Your share could raise $30
Before you go, did you know that simply by sharing this campaign, you could help it raise $30? It's an effective way to support the cause.
No thanks- Pin it
- SubscribeUnsubscribe
- Embed
Rachel Rice hasn't added a story.
I'm a friend of John's human caretaker, Laurie Mearns, and have taken on the task of fundraising to help her pay for John's care and surgery. Laurie's bills will total more than $5000 and will be put on her credit card, so all donations will go to her so she can pay down her credit card bill.
The surgery will be done by http://www.rhinebeckequine.com/ and we have a lot of faith in them and in John's will to live.
John injured himself while playing with his friend Rocky in late August of 2016. Here are some of Laurie's posts to Facebook that describe what happened and is happening.
1/17/17
Just because there is never a dull moment with John, we have a new development in his ever evolving head trauma saga.
Aug 31 he slammed his head into the barn, causing a hairline fracture to his lower jaw and damaging his TMJ (which resulted in short term facial paralysis which made eating & drinking impossible for 4 days).
He showed excellent improvement until Nov. 3 when he presented with total paralysis of his optic nerves, requiring round the clock treatment because he could not blink.
He has been progressing slowly - pupil and eye movement have returned to normal, and blinking, while not 100 percent has been improving every day.
Today his head is grossly swollen. Tight, hot swelling from his ear to his eye.
Vet believes a bone splinter or pocket of blood have abscessed and is trying to work its way out. I believe this also, though it IS possible he banged his head again.
We are hot compressing and closely watching his attitude, pain level and checking his rectal temp several times a day.
He is having an Ultrsound on Friday in case she can see the mass
and aspirate it, but we would both rather have it work out
naturally.
Abscesses really are quite amazing.
He remains happy/cheerful/eating and a dream to work around, but he needs your loving thoughts - I have a feeling this will be the Grand Finale ~ I am very scared but we have overcome SO much - we carry on and hope for the best!
1/26/17
It is serious - long story short.....he does have an infection. I have believed there was an abscess trying to work its way out for some time.
Last Saturday he stopped eating and was very swollen.
With
ultra sound a pocket was located and a sample was aspirated.
John has a MRSA inection below his TMJ.
This is unusual - The
Vet and I are shocked.
The Surgeon felt the changes to his joint *should* be managable unless the infection is in the joint ~ making the joint septic.
It is unlikely his body will be able to push the infection out, and it is unlikely that antibiotic therapy will touch it.
My choices are:
> Putting him to sleep
> Sending
him for surgery where the outcome is favorable if it is
simply
a "pocket" and very poor if the joint is septic.
> John's Vet is willing to open it and try to flush it and
put in a drain, but it is not something that is normally done
outside of a Hospital/Surgical setting. Prognosis is unknown.
Today he is bright and cheerful - unable to eat hay but enjoying
his soaked hay pellets and hay cubes. He has lost some considerable
weightt.
We (the Vet) just pulled 35cc's of purulent material
from the "pocket" in the hopes of giving him enough relief
to eat/drink and be in good enough condition to face either Surgery
(whether at the Hospital or "Field Surgery".
I am in an emotional dead zone right now - taking one day at a time and hoping the best course to take becomes clear to me.
This whole ordeal has pretty much drained my energy and financial reserves. I do need to stay very focused - so forgive me if I don' t connect with you or am not able to respond to pm's.
1/31/17
My beautiful horse is going for surgery in the morning.
I am absolutely terrified, but we believe this gives him the best shot of a full recovery.
Wish us strength.
2/1/17
From a private message from Laurie earlier today:
[The vet] believes the eye and guttural pouch may be involved in the infection
Highlights
See all activity9Activity
Delete media item?
Delete this item from the media gallery? It will also be deleted from any related story update.
Set as ?
The campaign video will appear in social media and email.
The campaign cover picture will appear in social media and email.
The will appear at the top of your campaign page and in social media and email.
Reset ?
It will be removed from the top of your campaign and won't be used as default in social media and email. The will remain in the media gallery.
Embed
Share a link
Delete update
Delete this story update?
Any pictures or videos will remain in the campaign's media gallery.
Report campaign
Report submitted
Thank you. We take reports like yours very seriously. Our goal is to keep the community safe.
Please know that we may contact you for more information, but that we won't notify you personally of our decision. If the campaign remains available within a few days, it's likely that we determined it not to be in violation of our policies.
Thank you. We've already received your previous report. If the campaign remains available within a few days, it's likely that we determined it not to be in violation of our policies.
Tell us about the problem. Please fill in both fields below.
Record a video
Upload a video
Nothing grabs attention for your cause like a personal video. Take a minute or two to record one now. Record a short video message of support. Or upload one from your device. You can preview or redo your video before you post it.
Nothing grabs attention for your cause like a personal video. Upload a short video message of support. Upload a short video message of support. Or record one right now.
- Most effective video length: about a minute.
- Maximum length: 5 min.
- You can preview or redo your video before you post it.
Heads up! The existing video will be replaced.
Email your friends
Join our team
Tell people why our cause matters to you. Your personal message will encourage others to help. Easy, effective, optional.
Say it in video
Short personal videos by supporters like you are incredibly powerful. Record one right now and you'll help us raise more money. Easy, optional, effective.
Add a personal goal
Set a personal fundraising goal. You'll encourage more contributions if you do. And rest easy. There's no obligation to achieve your goal or bad consequences if you don't. Easy, optional, effective.
We have a video!
Video thumbnail
We'd love to show you our campaign video. Want to take a look?
, you're already on the team.