of them are in places that make it hard to move or lay down.  Please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers <3

Thankful Thursday!!

Today is thankful thursday!! We are thankful today for the blessings we have been given, including our food, shelter, and family.  We are grateful to have built a powerful network and support group that helps to get the word out about K9 glaucoma! Most of all we are thankful for you!!

Diet change and odds and ends!

This has been one of the busiest weeks I have had in quite some time.  Spike is still struggling with these continuously emerging fatty cysts even with a change in the dog food we buy so its time to put him on an organic diet as well.  I have been reading article after article about adding turmeric to his diet and have been rather leery.  At this point, I want to see him getting better and not worse, so time to dig further into research.  Most anyone who knows me, knows that I am heavily into holistic therapies and treatments, I just haven't done much in the way  of research for the pet side of this field.  Also his 'good" eye seems to have cleared up a bit and looks healthy again, still going to have to keep an eye on it.  I'm busy working on some new collars for K9 glaucoma awareness, photos coming soon!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!!

This weekend I've been busy doing research for assignments for both colleges, keeping up with the anti-monsanto stuff, and trying to keep poor spike comfortable.  The cysts are growing pretty quick, and even though the vet say they are just fatty and non cancerous, it doesnt make him any more comfortable.  Anyways, I have drawn up a variety of designs for the K9 Angel Corps, and even working on some fancy earth friendly pet jewelry.  So yep, we're pretty busy, but gettin things done.  Just gotta take one day at a time.  Have a safe and great weekend!

It's Friday!!!

Happy Friday to all you Angels!! Lots of school work to do, so other than that we're going to just take it easy and try to get un-sick..this flu thing is really killing me.  Wherever you are and whatever your doing, please stay safe and have a great holiday weekend!

Had to share!

Worth the time to read and watch!

Thankful Thursday!!!

Today is Thursday, so to get back on track, that means it thankful Thursday!! Yay! Today we are thankful for the eye drops we still have managed to pay for, that help to keep spike's eye on a semi good road.  We are thankful for all of those in Oklahoma who managed to survive that horrific ordeal.  There is no limit to the love, support, and hopes for a quick recovery all of you and your families deserve.  We are thankful f course for each other, for our health, and for the opportunity to help others who face the same dark journey that we have.  And we are thankful for each and every one of you to keep the word about our group going, and helping us to build the support we need.  You have no idea how amazing and important each of you are to us.  From my family to yours have a very thankful end to your own Thursday!

It's been a while but we're back!!

Between my own personal health issues, spike trying to recover from his eye surgery, to now having to fight glaucoma in addition to a dozen tumors throughout his whole body, time has slipped away.  I have done my best to keep our facebook page up to date, but now it's time to get things back on track.  So here we are!! The K9 Angel Corps has it's own .com domain now! Exciting yes?! Over the next few days and weeks we'll be working hard to change out our previous website and fine tune it to meet the needs of all persons and families who have had or currently has a little four legged buddy with a diagnosis of canine glaucoma.  Whether you are facing or have faced primary or secondary glaucoma, our mission is clear and forever the same.  We plan on dedicating the rest of our lives to promoting awareness, research, resources and support to all those who have had their lives touched by this cruel disease.  Maybe one day, together, we can help find a cure and no dog will ever have live in a dark world again.  Here is the link to our new website:
http://www.k9angelcorps.com/

Thankful Thursday!

Today I am thankful for the family and friends I have in my life, without you all, these past few months would not have been as manageable as they have been.  I have learned a lot about myself these past few weeks, and about how others think and feel about some of the events and issues we have been struggling with.  I've learned that sometimes letting go and putting faith in whatever the earthly realm has in store for us, may not always be easy, but its far better than smacking your head against a wall I have now called "The Losing Battle"  While we cannot make people see things as we do, feel about things as we do, or want to help the causes we want them too....the fact that we never give up or in, and push ahead regardless of if we fail or not, makes us the better person that we can live with come judgment day.  Today I am thankful for all I have accomplished, and all I have left to do!

Time has Run out!!!

 

I know I haven't given you guys any real updates the last few days, but I'm trying so hard to get caught up in all of my college classes at both universities, in addition to trying to stay healthy (failing!), and take care of Spike who is losing this battle faster than I can come up with help for us.  This post is about the time we had, and the time we no longer have.  Primary glaucoma has stolen away Spike's left eye, and is now greatly putting his remaining good eye at risk.  Besides that, the constant high eye pressure, and ongoing infections from it all is jeopardizing Spike's overall health.  Because I have failed to get together the donations we needed to cover the cost of both treating and eradicating the problem with his left eye, while treating his remaining good eye so we can save it from the same fate, I have adjusted our final fundraiser goal to reflect just what is needed to help us pay for what now HAS to be done with his left diseased eye to prevent further complications and infections from spreading to his vital organs.  If you could take a minute to share our story, reach into your hearts and pockets and help us today, not only will you become a K9 Angel for all the world to see, but will also help us to ensure that Spike will be in our lives for many years to come! Thank you so much, and God Bless!

