Maya, who brings joy to everyone she meets, is our 8 year-old yellow lab. Everyone who meets her agrees that she is one of the most well-behaved and sweet dogs ever! She really is a people pleaser and the most loving four-legged companion I could have ever dreamed of. At the beginning February 2018, she started limping entirely on three legs and having virtually no use of her left hind leg. After several X-rays and a diagnostic exam, the vet determined that she has a ruptured Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL). To help give a bit of an idea, this is the equivalent of a human tearing the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). The pain as a result of the swelling and lack of support in her knee is excruciating and will only get worse as time passes. This, as you can imagine, is one of the most painful things I’ve ever had to see Maya go through, and I know the pain is likely much worse for her than it is for me or my mom. The vet has given us medications in the mean time to ease her pain as much as possible but said surgery is required to fix the ligament, and that it should be done soon. The surgical procedure recommended is called a Tibial-Plateau-Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO), and it will basically stabilize the stifle joint after a CCL rupture.
The good news is that this surgery will allow Maya to regain full mobility of her leg and return back to normal after recovery! However, the biggest hurdle we have encountered in regards to funding Maya’s treatments is the insurance company. Pet insurance, which we have, does not cover pre-existing conditions and the insurance has deemed Maya’s CCL rupture as something she was predisposed to getting with age therefore it will not be covered under her plan. Because of this, we have to turn to alternative solutions as the costs are going to be very hard to overcome on our own. My mom has always been and continues to be one of the most hard-working people I know, working a full-time job and two part-time jobs on her days “off,” and I am working as much as I can on top of maintaining good grades with a full 15-credit course load this semester.
I know there are plenty of pressing issues and grave circumstances among those in the world, but pets have a special place in our hearts which is why this means so much to us. Maya has always been a member of our family and always will be. We really want to see Maya get back to being her happy and fun-filled self again, and continue to believe that everything happens for a reason. Given Maya is otherwise a very healthy dog and will benefit immensely from this surgery, I want to protect her from the progressing pain and confusion of having to hop on three legs so she can return to a comfortable and moderately active lifestyle. If you have the chance to know and love Maya, or if you are a fellow dog lover and know the special bond with one, any donation is greatly appreciated and will not unnoticed. Our family thanks you for your generosity.
Love,
Sarah, Maggie and Maya