GARDEN PRAIRIE, Ill. – Life has changed in a matter of weeks for an Illinois family who are now doing everything they can to save their four-legged darling.
Three-year-old Mocha almost died from a blastomycosis infection after he apparently contracted a live fungus in the soil around his home.
Doctors eventually removed his infection-ridden right lung, but it cost the Garden Prairie family nearly $11,000 in medical bills. It was an unexpected and huge expense, but Michael Lee and his wife knew Mocha had a will to live, and their two young children adored him.
Three years and nine months ago, the 4-week dark lab first warmed the hearts of the Lee family. The family of three at the time brought their one-year-old daughter with them to pick out the newest addition.
“We all want a dog,” Lee said. “He was our first family dog. He is growing very fast, in very good health.
Back to worse
Moka hit 105 pounds at his peak about six weeks ago. However, the Lees noticed that he was a bit weak. Two weeks later and Mocha’s symptoms still persist. The family was afraid that it was something worse than a cold, so they decided to take him to the vet.
The doctors found that she had a high white blood cell count and sent Mocha home with antibiotics.
“They seem to be helping a little bit, which gives us hope,” Lee said. “But after stopping the antibiotics, he got worse right away.”
Mocha’s heart rate jumped to 55 beats per minute, prompting the family to rush him to an emergency clinic in Bannockburn, Illinois. From there, they drove two hours to Madison, Wisconsin, where Mocha underwent surgery.
There is no price tag on love
The Lees had to make a life-changing decision when doctors gave them the estimate for surgery.
“Can we get a big loan to pay it off to save our dog? Or should we euthanize him? asked Lee.
The family said that, thanks to the luck of God, they got a big loan to pay the medical expenses, which put the family in a difficult situation before Christmas with the two little girls.
“It’s a tough call, but the girls love the dog,” Lee said. “And you can see in his eyes that he wants to stay with us. So it must be done. »
The Lee couple felt that they could not replace life with money, especially the family connection they had with Mocha.
“You can’t spend $11,000 to replace that kind of love,” he said.
After a week of recovery, Mocha will take about ten different medications, half of which must be given twice a day. The family has set up a GoFundMe account to help cover Mocha’s medical bills.
The family said every day is dedicated to Mocha’s recovery. His breathing slowed to about 15 healthy beats per minute. The doctors said that he will continue to take antifungal medication for the next six months.
Can people get blastomycosis?
The Lees now hope to educate as many people as possible about the fungi that lurk in the environment, especially in moist soil and decaying material such as wood and leaves. They hope their experience will help limit the chances of this happening to someone else.
In the United States, the fungus lives mainly in the Midwest, South-Central, and Southeast states, especially in the regions surrounding the Ohio and Mississippi valleys, Great Lakes, and St. Lawrence River. , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. .
People can also get blastomycosis after breathing in microscopic fungal spores from the air. Although most people who breathe in the spores don’t get sick, the CDC says some develop symptoms like fever and cough, and the infection can sometimes become serious if left untreated.
“If you have dirt in your yard, if you have an area where you think your dog might have a fungal infection, ie where there are leaves, there are sticks, there are large piles of dirt, I would keep the dogs away , ” warned Lee.
Above all, Lee added, if you notice anything out of the ordinary and you’re not sure why, get tested for blastomycosis.
“That’s the first thing I start with,” he said. “Because it’s the deadliest.”