Forgive the quiet!

Hey everyone, please forgive me for not posting recently its been a crazy and long past few days. Between getting hit with another round of the flu virus, taking care of my health problems, caring for spike, and trying to get caught up in my college courses, I'm completely exhausted. At one point I think I even made a comment about how I feel like a mom with a newborn again! Yikes! In any case there isnt much new news to update you with when it comes to Spike. The eye drops aren't having much of an effect on his diseased eye that is now is blind, what that means is that it just continues to fill with fluid which causes the eye to sill like water balloon increasing the pain and pressure (hard to watch him suffer through!) The right eye (his good eye) is still disease free for now, thought without the surgery and proper treatment we're not sure how long that is going to be. He has trouble more so at night, when it comes to getting around. I blame myself for his unwillingness to accept that he has to do things differently now, we have seriously spoiled him more than I guess we knew we were! It's amazing though isn't it How quickly time escapes us, how fast things grow and change, how one minute you can think you have everything finally working for your, and then the next it all fall apart. I find myself thinking about every time I yelled at him for doing something bad or annoying, or the hundreds of times I've gotten up to let him out and stepped on every blooming piece of chewed dog bone piece I thought he managed to eat. I think back to two years ago, while my husband was on deployment, and it was just me and my son, spike and a handful of chattering parakeets to keep each other company in a new house, in a new place, where nothing felt familiar. It's always times like this that we remember things like those things isn't it? Right now the only thing I could ask for, is to get to a place where Spike is out of pain and misery, and we can begin to go back to some kind of normal routine, even if now we have to tend to a semi blind dog. It's been a little over a month since I started the fundraiser, and thankfully the funds we raised through a week or two ago was enough to cover the expensive prescriptions and eye care specialist appointments we had to go to. It got us through to when we got our final opinion, and the written cost sheet for his surgery. Since then, things have stopped, and I have to be honest when I say that my faith in raising the money we need to pay for Spike's surgery and aftercare is pretty much gone. We just cant figure out how to make more money than we are, when we are barely getting by on the military pay we have now. I made the mistake in the beginning of saying that Spike wasnt a Hero in the sense that my husband is through all of the wonderful things he has done in the last handful of years, but the truth is I was wrong..Spike is my sons hero. I was watching my teenage son lay beside his dog tonight with that sad face on. We can explain that these things happen all the time and that we need to be grateful to still have him with us, but it doesn't take away the fact that he still feels like he's been robbed... after all we've been through so much bad and lost so much over the last 8 years, we thought we were finally catching a break which would let us get ahead, and then get hit with this. But spike is a hero to my son, after all it was spike who 8 1/2 years ago bonded with my son and helped him get through a hard family life that put him in the middle of some pretty bad things, and it is Spike who has helped to get him out of and keep him out of the deep dark depression he struggled with for so long. Right now they are curled up together on the floor, and even while Spike lays there crying in his sleep,its that teenage arm wrapped tightly around him, that has me sitting here in tears. I dont know how many of you have read to this point, or how many of you have followed this story from the beginning, or how many of you even care...lord knows there are some greedy and twisted people in this world who find ways to pull on your heart strings and work the system to get what they think they deserve..but if you have ever had children and ever had a pet you loved like a child you get what im saying, and what im feeling. And if there is any of that same love and compassion still in your heart and you can afford to donate even just $1, the difference you would make for my son and for Spike is far greater than you could ever imagine. Ive called all the numbers I can search for and find, and written to every news and newspaper and radio station I can to help get our story out there, and I'm just out of energy and faith. Anyways I have a nutrition paper to write and turn in, so i can spend the weekend writing two 4 page papers for another nutrition class and my psych class..god bless you and yours...Amy

Todays Vet update

Today we took spike in for his regular vet check up. The diseased eye, has had high pressure issues for the last few weeks. In fact, his eye specialist says the eye drops (which are never meant for long term use) are just not working anymore. In taking him in to his regular vet today, she confirmed the same and made clear that she too feels he wont regain any sight in that eye. My focus needs to be on pain management and getting the money together for his surgery, in addition to fighting like hell to keep this disease from taking his other eye. Overall, Spike had a great day today, though he never really shows us that he is ever in pain. Bumping in to things, and having a little more trouble seeing things at night has been something we have had to get used too, but even I seem to be handling it better. Coming up with the money for the surgery has been difficult. I'm not good with people, or for asking for help, both of which you need to have when trying to raise money for a cause. But this is a good lesson for me, as once i finish my college certifications and BA degree, I want to run several non profits, and work on combating the nutrition and hunger problem we struggle with here in the US. But this has shown me that our pets need help as well. I see on tv all of the televised animal rescue programs popping up, but when it comes to military families...there just isnt much help for us with these kind of expenses. We take very good care of our pets, but these added expenses just don't fit into the average military family budget. We work so hard to get by and feed ourselves, but our pets shouldn't have to suffer. I have faith that this fundraiser will help us help SPike, and then I can begin to work on helping other military families help their pets. Thats all for right now

Wordless Wednesday!

