Bay Lee’s Race
Scotty and Jahnette Wilson reached out to Wild Hearts shortly after their own experience navigating life with their pup, Bay Lee.
“We have a pup with IVDD, @baybaytheboykin. She just had an MRI + surgery. Additionally, we bought her wheels and countless other items. We understand the expense involved in these situations, so we want to raise money to help other families out.”
Our Story
November 2021 was when we noticed Bay Lee having some issues with her back right leg as she was limping a bit. We took her to the vet and was told that she had arthritis. She was prescribed an anti-inflammatory. In December things went from bad to worse. She was knuckling her right paw and walking on top of it. Additionally, she was also crossing her back legs and falling. We took her back to the vet. It was at that point that our vet told us that our sweet Bay had a presumptive diagnosis of Degenerative Myelopathy (DM). Within just 1 month, she could not walk. The fast progression of the disease was terrifying. We did everything we could to help her. We got her wheels. We put runners down throughout the house to keep her from slipping on the tile floor. We bought her some non-slip socks and shoes. We read everything we could about DM in an effort to support her. We even started an Instagram account for Bay just to have a place to post her pictures and videos. At the end of January, someone reached out to us through direct messaging and asked if we were sure Bay Lee had DM. Of course, the answer was “no” as the diagnosis is presumptive, at best. Long story, short, we managed to get her in to see a neurologist, and had an MRI done. The results came back with an Invertebrate Disc Disease (IVDD) diagnosis. Within one day of prednisone following the MRI, Bay Lee was not crossing her legs anymore, and she was trying to stand. The neurologist felt that Bay was a prime candidate for back surgery. We took a deep breath, and said, “Do it.” One week later, Bay Lee had surgery. Two weeks post op, Bay could walk…with help… and very little knuckling.We still have a way to go, but her prognosis is positive. Every day is a new day. We learn more each day that passes.
We had no idea what DM or IVDD even was when all of this began. We joined every DM and IVDD support group we could find. The stories of the sweet fur babies who are afflicted with DM, IVDD, and other debilitating diseases are heart rending. MRIs, surgery, assisted devices like wheels and harnesses are expensive. Many families are simply unable to take on the extra debt that comes with these horrific diseases. Our story has a happy ending. To be clear, we are, by no means, wealthy. We were simply in a position where we were able to make the decision to take on the extra debt. So many others do not get a chance to even hope for a happy ending due to the financial burden placed on their families. That said, a desire was born within us to reach out and help others who are going through the same thing that we just went through.
Founded in 2014, Wild Hearts is an amazing organization that assists mobility impaired pets, providing funding for wheels, veterinary care, and rehabilitative therapy. Dogs with IVDD and DM lose their mobility and with it, their quality of life. Wild Hearts offers families the chance to help their afflicted pets in the best ways possible.
So, we are partnering with Wild Hearts to do a fundraiser. I am going to be participating in an Ironman Race in The Woodlands TX on April 23, 2022. I am dedicating my race to Bay Lee and all the dogs we have met over the past few months who are facing life a little differently due to an IVDD or the dreaded DM diagnosis.
Through this fundraiser, we hope to raise enough money to pay for at least one MRI and one surgery. An MRI costs anywhere from $2,500 to $5,000, and a surgery costs anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000. Wheels are $400, and special harnesses can be anywhere from $40 to $99. Our goal is to raise at least $10,000. Please consider a donation to support this important work.
For more information on Wild Hearts and its mission, please visit this link. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and may God richly bless you and yours!
Scotty and Jahnette Wilson