Pets are our best friends in sickness and in health. For one Fort Resolution dog owner, the nightmare is real after her purebred Yorkie took very ill last week.
Martina Jerome Angel’s dog mom lives in Fort Resolution, is an NWT Local Artist and is married to Charles Jerome who is the local community water truck driver.
Angel became a part of the Jerome family on the Easter morning of April 2019.
“Angel was born February 15th, 2019 she is a purebred Yorkie and a beautiful soul,” Jerome said. “She loves to give kisses, be cuddled and play with her fur family and the human family.”
For the Jeromes it was love at first lick. A relationship that would flourish becoming stronger each and every day as they spent every possible moment together.
On November 22, 2019, Angel started to have strange behaviors Jerome says which would change the family’s lives forever.
“She appeared to be following the walls with her nose like she was going blind, tail tucked under her body and no play while looking depressed and fairly lifeless,” Jerome told 100.1 The Moose. “Knowing I had no vet nearby, as he is located in Highlevel, I texted him, it was the vet who gave me a few options to help her so she wouldn’t get dehydrated.”
Jerome says the vet suggested giving Angel chicken broth by syringe.
“This wasn’t helping her vision loss so I Googled ideas and symptoms,” Jerome said. “I figured out her sugars were low.”
Jerome says she gave Angel warm chicken broth with corn syrup and noticed a bit of change but only for a short time.
“I continued to do this until early Monday morning and then took off in my car with Angel to Highlevel to the Mackenzie Veterinarian Clinic,” Jerome said. “Angel was lethargic, dehydrated and blind when I arrived they took her in immediately.”
Jerome would get a motel until Wednesday, November 28, a sleepless night while Angel was in the emergency.
“While Angel was at the Mackenzie Veterinarian Clinic she was taken care of with love and compassionate care,” Jerome said. “The team was awesome, she had many tests done, some which were air-flown to Edmonton.”
Angel was diagnosed as hypoglycaemic Jerome says. Hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar, is when blood sugar decreases to below normal levels. This may result in a variety of symptoms including clumsiness, trouble talking, confusion, loss of consciousness, seizures or death.
“She has her vision back as medication controls it and seems fine with that,” Jerome said. “She was also diagnosed with a congenital liver disease called PSS aka Liver Shunt.”
Without surgery Angel’s liver is slowly shrinking as her bio acids are not being filtered through her liver properly Jerome says.
“So this will only give her a very short life, with surgery of banding the vessels that carry the toxins into her bloodstream this can be cured,” Jerome said. “The cost of surgery in Edmonton Guardian Vetranarian Hospital was estimated at $8000 + dollars.”
Jerome says they have now sent a new referral out to Small Animals at the University of Saskatoon for hopefully a lower estimate because they cannot afford the operation.
“She will start out with consultation followed by diagnostic imaging then surgery and recover,” Jerome said. “I am asking everyone to pray for our baby girl and if possible help her with even a small donation.”
Any donation will help her whether it be for her dietary supplement, medication, travel, ultrasound and surgery, Jerome says.
“We used up all our savings to get her this far along,” Jerome said. “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for anything in any way you can help.”
A gofundme account has been set up to help save Angel’s life and support the family. If you would like to donate please visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/angels-life-saving-surgery #SaveAngel
Update:
“We have got an appointment for Angel at the University of Saskatoon with Internal Medicine for Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020,” Jerome said. “The estimated cost is $6000.”
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