 

 

 



Woohoo Happy Dance Time!

Finally!! Husband came home from working out with his fellow Navy crew, and tossed me the priority mail package that contained Spike's NuVet pills!! Talk about a grown adult doing the happy dance!! I so was guilty! He scarfed down three multi-vitamin wafers easily, and even if it's in my head, I felt a little better.  Like I said from the beginning, there is no miracle pill for any disease whether it be human diseases or animal, but sometimes having something to put faith in helps to ease the pain.  I know that before too long Spike will be blind, but as long as I am doing everything I can to try and fight it and figure things out, I'll feel better when all is said and done. We have raised about an average of $200.00 a week which has paid for Spike's visits to both his regular vet for in-between eye pressure checks, and the expensive animal eye specialist that has the job of helping us decide what's best.  We still have so far to go If we are to ease the pain and suffering, Spike feels ever day, and have one of the surgeries he needs to have for long term peace and a happier life.  I'm doing all I can to try and do this on my own, but its not enough.  I'm running out of ideas, options, and energy.  I know how easy it is to sit there and read this, and in a few seconds or minutes close out this blog and never think about it again.  But I need your help.  Spike needs your help.   My husband is the military hero, not Spike.  But Spike is the hero to my son.  You can help make a difference.  That's all for now, have a blessed Monday night. 



Just another Manic Monday Morning!

What a long long night last night was! It seemed like morning would never get here.  While yesterday reconfirmed that spike's eye was in deed not going to get any better, I'm still holding out hope for these pills I ordered last week that should arrive today.  I say should, because so far nothing has worked out as I have needed it too.  So I say should loosely! I remind you that I in no way think giving Spike these vitamin supplements will cure his glaucoma.  But as someone who is immersed into the field of nutrition, I can say without doubt that vitamins and minerals even for our pets plays such a big role in their health and wellness, just as it does for us.  That even the most well laid out dog nutrition plan sometimes lacks essential vitamins and minerals, and that leaves them missing out on some of the important elements that paves the road for diseases and illnesses to happen.  So, hopefully my order comes today and all will be well in this world until Friday when we see the eye specialist again. Spike is doing better today than yesterday, I suppose this rollercoaster is how its going to be until something else somewhere changes, my mission is to get him comfy and pain free, and I'll do what I have to in order to make that happen.  That's all for now I suppose, I'm at a stall trying to figure out what to say or do to get people to donating again.  It's just stopped and we have four days until we get a written confirmation of how much the different surgery options will cost us.  See how today plays out, that's me over and out! :)

Time has run out!!!

Today's visit to the vet revealed that the time we thought we had to raise the money for one of the eye surgeries Spike has to have to relieve his pain and give him comfort has run out.  After examining his eye, the vet informs us that he no longer has the ability to see out of it at all.  We thought it would have gone more slowly, it was supposed to stay on the slow path.  But that's just not how this has gone.  Regardless of which surgery we elect to have, its in the thousands as far as costs plus the after care.  

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

SPIKE NEEDS YOUR HELP!!

Please consider becoming a K9 Angel today and help us help him to have a happy and pain free life once more.  Every dollar counts, and if you can't, please share our story with your friends and co-workers.

Thank you and God Bless!!

 

Please Donate Today!

Saturday Shout outs!!

Good evening my amazing blog enthusiasts and friends!! There isn't much to update on with spike, he's still struggling so much which is so hard to watch.  Tomorrow morning he gets to go see the regular vet though which is good because I want her to see how he's doing.  I am however very disappointed in the postal service today.  They were supposed to deliver spike's pills today, the holistic ones that I have been waiting so patiently for, and the status says out for delivery but the note posted with it says it mismailed (routed) SHAME!! That is the very first time its happened, and while yes i know it can happen, it just hasn't and not with something so important.  I'm so bummed.  I know I know count my blessing,s and if you have read my previous posts you should know that I am always very grateful for what I have.  But if by some chance these pills will help to make spike more comfortable then i need them to get here as soon as they can.  Well I'm exhausted, I need to get some more studying done for Psychology class and then begin reading for the other courses..I swear these weeks start out slow and then fly by.

Saturdays will by our official "Shout out" Day.  It's where every week we will take a minute to recognize and thank those who have given us so much.  Whether it's by way of prayers, references, donations, or time, each of you has a special place in our family and hearts and this is our way of saying thank you!! Our first official shout out goes out to all of you!!! By helping us to share our story and drum up support and awareness, through your donations (big and small) and your prayers we have managed to squeek by two weeks on this journey and Spike is so grateful as are we to YOU! From Spike, myself, and my family thank you so much for everything! Have a great Saturday evening folks we'll post updates and info tomorrow after the vet appointment!

Watch pots never boil!

