Ona midsummer update

Just a brief note to let you know that Ona is recovering well and we spent the midsummer night together in Stockholm. The midsummer festivities really is something typically Swedish, as we celebrate the brightest night of the year. Well, I can assure you that this night was really bright although the rain was pouring down. But I and Ona were together again and she is getting stronger all the time and is now able to walk without any troubles. Who could ask for more?

Thank you so much also to our dear friends who have made a contribution to Ona's care and way back to life. These warmhearted people have recently made a donation to help covering her hospital bills:

Lars Bygdén, Sävar, Sweden
Sandra Niininen, Sweden
Göran Lindemark, Stockholm, Sweden
Ulrika, Norrköping, Sweden
Jenny Lingström, Sweden
Thomas Eriksson, Sweden
Sotaro Sakamoto, Japan

Up till now $647.77 has been donated through PayPal (after deduction of PayPal fees) plus SEK 50.
SEK 2 220 ($280.82) has come in to our Swedish plus giro account.
SEK 700 ($65.47) has arrived by letter.

This makes $994.06 or SEK 7 858. In addition I have sold off vinyl records for SEK 3 647 ($461.33) which means that the funds for Ona's hospital bills are now up to $1 455.39 (SEK 11 505.30). We are almost half way already and there is still ten days to go before the hospital bill has to be paid. All of a sudden it's starting to feel like a realistic goal.

Thank you so much to you all and best wishes from Ona and me. By the way, if you would like to leave a comment please feel free to do so.

Ona home again and recovering

Now finally it seems that the insurance company and the animals hospital have settled the payent and when I today arrived at the hospital to pick up Ona I was asked for $3 500 in cash before they would let her go. Fortunately, after some talk with the veterinarian, Ona was released although I did not have that amount with me and an invoice will be sent of the outstanding amount with ten days to pay. If any of you know of any music enthusiasts and record collectors, please send them to my site http://www.rock.x.se/ where I am selling off all records at half price (50% discount) to help pay the hospital bills.

On the positive side Ona seems to be recovering very fast and today when we went out for a walk after returning to Stockholm she seemed so much stronger and could walk better than she ever has after the operation. So there is definitely hope.

Take care all our friends and have a great weekend.

Update: Ona back in hospital

When I arrived in Stockholm yesterday I could see that Ona's right front leg was red and swollen and could not support her. We immediately rushed in to the animals hospital Bagarmossens Djursjukhus and after several hours of waiting due to emergencies we finally had her X-rayed and it seems like the cause of her problems is an infection of some sort as nothing that was broken could be seen. I am waiting to hear from the hospital soon and keep my fingers crossed. Love you, my friend. Once again: thank you all for your support. It has made such a difference and we are impressed by the kindness you have shown, not only through donations but also by spreading the word about Ona and this blog via your personal network. This is most important.

I am also selling off my record collection to support Ona and if you know of any vinyl collectors out there please tell them about my site http://www.rock.x.se/ where everything is sold at half price. Also, I am letting my personal collection go if anybody out there has any special wants. The most important thing right now is helping Ona back to life.

Update: Something has happened to Ona

After recovering speedily day by day something has happened. I just got a phone call from Stockholm that Ona can no longer walk. I don't know what has happened but I'm on my way to Stockholm as fast as I can. I'll let you know what happens.

Ona is back home again!

Well, actually she is staying with her former family in Stockholm for the time being as she is unable to walk stairs. But I am happy to tell you that she is recovering rapidly and gets stronger and stronger each day. Thank you so much for your support, my dear friends! You know, we find it hard to believe that there still are such kind and caring people in the world. This is a positive sign which shows us that there is still hope for mankind. Whenever I can do something for you in return don't hesitate to tell me.

Quite unexpectedly the final hospital bill has not yet been presented and still Ona was able to leave the hospital. We are waiting for an invoice to arrive now but the most important thing is that we have got more time to solve the situation financially. You, my friends, have made such a great difference by your kind donations and I and Ona will never forget youyr kindness. Take care all and our sincere thanks once again.

