Ember, my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, suffered a ruptured cord in her heart and went into heart failure at only 7 years old in February of this year. At the time, they told me she has 6-12 months before her heart gives out on her, and as time goes on, her quality of life will deteriorate rapidly. For those of you who don't know about me and Ember, here's our story. I brought Ember home at a time in my life when I was severely depressed. I struggled with self-harm and suicidal thoughts daily, and on top of that, I was getting ready to leave for college. I have always been a dog girl, and I knew at the very least a dog would give me enough purpose to make it through each day. I never could have imagined just how much more Ember would do for me. Ember has saved my life, and not just by giving me a purpose. She gave me a kind of love and devotion that I had never experienced before. She gave me the confidence to try new things, meet new people, and achieve a positive outlook on life. I haven't self-harmed in years because of her. I don't struggle with depression nearly as much as I have in the past because she taught me how to find joy and hope in even the smallest things. I know Ember isn't going to live forever. But for everything she's given me, I can't accept that she is only meant to be on this earth for 8 years - especially when there is something I can do to give her many more years full of adventures, love, and chicken nuggets (of course!). There is only one way I can give her not just more time, but repair her heart and give her a quality of life back for many years to come. There is an open heart surgery that is currently only available in the UK and Japan, and Ember was accepted as a surgical candidate at Dick White Referrals in Cambridge. The hospital currently has a 96% success rate, and their patients who were knocking on death's door have been given a second chance at a long, healthy, and happy life. The surgery is very complex and involves putting the heart and lungs on a bypass machine, stopping the heart, replacing the cords, and repairing the mitral valve. Because of the complexity and limited availability, the surgery is very expensive. I am putting my life savings into this surgery and am still going to be short by thousands of dollars. I'm asking for your help in lessening the financial burden of this surgery. A donation of any amount would mean the world to me, Ember, and everyone she has touched in her lifetime. Thank you for taking the time to read our story, and I hope you will consider being a piece of this insane, yet miraculous journey.
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