I was so excited to get Spike's new pills today, that it never dawned on me to remember that just because something is mailed and gives you an expected delivery date, doesn't necessarily mean that it will in fact be delivered that day.  Needless to say, Spike's pills did not arrive today, and I was so bummed.  That means that while we are out grocery shopping and not home with Spike, the mailman will bring our package, ring the doorbell, and not only upset our poor unwell puppy, but scare him to death. I seem to have forgotten that the more you want something to happen, the less likely that it will when you want/need it.  Isn't that how it always goes? I'm the first to preach those words to my younger military wives, who sit anxiously watching their bank accounts for our next paycheck to auto deposit.  I don't know if it was the anxious hope that maybe these pills will make even a slight difference in how Spike feels, or that I am just plain exhausted to blame on me feeling like we were the exception to this rule.  Reality check accepted! I'll tell you as many of you who are parents already know, when you are exhausted from not sleeping, hours and days begin to all bleed together and it gets more and more difficult to know what day it is.  That my dear canine lovers, is where I sit writing this to you from.  The fact that my 38th birthday is just a week and a few days away doesn't help matters any.  But this isn't about me, it's about Spike.  And until he is better and not suffering or struggling so much, I will stay up with him, rubbing hus little head, and promising him that this nightmare will let go of him soon and he can go back to being a changed but happy puppy once more.  If I say that to myself enough, I'll believe that.  But things wont ever be the same for us will it? Yes blind dogs can go on to live happy and healthy lives, but they won't be the same as they have been for the last 8 1/2 years.  Somehow this is something we were meant to endure, to make us stronger as a family...to make us come together more so, as a family..to work together to solve a problem, as a family.  Maybe this tragic turn of events in our life is a means for pulling us together, as in the last few years, we honestly have grown up and more apart.  Life has a crazy way of keeping us on the edge, and teaching us lessons  and helping us to be better and more than we let ourselves be.  All I know is that we are still so far donation wise from where we have to be as the days tick down, and we are closer and closer to having to make a decision on what to do with spike's bad eye, and what best way there is to go about ensuring it never gets to his good eye.  That's all for now folks, I have a chapter of Psychology to read for class, and then I'm off to bed.

New Video!! (Thanks to a pawtastic friend!)

Become a K9 Angel today!! Help us fight primary glaucoma, and give Spike the care and help he needs to have the healthy and happy life he once had not that long ago!

 

 



My Friday Morning update...

TGIF!!!!

This morning I woke up to crisp air, brrrr! But I also woke up to a beautiful sunrise over the Santa Monica mountains and  that is something you just can't beat!  It took me a few minutes to realize that I had managed to get so consumed in not feeling well and studying, that I managed to skip all my blogging and website duties. Bad me!! Today we get our new Homeopathic tablets today for Spike.  I'm so excited! No, I don't believe in quick fixes or miracle pills, but when it comes down to it, we all can use extra vitamins and minerals in out bodies, and our beloved canine's are no exception.  So, at the very least, he'll start to feel better from that if nothing else.

Spike.....Yesterday was his really good day.  He managed to spend time in the sun and have a relaxing day.  Today.....

Today, his "bad" eye is full of fluid again, and his other eye is irritated and red.  Primary glaucoma isnt just a disease, it's a roller coaster of a nightmare and a costly one at that.  I've made so many new canine loving friends this far along in our battle to fight glaucoma.  The love and support, prayers and strength that have been shared with my family and I is overwhelming to say the least.  You have no idea how much just a simple "We're thinking about," can really mean.....Especially on a down day like today.  Sometimes you don't need more than just a simple reminder that you are being thought of.

Since beginning the fundraiser, we have raised five hundred dollars.  Three hundred of that in just the first week.  In fact, it was a miracle, because we raised that just days before Spike's appointment with the Animal Eye Specialists in  Camarillo.  We had expected it to be the $160.00 we were told it would be...but....Spike's eye had gotten so full of fluid and looked so bad, additional tests had to be done and we  didn't realize the quoted amount wouldn't include those tests.  Especially when his regular vet always includes everything in the quoted price she gives us.  That three hundred dollars we raised, paid for the that important visit in full.  It was that same visit that we were officially told Spike in fact has primary glaucoma.  Without your help we would have been seriously in trouble.

The total cost from start to finish for a dog with primary glaucoma is different for each case and each breed that struggles with it.  Between the regular vet visits and care, combined with the eye specialists with the medications, tests, and upcoming surgeries....the cost to fight this battle and get him/her back into a healthy and hapy life can range from several thousand dollars right up to a shocking $15-16 thousand!!! Spike has been my baby, my little boyd (Nathan) isn't such a little boy anymore.  He turns 15 this summer! My pets are the children I can no longer have.  They are my everything.  Which is why I have to do and try everything I can to face this new challenge with Spike, and get him into a more comfortable and pain free state.  We can't do that without your help.  Becoming a K9 Angel is the difference between where we are right now, and where we need to be, where he has had the surgeries he needs, fighting to keep his good eye glaucoma free, and he doesn't hurt anymore.....

