First Laser Therapy Visit

After discussing finances with the holistic vet, Dr. Grey, it was suggested that Claire try out laser therapy, which sends healing energy on a cellular level. That costs about half what the acupuncture comes to because it can be administered by a vet tech rather than by the vet herself. We're giving it a shot, and can always switch back to acupuncture (or do both) if we think this is not helping Claire.

Because this is our first visit, we were given an exam room and I was allowed to observe. In future, Claire may be seen in the back without me, while I stay in the waiting area. The procedure takes only a few minutes. Claire was very interested in noises in the hallway and entryway while we were waiting in a room. She eventually calmed enough to lay down, but had her ears back when the tech came in.

I was excited to show this procedure as I'd never heard of it before. But I ended up trying to keep Claire still and controlling her leash during the procedure, so I only got a few pics of the device before it was used. The humans in the room wore special glasses, but there weren't any for dogs. It was my job to keep Claire's face away from the laser. The laser is measured in joules. They targeted three areas for $55. They of course focused on the TL junction, the mid-spinal area where Claire's disc herniation is, but they also did a little laser treatment on her neck as well. I think it will be more valuable in the specific region of her injury, but I'm letting the vet's experience guide me in the beginning to see how it goes.

(the machine)

(the display)

(the laser head itself)

The BIG news: I FINally was able to put through verification of the PayPal account to get the ChipIn to read accurately. Now will have to redouble efforts via social networking to spread the word. The ChipIn is open and working on the blog at SponsorClaire.blogspot.com.

I also contacted The Onyx & Breezy Foundation to confirm receipt of the application I'd faxed in overnight, then emailed a copy of my taxes to complete the package.

(who can resist this sad, sick doggie's face?)

I had posted a request for a pet stroller on my local, North Hollywood Freecycle. Since it's been several days with no response, today I posted the same request on the wider Los Angeles Freecycle. It would be really handy, so please keep your fingers crossed for us!

In the mailbox was the DVD I ordered from Dodgerslist! It's all about IVDD, Intervertebral Disc Disease. I popped it in my computer and watched it in the bedroom with the pups while I ate my dinner.

(well, at least she hasn't lost her appetite....)

(and by contrast, Claire's brother Chance
can't sleep without being covered up,
even in 90 degree heat)

After the Holiday

(my little Illini, Jan. 2010)

Busy day today! For me, at least, if not for Claire....I contacted Dr Gorgi again regarding direct donations. They've spoken to the hospital manager, who will seek the approval of the Regional Manager when they meet this coming Friday. Such a long process, but I just need to keep following up.

Tried again throughout the day to get the Paypal verification done--still waiting for the small deposits to be placed into my account that I can then report to Paypal to be verified. The holiday may have slowed it down this time. If I don't see anything tomorrow, I can again contact Paypal.

I also placed wanted listings on Freecycle.org for a pet stroller so I can continue to take Claire on our walks, and for empty jars/cans that I can make into banks to be placed at local businesses.

I contacted The Brittany Foundation over the weekend. Spoke with their head person today, and they will sponsor our grant application to the LA Breakfast Club!

Disappointingly, Claire and I received an email denial letter from The Mosby Foundation. We were turned down due to a lack of resources within the foundation.

I visited the local pet store I went to on Friday, when the manager wasn't in. Spoke to her personally today, and she will consider whether or not to allow me to place a donation jar for Claire near their register. I have to check back with her later in the week.

And, I finished off my 2010 taxes, so I can apply to other foundations in earnest starting tomorrow. I know this week will be the most intense in terms of fundraising for Claire. I'm trying hard not to pin all my hopes on this effort, but I think it's our best shot.

The weather is waning--it was only 90 degrees today! I'm sure it felt like more in the apartment, but I'm still providing pedialyte along with water, running the ceiling fan in the bedroom, and watering the yard a bit to keep things moist. I'd like to limit my hours away even further so I can leave both the doors open for ventilation, but certain things need to be done right now. And, truthfully, we've weathered even hotter days here in the past, though with Claire on bedrest, I'm unable to steal the dogs away into air conditioning elsewhere. One summer I frequented a Barnes and Noble cafe with the dogs in their "L.A." carrier, which looked like a trendy purse.

Claire's 2nd Acupuncture Treatment and the Zoom Room

Claire doesn't like camera flashes. She does like to be wiggly when getting acupuncture in front of mom, which causes the needles to fall out of her skin, which means they have to be re-secured. Mom hastily snapped a couple pictures before Claire went to the back of the clinic with the vet to get her acupuncture treatment in privacy, where she could sit calmly for the 15 minutes that the needles have to stay in. So these pictures don't show all the needles they use on her at once, but they show the size of the needles in relation to little Claire, and some of what it's like.

