Ruffles story.

Please read to the end, it's long, but you need the whole story. Believe me, we don't take this lightly asking for help..

Ruffles is a gorgeous 9 year old Shar Pei, he was a gift to us from a close family friend, who have mum (who sadly passed away recently), dad & his sister.

From the day Ruffles was born, we loved him, but we had no idea how much we would grow to REALLY love him, like he were any other member or the family. We cannot imagine life without him now.

Ruffles bless his heart, has had his share of troubles, but has always been the happiest, most loving, adorable boy.

When Ruffles was younger, he had some skin problems & had to have 2 seperate operations on his eyes, to remove scar tissue from having them tacked as a pup. Naturally these weren't covered by insurance, and when you declare these things to insurance, the premiums go sky high. So instead, we decided we would put money in an account for him. But then something comes up, and you have to dip into it. You know how it is.

Ruffles had lots of tummy problems, we were back and forth to vets all the time, B12 injections, blood tests, antibiotics, steroids, castration, dew claw removal (through his own daft fault), overnight on drips, the list goes for miles. But we paid it all, with alot of help from Nanny. But we always managed. Our boy never ever went without.

So his tummy problems were kind of always on going, it became 'normal' for Ruffles, still we went back and forward, the B12 injections helped for a while, we had steriods for inflammation, antibiotics because he 'must have eaten something he shouldn't' which he was known for, just ask the winged feathery community in Essex! 🐦

Then we found the shar pei communities on facebook. What an absolute god send. We learnt about raw feeding and what rubbish the purina food was we had been feeding, that our vet promised was THE BEST we could give, we thought this raw feeding sounds amazing, so we bought a ton in from Nutriment, Ruffles got SO sick, he lost so much weight. So we switched him to Carnilove (grain & potato free). Eventually he started putting weight back on. We had a few boughts of sickness, but we assumed his tummy was adjusting. Back & forward to vet, more sterioids & antibiotics. Really starting to get somewhere now..... Then suddenly, he was REALLY sick, holding NOTHING down. We got him straight into vet, they scanned him and our absolute worst nightmare. They found a mass. We were given the option to leave him asleep (I think my response was VERY sweary) or to go in & remove or the option we choose... take a biopsy, so they knew what they were dealing with, then hopefully go in & remove. Inital biopsy came back as a ruptured absess. We were delighted (well, given the alternative). He went in for the op, all went well, however, the local lymph node was enlarged, which showed some sort of infection had come from this mass. A few days later, after more tests on this mass, showed it was Intestinal Adenocarcinoma.

There are no words, we were absolutely heartbroken. I couldn't face work, I just wanted to be with my boy. Ive failed him. I could have done more. All the thoughts in my mind. I couldn't imagine my life without him. Even now, as I tell you his story I sit in tears. It absolutely breaks my heart, what this poor gentle soul has been through.

We were told we could go for chemo, but in not so many words, there wasn't much point. He was given I think 9-10 mths withouth treatement, 12 mths with. So immediately I'm working out, will he be here for his next birthday? Will he be here next summer, his FAVOURITE time of year.

I couldn't function. My mum was really strong. Shes usually the cryer 🙈 I NEVER cry, I would sooner walk across molton lava. I just couldn't care. It took a while to get our head around everything.

We started Bovine colostrum, CBD oil, golden paste. Plus home cooked turkey, fish & chicken to encourage him to eat. My mums positivity and that gorgeous boy, kept us going through one of the hardest times of my life. Ruffles was eating so well, 3 weeks after his op, we started the chemo at a specialist 1.5 hour drive away from us. But, We needed to do more, we reached out and met a wonderful lady called Diane who is a spiritual healer, Ruffles wasn't the most cooperative, but she said she could feel he wanted to stay here with us. That was all we needed, it gave us hope and reassurance. She also told us to make a facebook group and ask for our family and friends to send their healing thoughts and energies. Which we did. I know not everyone believes, but I do. It gives me comfort, and I think it helped our boy in his fight.

So fastforward a couple of months. Ruffles has his 4th lot of chemo & we were asked to come back 2 weeks later for another scan. At this point we've outlaid about £5,000. I don't know how we've managed to get by. The vet fees have mostly been paid by a loan I took out specifically & some help from my nan. My mums gradually been paying off our normal vets bill, which was just over £2,000, we still have a few hundred owing to them, but they aren't as strict about payment as the specialist. The food, the supplements, the home cooked foods, petrol for the back and forth, lost days wages at work to take Ruffles. It all adds up. Until now, we've scraped by.

So the scan after the 4 lots of chemo, was around £1000. We were allowed (by the skin of our teeth) to put this on a payment plan, so we paid the first instalment of £327 there and then. With a further £327 to be paid on 1.10.17 then another £327 on 1.11.17, with the understanding anymore bills incurred had to be paid in full, and default of these payments invalidate the agreement and full balance would be due immediately.

The scan showed some shadowing they were concerned about and some thickening of the original scar tissue. Fortunately the biopsys show no tumour cells. Which is fantastic and Ruffles has defied all odds.

So now, we have been advised to do 2 more lots of chemo. £535 that we had to paid in full today for the 1st dose. And other in 3 weeks which will be about the same price again.

They then want to rescan as reassses where we are, because the particular tumour he had, was very agressive. Then continue indefinitely with a low dose chemo, and scan at regular intervals. The scans alone are £1000 a time, the chemos are £500 a time.

We are at a point now, where we have exhausted all options, we can't magic any more money.

Now believe me when I say that I do this with a heavy heart, but I'm reaching out again. I'm hoping my family, friends and Shar Pei lovers alike, will help us in our journey. Ruffles thus far has proven the vets and specialists wrong. If we had listened to them, and I can't bear to type the words, but if we had 'left him asleep' I would never have forgiven myself, I would have always wondered what if. Now, I'm so happy we fought, and we will continue to fight, as long as Ruffles wants to. Ultimately, we will ONLY do what is in his interest and what IS working & helping him.

But, we need help. We have come this far, we will not give up. This is where you come in. Can you PLEASE dig deep and make a contribution to the ongoing treatment for my gorgeous boy.

Anything you can manage will help, it all adds up. Anything surplus to requirements will be donated to a Shar Pei Charity, to be confirmed if/when that day comes. We will continue to spread the things we have been taught in the Shar Pei groups, and honestly we can't thank everyone who has helped us along the way enough. I strongly believe we wouldn't be where we are now without you.

I'll stop rambling now. Thank you for any donations, and if you can't afford to help, well thank you for reading Ruffles story. You can follow his journey by searching 'Healing Energy for Ruffles' on facebook.

Thank you, lots of love from Ruffles, Michelle & Danielle 💙❤️💖

I have been as transparent with the fees & treatments as I can, if you want to know anymore.. please just ask.

Ruffles at 17kg vs Ruffles now at 24kg.

Thank you so much 😘😘😘