Even just one dollar today, can make the biggest different tomorrow.  There are so many ways you can help!! "like" and share our pages with your friends.  Get together with some friends and do a fundraiser.  And if you can't make a donation, THAT'S OK!!! By sharing our story, and sending us your prayers and continued support and love, your helping us get through each day one day at a time and make each a little easier.

From my family to yours

THANK YOU!!!!!

Late Thankful Thursday (Sorry!) Feb 1st, 2013

Thursday on all my pages are "Thankful Thursdays" A time for Spike and I to take a quick minute to say thank you to all of our Pawpals and K9 Angel's.  The last few days have been so crazy with sleep being moved til the morning, being up all night, etc that somehow Thursday flew right by me!! So a quick Thankful Thursday from us!! Today we are thankful for all of the love and support we have received this week.  Every word, every  hug, every dollar makes such a huge difference in ensuring that we can get Spike through this difficult transition.  From the bottom of our hearts, my family and I, and our sweet Spike.....THANK YOU!! We are still so far from where we need to be, however, and the surgery he faces is a have to have for him to find the comfort and pain free life he deserves.  So please continue to share and like, and donate if you can.  We can't do this without you!

Update quickie! January 31, 2013

OUr sleep schedules are all out of whack as they will be for a while it seems.  But, Spike actually wanted to go outside today and bask in the sun for just a short while, and I was in heaven while he did! I love it when he gets the fresh air and takes in the sun, it's so much healthier than being cooped up inside in pain.

Yay!!

Also, while I was awake during the normal you should be sleeping hours, I stumbled upon a website that had me wiping my eyes.  Now mind you, I don't believe in miracle cures for anything but after reading through all of the information on the website, I have to admit, that poor nutrition can lead or aggravate many existing conditions and illnesses. So..I ordered it!! I dont intend to try to be an endorser for any product, and once we get it I will def keep you all up to date, but I'm desperate to make him feel a little better and these eye drops are just so expensive with so many side effects.  It's called NuVet and its def not new.  Here's the link in case anyone is interested. http://www.fixmypetshealth.com/cataracts2/index.html Once we get it, I'll keep you all updated.  With a money back guarantee who can complain..

Spike's Wednesday January 30, 2013 update

My heart keeps finding new ways to break.  Today is the worst day spike has had since this whole thing began.  He actually let me see his "bad" eye (which is his glaucoma eye" and it reminds me of the grayish blue marble I used to have that had.  It was the first time my son had actually sat in front of him and got to see the eye.  I don't know what killed me more the look on my poor puppy's face, or the tears and sadness my son was overcome with.  In any case please continue to send in donations, and share our story and pages.  Now more than ever we need your help, as the tiny bit of hope I held to try and save his bad eye is all but gone.  The surgeries are expensive on their, never mind the after care that follows.  We can't help him without your help.

Here's today's update for Spike!!

Hello!!

Every day has it's ups and downs, but that's how this battle is going to go.  Thanks to the ongoing generous donations from our pawpals and K9 Angel's, we have so far been able to take him to each vet appointment and pay for his expensive eye prescriptions.  It's not a joke when we say every single dollar counts.  I can't wait until we get this horrible nightmare over with, so I can begin working on raising money to help others who one day, sooner or later, will face the same battle.  We are a one income military family, and with my ongoing severe health problems, it's difficult enough to get by from paycheck to paycheck.  Throw at us an critical care situation like this, especially after having just finished paying off a 3k vet bill in San Diego from Spike battling a horrible kidney infection, and you can see why this has been so difficult for us.  

No pet should ever have to wait to receive emergency or urgent care, just because his/her loving and amazing human is having trouble with money.  By helping us to raise money, your helping to make sure that never has to happen again.  I can hardly wait to get approved for non profit status, so I can paste that official  bit of information on every sing website and page we have.  Become an K9 Angel today and make an enormous difference in Spike's life, and in the lives of other dogs across the United States!

THANK YOU!!!

This weeks K9 Angel's Fundraiser Goal!

HAVE YOU DONATED YET??

THIS WEEK'S GOAL IS $300

We have just $100.00 more to go!!

If you haven't already taken a stroll over to the K9 Angels for Spike page and donated $1 yet, please do so.    Each and every dollar makes such a difference in helping us to pay for Spike's ongoing medical care as he battles primary glaucoma.  With your help, we can continue giving him the medications, special diet, and vet care he has to have as we head down this long and difficult road.  

THANK YOU!!

