On 9 May, Michelle and Nathan Taylor took on the Spire Ultra Marathon in Chesterfield inspired by one very special dog – their five year old cocker spaniel, Ella.
Ella is best known for her wagging tail and affection, ready for belly rubs from anyone willing to give her attention. But one day, everything changed.
Without warning, Ella became very unwell. She grew weak, unable to even lift her head. When Michelle and Nathan rushed her to Ambivet in Heanor, her gums were pale, her breathing rapid, and she was severely anaemic. Vets suspected IMHA (immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia), a serious condition where the immune system attacks its own healthy red blood cells.
By the next day, Ella’s condition had deteriorated even further. She was so unwell she had to be carried into the vets and urgently needed a blood transfusion to survive.
Within hours of receiving the call, we were able to supply Ella’s lifesaving blood and the improvement was immediate.
Sadly, just two days later, she relapsed. Because she had already received a transfusion, she now needed closely matched blood to ensure her body would accept another transfusion. It was a Sunday, but as our service operates 24/7, we were able to provide multiple blood types and the necessary testing kits the same day.
Michelle and Nathan were warned that Ella’s condition was critical, but thanks to the dedicated team at Ambivet, the second transfusion worked. Now six months on with medication, Ella is doing well.
‘We will be forever grateful to Pet Blood Bank,’ Michelle said. ‘Without a doubt, she survived due to her transfusion!’
To say thank you, Michelle and Nathan decided to give back by running the Spire Ultra Marathon, raising vital funds to support our charity. They ran for Ella, and now their support will help ensure that more dogs get a second chance.
If you’d like to follow in their footsteps, visit our fundraising pages to find out how you can get involved. Every penny raised helps ensure blood is there for dogs like Ella, whenever it’s needed.
And if your dog is aged between 1 and 8, over 25kg, and is fit and healthy, they could be a lifesaver and help other dogs have the best chance of recovery and life. Visit our dog blood donation pages to learn more.
