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UPDATE | December 2022
Boyana is walking!
Watch the video below to see the sweet girl use her paralyzed legs via spinal walking — a specific motor function in paraplegic animals with spinal cord injuries, which can allow them to walk almost normally again.
Another amazing update from the medical staff helping Boyana is, that she has gone to the toilet a few times completely on her own! A serious complication of spinal damage is losing the ability to control toilet functions, and our girl is on her way to beating that challenge as well.
Boyana is receiving physiotherapy and rehabilitation with electrical stimulation (FES). The treatment increases muscle activity, strengthens muscle groups and will significantly improve her ability to carry out functional activities such as walking. The therapy is helping Boyana develop spinal walking — a specific motor function in paraplegic animals with spinal cord injuries, which can allow them to walk almost normally again.
Please help Boyana continue to receive the critical physiotherapy and rehabilitation treatment which is helping her walk again, by donating below.
Let’s make this beautiful girl’s Christmas wish come true!
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UPDATE | November 2022
Boyana was rescued from a river with a bullet hole in her side, her spine damaged by fragments and her hind legs paralyzed.
All this happened back in January, so you may have forgotten her — but we haven’t.
For months now, Boyana has been receiving physiotherapy and rehabilitation with electrical stimulation (FES). The treatment increases muscle activity, strengthens muscle groups and will significantly improve her ability to carry out functional activities such as walking.
The therapy aims to allow Boyana to develop spinal walking — a specific motor function in paraplegic animals with spinal cord injuries, which can allow them to walk almost normally again.
THE BEGINNING | January 2022
BOYANA’S STORY
Boyana was pulled out from a shallow river with a gaping bullet hole in her side. The rescuers took her home, dried her, warmed her up… and realized she was paralyzed; that’s when they contacted us for help.
Boyana’s spine has taken a direct hit, bone and bullet fragments have sprayed into the spinal column, causing compression and swelling — but X-ray imaging suggests she may not have suffered a complete spinal cord injury. Such an injury would result in permanent loss of sensation and muscle function in the body below the injury site.
After Boyana was thoroughly examined by a senior neurosurgeon, we were told that there is a chance to successfully remove the fragments, decompress the spinal cord and save not only her life — but also her happiness, returning the use of her legs to her. The surgery must happen as soon as possible since prolonged compression of the spinal cord could cause further damage.
Boyana is stable, strong, continues to smile despite her ordeal, and… would love to run again.
Please help her today.
Donate with debit/credit card or Paypal, USD:
Donate with debit/credit card or Paypal, EUR:
Donate with debit/credit card or Paypal, GBP:
* You can donate in any other currency and it will be automatically converted.
* Paypal occasionally experiences issues so please try again later if you encounter a problem while using their website.