Moody Monday for both Spike and I

This morning I went to bed at around 6:30 am or so, about the time my husband was getting ready to head off to work. Spike had finally just fallen asleep. He looked so peaceful and for the first time, not in pain. I have noticed in the last few days that he is becoming more and more clingy, and his the time during the day and night that he keeps his eyes open are less and less. I should be reading for my upcoming courses at Kaplan, but I sit here reading about primary glaucoma, and the people who have already struggled through it. You can tell a parent to a glaucoma pet, that they'll do fine without their eyesight...but that doesn't make it any easier. It doesn't make anything feel any better. I write in this blog every day, I post updates on his page on on his Facebook page, and it just doesn't feel like enough. I'm looking for answers I just can't find. My teenage son Nathan, who is 14 and a half, and wants those same answers. In between his studies and video games I watch him googling everything he can. My family has been through hell and back, just as so many others in this country. Spike's been such a soldier, he showed no pain and no sadness the entire time he was sleeping. But it's nighttime now, and he's hurting, sad, scared, and miserable. The whining and teary eyes are heartbreaking and I feel so helpless. We are so far from where we need to be with the fundraiser. The week after next we return to the eye specialist where we will receive a written estimate. A number I'm sure will be rather large. Thanks to the previous donations, we were able to nearly pay in full for his last visit, having to add the difference of about 70.00 to our already negative bank account. I'm too tired to be creative and think, but we'll figure it out someway somehow if you the supporters we have stay with us and help us push through. Thank you! This is the face that drives me forward. Those are the eyes worth saving..And if after I have tried everything and done everything i humanly can, he still loses this battle.... at least I can say i fought hard and tried. And that my friends is something my family and I can live with.

My question to you..please let me know what you think!

Should a dog who can still see be forced into a world a blindness by glaucoma, because society has accepted that blind dogs do fine without their sight? Spike isn't a heroes dog, my husband serves our country in the US Navy (but he's done a contract in the Marine Corps, in the infantry division) but no he hasn't saved any lives. Spike isn't a hero dog, he hasn't rushed off to save a a person in need. Spike is simply a dog we rescued as a puppy when he was just a few weeks old, who has given more to us than we have ever given him. He was my teenage son's best friend during he hardest times any child should ever have to go through, and laid by his bed when my son's appendix ruptured making him deathly sick and in need of emergency surgery. He's been the one constant thing in my son's life as the military took us out of the only state he has ever been in and known, to be moved three different times to houses that were never going to be a home. No spike isn't a purebred, in fact he's a black/choc lab with beagle, cocker spaniel, and dalmatian. He isn't the most handsomest dog in the world, and hasn't won any special awards or ribbons. No dear friends, spike is just an average dog who keeps getting handed a bad hand. I grew up believing that one person can in fact make a difference, no matter how many others are against you. I grew up seeing and living with struggles and suffering that could and should have been prevented. I know all too well what it's like to go without, to be hungry, to have no electricity, to not be able to wash your face or hands, to not be able to be one of the "in" crowd because your family cant afford the nice things everyone else seems to have. I didn't like it then, as my son surely doesn't like it now, but you make do with what you have and that has to be enough. But some things should never be accepted as ok or normal. Somethings need to be fought head on, and continued to fight for as long as you are breathing. And if that means being one person standing up for something that he/she believes in, then by god, nobody should be so quick to look down upon, judge, or ignore just because the rest of the world doesn't see or feel the same about it. This is about canine glaucoma. Like it or not, the fact is, that it is as of right now an incurable disease. The daily pain and suffering that a dog goes through with it, I have now seen firsthand and can say is a horrible thing. My family didn't ask to go through this anymore than Spike who not more than a short time ago struggled to recover from a seriously dangerous kidney infection brought on by a large kidney stone that for several years not one but two veterinarians somehow manged to miss. The removal surgery and after care cost us over three thousand dollars, which on a single income military paycheck was beyond difficult to pay for. We found help with our personal bills and used the largest portion of our check each month for several months to make payments to the only vet in San Diego who would do the surgery with payment arrangements. So spike isn't new to pain and suffering, he managed to make it in the car as my mom, son, and I made our way from Norfolk Virginia where my husbands aircraft carrier was stationed, to sunny San Diego California and never complained once. Canine glaucoma is a horrible disease. It robs once happy and playful dogs of their eye sight, and doesn't give them a choice. For some its quick and painful, but in others, it's slow and painful. For Spike, he still has full sight in his right eye, and some in his left. It's his left eye that is being attacked by glaucoma. With my family being so stretched paycheck to paycheck already, the emergency vet care, medications, and eye specialist were just not in our budget. Without a second thought, we put ourselves negative in our bank account just taking him in to be seen and diagnosed with glaucoma. Spike is like our second child. So it shouldn't be a surprise to any pet lover, that i jumped into action and setup an online fundraiser, to help us raise the money to pay for care and the cost to help save whatever sight we can of Spike. I had figured that with so many people being animal lovers, that getting support and donations wouldn't be difficult. After all, when you have the chance to make a difference in a animals life, we do right? Dog's and cats for that matter can live long and happy lives without their sight. Somehow, we have become a society where now that's just what we accept. There is no telethon, marathon, or tv special working to fight canine glaucoma and get people to rally together to try and stop it. We need more funding to go towards the diseases that our beloved pets get stricken with and suffer through. we need people to stop accepting that animals go blind and do fine, and start working to prevent other pets from having to be victims! Or am I completely wrong? Spike has full sight in one eye right now, and partial sight in his other. So you can understand my shock and saddness to see that so many just want me to sit back, let him suffer and struggle and watch as he loses his sight. Am I really one woman against the world?

