A Langley mother is grateful for those who donated to her family鈥檚 online fundraiser to help their pet bearded dragon get the gynecological surgery it so desperately needed.
Jackee Sullivan set out to raise $600 for the family鈥檚 鈥渓ittle spitfire鈥� Guinevere, who required an ovariectomy 鈥� the surgical removal of one or both ovaries.
The mother of two said she and her partner had accepted the cost of surgery for 鈥淕wenny鈥�, but were met with further anxiety after reading the fine print on the contract outlining the possible outcomes of the procedure and the possibility that something could go wrong.
The pair had budgeted for the surgery, but feared the cost could rapidly increase should further intervention be required during the procedure. They feared they would be left with no dragon and fewer dollars.
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Despite the unknowns Gwenny went under the knife on Tuesday.
Later that same day Sullivan鈥檚 greatest fear was realized.
鈥淯nfortunately Gwenny didn鈥檛 survive the procedure,鈥� she told the Langley Advance Times. 鈥淭he surgery itself went well, but she wasn鈥檛 able to wake up afterwards.鈥�
Sullivan described Gwenny鈥檚 condition a 鈥渞are case with an unknown outcome.鈥�
鈥淚 only know how rare it is because of the lack of info,鈥� she said.
Sullivan and her family adopted Gwenny in July last year, when she was just 11 weeks old.
During her young life, the reptile鈥檚 鈥渋mmature鈥� body had developed two conditions, Sullivan explained, pre- and post-ovulatory stasis, meaning her follicles failed to ovulate and couldn鈥檛 pass the eggs stuck inside of her.
鈥淭hanks to the GoFundMe, we have been able to lessen the blow to our hearts and wallets and feel blessed by the love of strangers,鈥� Sullivan said.
She estimates the family has spent $1,600 on Gwenny鈥檚 care since her initial visit to the vet on March 29. The final cost will be slightly higher, she said, as the family plans to have Gwenny cremated.
鈥淲e were prepared for every outcome except this one,鈥� Sullivan said.
To help offset the cost of Gwenny鈥檚 medical bills Sullivan had organized a GoFundMe fundraiser. For every $6 donation made the donor received a Gwenny sticker designed by Canadian animal-loving artist Mackenzie Tremlay of Pilots Patience.
As of Wednesday the GoFundMe had raised $730.
To donate to Gwenny鈥檚 cause visit ca.gofundme.com and search, 鈥�Gwenny Surgery Donations.鈥�
@JotiGrewal_
joti.grewal@blackpress.ca
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