Ona on the air in Toledo, OH!

Believe it or not but my little Ona and her cause will soon be mentioned on the air over NewsTalk 1370 WSPD in Toledo, OH. I cannot help but feeling that the angels of Ohio are indeed something special. With the kind permission of Program Director Brian Wilson (as far as I know not the Beach Boys' songwriting genius!) I quote his mail below:

Ronny, Happy that Ona will recover; handsome dog. Always loved breed. We are Golden Retriever owners and can empathize with your situation.Too short notice for the station to do anything significant -- but I will mention your story on the air and provide all relevant information. Good luck to you and best wishes for a s speedy recovery to Ona.

Thank you, Brian. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Angels come in all shapes and sizes and usually don't have wings.

Well, what can I say. The title is a quote from one of the contributors to the cause of saving Ona, Cassandra of Kent, OH. And if angels don't have wings, surely Ohio must be heaven! The support from pet lovers in Ohio keep on coming and Ona and I are very grateful to the following recent donators:

Fran Burkert, OH, USA
Pam Benjamin, OH, USA
Diane Lassan, Kent, OH, USA
Cassandra Ribita, Kent, OH, USA
Debbie Morris, Lilburn, GA, USA
(Debbie also runs the Canine Complex which provides boarding, day care and training services for dogs.)

Up till now $550 has been donated through PayPal (after deduction of PayPal fees) plus SEK 50.
SEK 1 100 ($144.02) has come in to the Swedish plus giro account.
SEK 500 ($65.47) arrived in a letter.

This makes $759.49 or SEK 5 845. Yes, it's hard to grab but somehow we can feel the touch of an angel's wings right now. Thank you so much for your support, my dear friends! All of a sudden the goal of $5 000 is starting to feel realistic.

Update: Ona is recovering and the bill will be presented tomorrow Thursday

My friends,

If you only knew the gratitude and appreciation that I feel for your kindness (and I think Ona feels the same). What at first seemed like a futile idea has actually started taking off and all of a sudden we are regaining hope. I am selling off what personal property I can as fast as possible and tomorrow, Thursday June 11, I will visit the hospital at 13.50/1.50 PM local Swedish time/CET to receive the final bill as Ona is examined. So there is still hope. That is 7.50 AM local time in Ohio where many of our friends seem to be living. Our sincere thanks to you who have made donations for saving Ona sofar:

Tina Larsson, Sweden
Bob Opper, Lakewood, OH, USA
David Elswick, Ravenna, OH, USA
Marion Sue Lane, Stow, OH, USA
(Sue's little Samojed friend Sammy had a hip replacement operation in January which cost $5 000 plus. Hope Sammy is well by now and give him a big hug from Ona and me, Sue!)
Tore Larsson, Falköping, Sweden
Betsy Hagan, Tallmadge, OH, USA
Karin Engström, Malmö, Sweden (at present in China)
Seve Ungermark, Stockholm, Sweden
Lena Petterson, Sweden

Sofar $152.56 has been donated through PayPal (after deduction of PayPal fees) plus SEK 50.
SEK 1 100 ($144.02) has come in to the Swedish plus giro account.
SEK 500 ($65.47) arrived in a letter.

This totals $368.59or SEK 2 818. We are on our way!

God bless you Bob, from me and Ona

I'm not saying I am a believer in the religious sense of the word. But saying 'God bless you' is also a way of wishing somebody well and showing your appreciation. At this moment we cannot help but using this phrase. God bless you, Bob Opper of Ohio, USA. He has donated $50 to help Ona and with his kind permission I quote a few passages from his mail:

I am a dog lover myself (though currently I have a cat- I guess I love them, too). I wish you and Ona well, my good friend. Nothing inappropriate about your request as far as I am concerned. We are put on the Earth for a reason and whether one believes in a God or not, I am not sure how we can turn our backs on those with need whether they have feet or paws. Your and my paths have crossed, hopefully for our mutual benefits. We are connected...Iam happy to help... Give her a hug from me...