Today's update

Last night Spike didn't sleep a wink.  I stayed up with him, rubbing his head and telling him over and over i love him so  much.  It's so difficult to tell if he's hurting and where or how much.  All I can do is just give him the pain medicine and hope it helps some.  His good eye looks less inflamed than it did yesterday but his glaucoma infected eye is getting more  and more hard to keep the pressure down which is never good.  We continue the drops and continue to hold him, and for now thats all we can do.  I pray every minute of every day that nothing goes wrong or happens, we just don't have the ability to take him in, and that makes me feel like I'm failing him.  All i want is for him to not be hurting, not be in pain, not feel so horrible.  Comfort should never be a luxury for some, but a right for each and every pet we own and care for.  My heart just keeps breaking.

Awareness, information, support, and financial support are so important for owners of all pets.  With so much being done to combat and eradicate human glaucoma, it makes no sense as to why we aren't more focused on the canine or feline form of glaucoma.  After all, for nearly all pet owners, our four legged friends are just as important to our family as our own children (and in many cases are our own children)  But research for canine glaucoma has so far to go, and that means so many more families face having their worlds turned upside down financially and emotionally.  And worse,  so many more once sweet and smiling faces, will instead be coated in pain and suffering.

My family is struggling on our military pay, to pay for the much needed ongoing care and treatments for our beloved dog Spike.  Like so many other families in the same position, we barely live paycheck to paycheck, and while we take the greatest care in feeding, loving, and taking care of our four-legged babies, emergencies or major problems such as a diagnosis of Glaucoma just isn't in the budget.  It is horrifying to hear a handful of people tell us we need to put him down OR get rid of him! How can any sane person person justify any of those measures.  First, Spike has a handful of years if not more ahead of him and deserves the right to live those years.  Secondly, we don't get rid of our children or spouses when they are sick and yes it is the same.  Why? Because my friends, for most of us our fur babies are just like our children.    When you make the decision to be a responsible pet owner, that has some unwritten rules that come along with it.  Some of those include, loving unconditionally, caring for them in sickness and health, and doing what you have too even in hard times to ensure you keep them fed, safe, and healthy.  We have spent 8 1/2 years after rescuing him from a puppy mill, taken great care of him.  He's been healthy, and happy til now.  So doing what I have too, is what I intend to do and continue doing until this horrible disease is a robber of sight no more.

Long day

Today has been the longest day I have had in a long time.  Spent last night up sick, couldnt hold anything down, and this morning spike's good eye has taken a turn for the worse.  I don't think people understand how hard it is to have to sit and watch your pet suffer because you dont have the credit cards or the lines of credit, or people to borrow from when you need to take your pet into the vet for an emergency appointment.  With glaucoma time is everything, the longer the time between diagnosis and treatment, the more likely you are to cost your pet their sight much more quickly.  The fundraiser I started raised 300.00 right away in just a couple days, but now things have stopped and even traffic and the "likes" and "shares" have stopped. Yesterdays eye specialist visit cost 299.00..without the amazing donations that gave us that 300.00 we wouldnt have been able to go.  We have a long road ahead of us, and need to keep those sahres and likes going.  Even if that's all you can do, thats more than enough.  Every little thing helps.

Today's visit to the canine eye specialist!!

Thanks to the $300.00 donated so far, my husband and I were able to take Spike to the vet and cover the additional costs we weren't expecting them to charge us.  160.00 for the examination fee, $80.00 for the Gonioscopy-unilateral, and 58.00 intraocular pressure measurement. We went to the apt just expecting to pay the 160.00..THANK YOU! We go back in two weeks so we have two weeks to continue raising money, and working towards the ultimate goal of fundraising for the crucial eye surgery he will need.  We get the written cost of our options in two weeks, the specialist saw how overwhelming this all was, and how much trouble I have accepting that Spike now has to fight with something else.  Being that he is a mixed breed (choc/black lab with cocker spaniel, Dalmatian, and beagle mix) he struggled and nearly lost his life to a horrible kidney infection thanks to a kidney stone that not one but two vets missed completely over a two year time period.  The K9 angel Corps isn't just about helping Spike.  A few days ago I applied for it to become a fully functioning Non profit organization, im on pins and needles waiting to hear if we can.. If so I pledge the rest of my life as I continue going to school to become a Holistic Health practitioner and Holistic nutritionist, that we will work on pushing canine glaucoma research along, in addition to providing emergency funding to hard working pet lovers within the US, especially military families like mine, who live paycheck to paycheck, take the upmost care of their furbabies, and just get stuck with vet care costs that they never asked for. 

If you are reading this and could take just 5 minutes of your busy days to please visit, like, and share our pages to help spread the word we would greatly appreciate it.  Spike isn't just another pet, he is another soldier in this family.  He's always been dedicated to this family, loyal, and never backed down from conflict.  Blessings and have a great rest of your Friday night!!

