A woman flew her beloved dog over 4,000 miles for a life-saving surgery spending £25,000 ($30,000).
Hannah Erganian Robinson, 40, felt she had no other option than to fly her Chihuahua from Kansas, US, to Cambridge in the UK for a life-saving heart surgery.
The surgery wasn't available in the US for Blanche, the rescue pup, who was diagnosed with congestive heart failure.
Hannah shared: "We drove for eight hours from Kansas to Denver, and then flew nine and a half hours to London Heathrow travelling over 4,000 miles.”
"The particular operation she needed wasn't available in the US, and when I decided to go to the UK people told me I was crazy.”
"I don't know for sure how old she is as she's a rescue, but I think she's around eight or nine years old,” she said.
Hannah shared that the cost of the surgery didn’t bother her, “ it's a journey you take when you love something, and you do everything you can.”
"When Blanche was diagnosed with heart failure, they gave her a year to live, so getting over to the UK for the surgery as well as battling the waiting list was a race against time.
"When I finally got a call to say I had three weeks to get there I booked my flights straight away and we went.
When Hannah arrived at the vets in the UK, she was told her beloved dog might not make it, but she was willing to take the risk.
She adds: "She was very sick when we were finally able to fly, it was nearly the year anniversary of her diagnosis.
"After her surgery, I got a call at nine at night telling me she might not make it through the night, I begged to see her, and they bent the rules and let me go in to see her. I gave her my shirt so she could at least smell me and not think I had abandoned her.
"I got another call at six in the morning telling me she had made it through the night. My heart sank when I was getting the call as I thought it was going to be bad news, but I couldn't believe it.
"She had some breathing difficulties after the surgery which they didn't think she would pull through, but when she got better, they told me they had no medical explanation as to why she was getting better, but she was.
In total with vet bills, flights, hotel and expenses I spent around £25,000 ($30,000) but it was so worth it.
"This surgery isn't available in America, so when we returned after a month of being in the UK, all the vets were so in awe of Blanche. I want everyone to know this surgery is available and can be done.”
"Blanche is now living her best life. I joke that she's the most expensive free dog but she's happy and healthy now. I want people to know that people can go to extremes for pets.”