God bless you, Bob.

Latest update: Ona is recovering fast and deadline has been postponed another day

Sofar there are very few visitors to this blog but naturally you who have come here want to know what is happening. I am happy to tell you that we have got some respit. Ona has been able to leave the hospital and she is at the moment staying at her former home in Södermalm, Stockholm, Sweden. She really is a trooper! Although she can hardly walk she has a motivation and a lust for life which I can hardly describe. She seems impatient to come back as soon as she possibly can and I simply must do everything within my power to help her. Her both legs are put on cast and she will have these on until Wednesday.

At the moment this blog has perhaps 10-20 unique daily visitors and there is where you can help. If you feel that you want to help Ona back to life please spread the message through your personal networks. I am not expecting everybody else to solve our problems. At the moment I am selling off what I can myself to raise as much money as possible to pay for her hospital bills but there is also the time factor. The final bill has not yet been presented but I just spoke to the hospital and at the moment the costs are about SEK 40 500 or $5 135. But that will rise. Insurance covers 20 000/$2 538 and it is expected that the total costs for her imminent care will end up at around $5 000 on top of that.

This blog does not carry any advertising and whether or not it will succeed to help Ona depends on donations. Honestly, every single dollar or SEK does make a difference. I realize that the step between feeling sympathy and actually making a donation may be too much out of the daily routines for some people. But the donation doesn't need to be big! Surely you can contribute a dollar or two? At least that is our hope.

The goal is very clear: to raise $5 000 during June 2009 which will be sufficient to save Ona. At the moment a donation of SEK 50 ($6.35) has been received and that is a first step. Thanks again, Tina!

More updates will follow soon.

A small step for mankind - but a giant step for Ona and me

When you are going to walk a thousand miles, the old Chinese saying goes, the most difficult part is taking the first step. Well, now the first step has been taken. Thank you so much, Tina Larsson of Sweden for your kind contribution. All of a sudden our hope is returning. Ona sends her love to you. If any visitor feel like you would like to support Ona's care please use the "donate" button to the right to give a small contribution. Every single dollar will help.

Ona needs your help

My name is Ronny Forslund, Stockholm, Sweden and this is Ona, a Pyrenean Mountain Dog (Great Pyrenée). My best friend. She was seriously injured in an accident on May 31 and had her both front legs broken. Since then she has been staying at the Bagarmossen Animal Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden and she was operated on Thursday, June 4. Sofar the operation has been successful and she is gradually recovering.

The problem is that Ona is eight years old and thus her insurance covers care only up to SEK 20 000 or US$ 2565. The rate for each day she stays at the hospital is SEK 2 000/US$ 257. The actual operation cost SEK 35 000/US$ 4 488 and it is expected that she will have to remain in hospital until Monday, June 8. I do not have the money needed to save her. I would gladly take a loan to pay for her care but as my credit history has been damaged by a tax debt many years ago I cannot get a loan. Paying back a loan on a monthly basis is not a problem but my credit history stops me from obtaining one.

In my desperation I am now asking the international blogging community for help. For the purpose I have set up this blog. It is my hope that some of you will want to help Ona by a small contribution so she can come back home. If the hospital bills are not paid, Ona will have to die, maybe being put to sleep forever by the very same veterinary surgeon who operated her. If you feel that you would like to help Ona your donations are highly welcome. Every single dollar brings us nearer our goal - to let this wonderful friend live and bring her home.

Why would anybody go to such extremes for saving the life of an eight years old dog? you may ask yourself. For me, the answer is very simple. She wants to live. Her lust for life is heartbreaking and even though we may have three years left together at the most, I simply cannot let her down when she needs me. Over the years she has spread her energy and power to everybody around her and I could never feel comfortable again if I knew I had not done all that I could to save her.

I am aware of the power of social media and this is our last hope. If you feel that you wish to make a contribution to save Ona please use the 'Donate' button to the right. You will have our eternal gratitude.