Sometimes, despite our best efforts, the odds are just too great. It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our sweet little Falkor.
Falkor came to us deaf and blind, abandoned and in desperate need of care. He was terrified. He couldn’t see, He couldn’t hear, and he didn’t understand what he did wrong. In addition to long term malnutrition, he had a huge load of hookworms. He was very anemic, but oddly, his white blood cell count was also very low. The veterinarians at First Coast Veterinary Specialists did absolutely everything they could for him.
We were hoping he would stabilize once we got rid of the parasites, but he didn't bounce back. We ran full blood work every day, sometimes twice a day. He was on four antibiotics, and several other medications. Every day was slightly better, but he still wasn't out of the woods
Tuesday morning, he ate for the first time. We were excited. Every day, he seemed just a tiny bit better, just enough to keep that glimmer of hope going.
Erin Kupcha transported Falkor to Capital Veterinary Specialists - Jacksonville for an internal medicine consultation with Dr. Walker, and Niki met them there. Dr. Walker's diagnosis of Immune Mediated Neutropenia, while serious, offered another small glimmer of hope. We finally understood what Falkor was battling - his immune system was attacking his neutrophils. Though his counts were still dangerously low, they were slowly improving. We clung to that progress and hoped that with a treatment plan in place, Falkor would overcome this challenge.
With it looking like the worst was behind us, we were making plans to bring Falkor home today. Erin, one of our medical fosters, was on standby, prepared to provide round-the-clock care, including tube feeding if necessary. If there were any problems, she could quickly get him to Dr. Mack or back to First Coast Veterinary. We were all excited and optimistic for his recovery.
At 4 a.m., Falkor's heart stopped. The veterinary team at First Coast Veterinary Emergency acted swiftly, administering CPR and epinephrine, but they were unable to revive him. Dr. Brown delivered the devastating news, leaving us heartbroken.
Falkor, a sweet and gentle soul, will be deeply missed. In his short time with us, he touched countless lives. Unlike his life, his last days were spent being well loved and receiving the best possible care. Our only regret is that we couldn't give him years of the love and care he deserved.
Thank you to Drs. Weldon, Eich, Vukich, Rosen and Brown, and the entire staff at First Coast Veterinary Emergency for taking such good care of him. Your dedication and love for Falkor was evident in every interaction.
Though Falkor's journey was brief, his memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.
To everyone who donated towards Falkor's care, your generosity and support mean the world to us. We are forever grateful for your kindness. We never know what to expect when we bring in a sick or injured animal, but your support is what allows us to take on these difficult cases and give them they best chance at survival.