Spike's personal website and blog!
http://spikespad.simplesite.com/

Our K9 Angel's Donation page!
https://www.facebook.com/K9AngelsForSpike

Follow us on Twitter!
@K9AngelCorps

Support us at cafepress!
http://www.cafepress.com/K9AngelCorps

Biochemistry, food politics, and nutrition oh my!

Hope your Thursday is going well, mine is being spent out of this California rain system, and reading pages upon pages of chapter for the classes im taking in this term.Going to two colleges at the same time is murder on my poor brain, but it's because of my obsession to other people live a healthier and more wholesome life that I'm enduring it.  It breaks my heart to sit here and read with Spike at my feet crying in pain. But i give him a scratch on the head another pain pill, and remind myself that if this family is ever going to be anything outside of the navy, I need this holistic nutrition and dietitian career to be.  Spike having glaucoma has really made me look at canine and feline health.  I cant tell you how many times the cat or dog has gotten table scraps from us and not thought twice about it.  We know its not healthy but neither is the dog food and cat food you buy either.  These nutrition classes have really made me think..now im determined to include pet nutrition into my practice as they are just as us when it comes to needing proper diet and nutrition.  I'll post recipes as i get them, please continue liking and sharing my pages and blogs, every little things helps.

Thankful Thursday!

Today is my very first thankful Thursday here on the blog, and I have so much to be thankful for.  I am thankful that tomorrow is friday which means tomorrow is our animal eye specialist appointment to get the clear, cut and dry evaluation on spike's eyes and sight.  While I'm hoping for the best, I'm accepting that glaucoma is going to be a permanent fixture in our canine's life, and we need to start making plans to prepare for the loss of his sight.  I am thankful for the amazing family and friends I have, you all have been so supportive through this whole event.  In many ways you have inspired me to push harder, try more, and look for more creative ways to help raise money! Thank you for that.  But what I am most thankful for, is that I have the health and ability to sit here and write this for anyone and everyone who wishes too, to see.  Without technology, I'm not sure what we would be doing right now.

It;s raining here in California, and rather chilly too.  So today I'm going to be blogging my heart out, working on crafts to sell to help raise more money, and trying to figure out twitter and how to get more people's attention.  I am thankful for each day I am alive, and that my husband is home and not having to be gone on deployment for a few years more.  My song of the day is "Don't Stop Thinking about Tomorrow."  A perfect song for today.  Blessings and love for now, keep your paws up and tail wagging!

Woof woof!!

Have you become an K9 Angel yet?

Meet Spike

It's hard to believe that he is nearly 9 years old, but this coming June he turns 9!!  My son was 5 when Spike came home with us as a squirmy, yippee puppy.  The long nights and constant chewing tested my nerves to no end.  But having him there always to come home too was a safe and warm feeling.  As i sit here writing this, my craft table is covered in drying soda tabs, bottlecaps, and printed images to make a new set of products to sell on my Facebook shop and etsy, to help raise money for spike's vet care costs, medicines, and upcoming surgery.  So from now until we meet our goal, every craft I post photos of and instructions for, will be quick and easy craft show favorites that you can make as well.  Help me spread the word, and share his story please.

Visit Spike's website at:
http://www.spikespad.simplesite.com

Like his fundraiser page on facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/K9AngelsForSpike

Purchase K9 Angel gifts and wearables!
http://www.cafepress.com/K9AngelCorps

What a day!!

It's so hard to stay upbeat and the strong one, when your sitting next to your dog and he's sick throwing up and not feeling good.  Crafting has helped me get through so many difficult and dark times, but going to two colleges, struggling with my own health issues, and now dealing with our family dog struggling with glaucoma, I'm back at it.  My current project includes a dozen or so jewelry projects that are affordable to make, dont take much time, and wont cost my customers much to buy.  I'm determined to raise the money we need to help and care for spike, he's always been through for us I owe it to him.    I'm not very good with people, pets are more my thing, so trying to get the word out is proving to be difficult.  That's all for right now, happy crafting!

Been a while...but I'm back

Sorry crafty world I had to take a bit of time away from here to deal with the ever changing world outside of this house.  From personal health issues to now struggling to keep our dog healthy it has been such a hectic time.  What I am now working on, is getting crafty for a cause.  We are in the beginning stages of raising money for our 8 1/2 year old black/choc lab Spike who has recently been diagnosed with Acute Glaucoma. I dont know too many people who if they had a chance to try and save some of a pets eyesight,  wouldn't do  everything in their power to make it happen.  And that is where I am at, struggling to make it happen.  The links if your reading this and want to help me spread the word are listed below..I'm not such a social person it seems so any and all help would be appreciated.

Follow us on Twitter:
@K9_Angel_Corps

Like a Pawfectly awesome website for Spike:
http://spikespad.simplesite.com


Spread the word and help us raise support and much needed money!
https://www.facebook.com/K9AngelsForSpike