Never did I think I would have to be writing this out so soon. As I write this with trembling hands, shaky breaths, agony and torment in my heart… tear-filled eyes, I want to start off by introducing myself. My name is Gabriela Lee Ray and the reason why I started this page is for my dog-son Lucius Lee Ray. Lucius was a big, lovable, playful, gentle, kind-hearted 120 pound pitbull/mastiff mix and was only 3 and a half years old. He was diagnosed with congestive heart failure stage D, which means he had a very enlarged and weakened heart that was unable to pump an adequate amount of blood to his entire body. This would cause an increase of pressure and fluid to accumulate in his lungs. It would cause him to have a persistent cough, increased heart rate, wheezing, shortness of breath, absence of appetite, extreme weight loss, and tremendous anxiety because he didn’t know what was happening to him. His body was also no longer responding well to ANY medication or treatment. He would get progressively worse in a short amount of time. This condition came out of nowhere and the vets could not pin-point how he had gotten this disease. They said it was probably linked to his poor breeding genetics or his grain-free diet. As a first-time dog mama I was mortified learning about this and how I couldn’t do anything at all to help him. To say I’m VERY heartbroken and devastated would be such a massive understatement. This pain is so unbearable, I would never want anyone to go through this seething affliction EVER. Lucius is so much more than a dog to ME, he came to me at just shy of 5 weeks old (newborn puppy) when I was in the worst condition of my life and I needed help. I was struggling with alcoholism and had no plans of stopping my destructively compulsive behavior. When I first saw Lucius on a Craigslist ad and his picture popped up he looked so lost, filthy, malnourished and in need of love. I knew from that moment on we needed each other. Lucius has turned my life around in so many ways when I was too far gone for help from a human. He was my best friend, my loyal protector, my paradise, my faithful companion, my guardian Angel, and my home. My peace. He was always more than a dog to me. His tremendous compassion, patience, loyalty, adventures, unconditional love, our unbreakable bond and so much more… He could never be replaced. Lucius made me want to LIVE and be free again. Lucius passed away as I held him tightly in my arms, his head held closely to my heart as I struggled to breathe without him. July 26th, 2024 at 5:09PM. He did not deserve to suffer so painfully only to die so young. I wish more than anything in this world I would have been able to spend more of my life with him. [However far away, I will always love you, however long I stay I will always love you.] I am asking for help financially since vet bills, medications, and exams are all incredibly expensive and especially due to the unexpected nature of all this trauma. I have taken such a dramatic blow to my finances while fighting for his right to live. Overall, I have spent well over $6,000 on credit cards, payments I know I won’t be able to afford. I don’t have much money and what little I had went towards my angel and my light, Lucius. I’m asking for any amount, even if it’s just $1, anything would help me in this time of need. Thank you to anyone who took the time to read my story and donate to a dog mom that loves her baby beast beyond all words. I will see you again one day, my sweet, silly boy. -GabyLeeRay
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