Service dog gets needed surgery with help from FLORIDA TODAY readers
When Space Coast residents heard about a canine's dilemma, they reached out to help him and his veteran pal.
An injured service dog who’s more than just a pet for an Army veteran is on the mend, with help from across the Space Coast community.
Four-year-old Max has been a trained companion for U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Edward Johnson since 2014. A Cocoa High School graduate, Johnson was shot in the head by a sniper during combat in Iraq in April 2006 and was left with a traumatic brain injury.
But Max is facing health problems of his own. A torn anterior cruciate ligament, ACL, in one leg left the pit bull in need of surgery, to get him back on all fours and able to help his human friend.
And when FLORIDA TODAY readers learned of the situation through a recent story, they reached out. Some made donations; others offered information on good local veterinarians.
Tuesday, Max underwent surgery for his injuries at Island Animal Hospital on Merritt Island.
“He is doing very well. The nurse is keeping him hydrated and he ate some today," Dr. Jeffrey Christiansen, who performed the surgery, said Wednesday.
"He is monitored 24/7. His ACL was completely torn and his meniscus had a tear."
Fat was taken from Max to do stem cell therapy that will help maximize his healing, Christiansen said.
“He gets a stem cell treatment in his knee before he comes home Thursday," the veterinarian said.
A GoFundMe online crowd-funding campaign for Max, with a goal of $8,500, had raised almost $11,000 by Wednesday. On top of that, an anonymous, generous donation was made at Island Animal Hospital toward the surgery, estimated at about $7,000 or more, and other smaller donations were dropped off, too. All funds will go toward Max's surgery, recovery, therapy and other needs.
The Johnsons are grateful beyond words for the community’s kindness, said Edward’s wife, Serena Johnson. Edward suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, among other debilitating injuries.
Max helps keep her husband calm when medicines don’t help or a migraine hits, but with his own pain, doing his job has been hard for Max, said Serena.
“Max is Edward’s lifeline,” said Serena, who added she wants people to know how severe PTSD is “affecting so many.”
“He puts a smile on his face.”
The family is thankful for the encouragement of locals, including surgery tech/coordinator Kayla Hill at Island Animal Hospital.
“She’s the best,” Serena Johnson said. “I am overwhelmed with the outpouring of support for Max and my husband.”
Manderville is FLORIDA TODAY’s community content specialist. Contact Manderville at 321-242-3613 or lmanderville@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @lumanderville