STILLWATER, Minn. - Important friendships and incredible bonds are formed over time. For a Stillwater woman, one of her greatest relationships is with her dog.
Lisa Abankwa has been told that her 6-year-old dog, Maggie, will need a $4,000 surgery to fix a torn ligament in her leg. She tore the ligament a few months ago while playing with another dog.
"I just want to see her fixed again, so she can run and play," Abankwa said.
Abankwa said she can't afford the surgery.
"My medical bills have taken everything that we have," she said.
Five years ago doctors found a tumor on Abankwa's lower intestinal tract. Radiation helped remove the tumor, but killed her pancreas. She didn't expect to live and started making arrangements for Maggie.
"She laid next to me the whole time. Every time I'd move she'd move to look where I was going, what I was doing, making sure I was OK and when I'd cry she'd lick my tears," Abankwa said.
Abankwa's medical bills topped $65,000, but her pancreas is working again.
Just when she thought her family was on the path to recovery, Maggie got injured. A Facebook page dedicated to Maggie has already raised $2,000.
Maggie has come a long way from her rescue dog days and Abankwa says she won't stop trying to make life better.
Maggie's owner says if she can't raise the full amount she may have to give Maggie away to someone who can pay for surgery.
She says she doesn't want to, but will do what's best for Maggie.
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