I expected our first visit to Dr. Grey to be a bit pricey due to the initial consultation. But I thought after we met and talked, the fee would go down since we'd be quickly in and out with only an acupuncture treatment. So I was surprised today when the fee was over a hundred bucks, and was told that though the receipt was split into office visit & acupuncture, that was simply "how the computer works" and the total was the actual price of acupuncture. Claire is supposed to have another session on Tuesday, but I left without making an appointment as I can't continue to spend this way. I'll have to call Dr. Grey tomorrow to discuss it with her directly and am hoping she can waive a portion of the fee.

I've started pulling back a bit on the pain meds. They seemed to be making Claire constipated, and that was just worsening the situation for her. I'm glad I have the prescriptions filled and at the ready, and if she starts yelping, I can react immediately. Claire's still on restricted rest, meaning I'm keeping her in the bedroom where she can't jump up on anything, and I'm trying not to pick her up. She's obviously not going on walks with Chance and me. She's eating the Dismuzyme pill Dr Grey prescribed a couple days ago, but the Traumeel, which is a dropper to be applied to the gums, isn't working well--Claire doesn't like anything to be squirted at her! I've also left Pedialyte in her crate, as I thought all the pain meds had been sapping her will to drink and leaving her a bit dehydrated.

My day started with receipts, taxes, and more receipts. I'm making progress and should finish up tomorrow, so we can start applying to private foundations for help with Claire's medical costs.

After several more phone calls, we finally figured out what's going on with PayPal & the ChipIn: I erroneously entered Claire's bank account as checking (it's savings), so the verification got rejected. It's corrected now, but we're back at the beginning of the process and have to wait another three or four days for it to go through. Ugh!

This evening to continue networking I contacted Jen's List, a Meetup Chihuahua doggy playgroup on the Westside that we've belonged to for quite a while, and my Compact listserv, which goes out to thousands of people daily. The word is getting out, and we're at 99 people on Facebook! I didn't want to waste raffle prizes when I didn't have a big group to appeal to but I think by next week I can set some of those up!

Thanks to a Facebook friend, I headed this evening to meet with David Essex, the owner at Zoom Room Culver City. Zoom Room offers itself as a space for dog training & canine social club. David kindly placed a collection jar for Claire at Zoom Room and is brainstorming how to help further. I wish Chance was a little bit calmer so he could enjoy agility! The dogs involved clearly loved it, and the handlers looked like they were having fun too.

Monday--Banks and Blogs

(Claire sleeping with a smile April 2011)

I went to sleep last night knowing Monday would be a better day, and woke up to find $120 had been deposited to Claire's ChipIn fund! Unfortunately, the ChipIn still says $0 donated, and I think it's because I've been unable to claim the funds so far. The final step in the ChipIn setup requires a Paypal account linked to a bank account. Since I have paypal for my Etsy shop, I kept getting error messages when trying to set up something for Claire. So this morning started with another trip to the bank, to close the account I'd just opened on Friday (that was linked to my own) and establish an entirely separate one that I could link up to Paypal. I also deposited everything raised yesterday at Nuts for Mutts, bringing the total raised so far (including the ChipIn funds) to $616.86.

We had a follow-up phone call this afternoon with Dr. Gorgi, Claire's surgeon. He didn't have much to add but did say he'll give us 20% off on the surgery when we've met our goal.

After researching a few more, I chose a therapist to use for Claire--at least to start. She has an appointment tomorrow (Tues 6/28) afternoon with Dr. Jackie Grey at Limehouse Vetrinary in Toluca Lake. It's close to the house, and she was recommended by another dog owner in the neighborhood. Claire's surgeon, Dr. Gorgi, said he's had a couple clients go to her in the past with positive results. But he also spoke strongly against chiropractic care for Claire's condition, recommending accupuncture instead. I ordered Claire's records and will pick up a copy of the MRI images before seeing the new vet. I feel like I'm getting a second opinion tomorrow and can only judge as I go--at this moment, I'm not convinced by anyone.

I ran out of pain meds for Claire over the weekend, when all pharmacies were closed. I finally found a compounding pharmacy in my neighborhood today, but filled another prescription that did not need to be compounded at Costco, for fear that the compounding place would be much more expensive. When I compared their pricing, they were about 33% more than Costco, so I was glad I'd split them up, though it took nearly two hours to get both errands done. But to their credit, the compounding pharmacy told me in future they would match the Costco pricing for me to save me an additional trip. So for anyone in a similar position, it's worth it to do your research--then ask to price match. The worst that can happen is being turned down.

The majority of the day was all about Claire's blog. I want a site independent of Facebook for those who aren't on it. I'll use the blog to encourage donations and allow donors to track Claire's progress and recovery, as a journal to help me track whom I have approached and the responses, and as a resource for others who face difficulties (monetary or otherwise) in caring for their pet's medical conditions. I'm hoping the sidebars and resources will be useful to others long after we've been through this process and that some good will come of our story. Not to mention, on a blog we can use affiliate opportunities to raise funds through click-throughs and online purchasing, as well as administer raffles and other giveaways.

While I was blogging, a kind friend helped me begin to pull together my financials. I should be current by the end of the week, which will enable me to apply to more private foundations.

Goodnight kisses from Claire~