Ariel Is Healing — But I’m Breaking Trying to Keep Up
Good morning from Ariel.
This article is an update to our ongoing story. You can read the original post about Ariel’s surgery and our fundraiser here: Help Cover Ariel’s Surgery and Recovery Costs.
Today, I’m sharing two short videos — one before her last surgery and one after (attached below). I hesitated before posting them. Not because they are graphic, but because they show something deeply personal: how much pain she was in, and how fragile recovery really looks.
Ariel is not a story about a miracle recovery. She is a story about endurance.
We rescued her when she was just two months old. From the beginning, she was gentle, loyal, and quietly joyful — the kind of dog who stays close without asking for anything. I never imagined that so much of her young life would be spent recovering from surgeries instead of running freely.
She has already endured two major orthopedic surgeries on her back legs. We paid for those ourselves, because at the time, we could. You do not hesitate when it’s your family.
But on December 19, 2025, Ariel needed a third, critical surgery for bilateral elbow dysplasia in both front legs. Without it, her pain would have worsened and permanent joint damage was inevitable.
That surgery cost $7,140. I put it on a credit card. Not because it was comfortable — but because the alternative was letting her live in pain.
Why I Can’t Do This Alone Anymore
We managed Ariel’s first two surgeries during a very different chapter. In October 2025, everything changed. My husband lost his job, and our household income was cut by more than half — overnight.
Now, my income is the only income. My bi-weekly take-home pay is about $2,400. Our fixed monthly expenses already exceed that:
Mortgage: $3,163
HOA: $531
Health insurance: $543
Utilities: $300–400
Car insurance: $219
Food and basic costs
Plus, the ongoing $393/month for her second surgery, through May 2026.
There is no financial buffer left. There is only juggling, delaying, and hoping nothing else breaks.
I am not asking for help because I didn’t plan. I am asking because I planned — and still ran out of ground.
What Recovery Really Looks Like
Recovery is quiet. It’s slow walks and restricted movement. It’s watching closely for signs of pain. Right now, part of Ariel’s care includes something simple: I cook бульон из куриных ножек — a rich, collagen-packed chicken leg broth to support her joints and healing.
It won’t erase what she’s been through, but it’s one of the small, steady ways I’m trying to give her body every chance to heal.
The videos show improvement — but they also show vulnerability. Healing is happening, but it’s fragile.
How You Can Help Us Right Now
We are raising $8,000 to cover:
Ariel’s third surgery bill ($7,140)
Essential recovery costs: medications, follow-up visits, and post-op care
This campaign is not about comfort. It’s about survival without collapse — both financial and emotional.
If you are able to donate, you are directly helping lift a weight that is becoming unbearable.
If you cannot donate, sharing this story helps more than you know.
If all you can do is read and care — thank you. That matters, too.
Ariel is healing.
I am doing everything I can to hold things together.
Thank you for seeing us,
Natalia
GoFundMe link
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Ariel before surgery
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