Kobe is a loving Maltese who wants to constantly be around people, he was formerly named after Kobe Bryant (NBA player). He enjoys watching TV and barking at dogs and cartoons that show up on all the channels. He loves belly rubs, eating chicken and sleeping on pillows like a human. When we first got him as a puppy, he was the only one that sat there and did nothing while all the other adorable puppies were running around like crazy. Even since then, we knew he was the one!

When Kobe's birthday came in January 2019 when he was ten years old, he went completely deaf. The doctor said he had a low grade heart murmur but I never fully comprehended what that meant. Fast forward to June 1st 2019, my parents were watching Kobe for a few weeks as I often work. This day was special as it was our wedding date. Kobe wore a tux to the wedding and he looked very cute. We always envisioned him being at our wedding! Later that day, my parents took him home, but I said to drop him off at my sisters apartment as I wanted to watch him since it's been a few weeks.

Kobe was acting relatively normal at my sisters apartment. Later that evening, while we were driving him home he was breathing quite rapidly. All night his breathing rate was intense and he did not look the same. We were concerned if he got sick and trying to understand what exactly happened. We took him to the vet the next morning and they found that he had fluid in his lungs. The vet told us to see a cardiologist. A few days later after a cardiologist appointment, he was diagnosed with mitral valve disease and that he developed congestive heart failure as a result. We were told he had only 6-12 months to live and that there's nothing we could do to correct this.

We spent the next few weeks crying and feeling sorry for Kobe. I had so many regrets not spending enough quality time with him. I researched mitral valve disease (MVD) and came across the Mighty Hearts Project organization while google searching. Nate Estes was kind enough to speak to me for over an hour and was extremely compassionate. I quickly realized that there was a chance if we flew to London or Japan then Kobe could have a chance.

The financial toll is extremely frightening and my friends and family cautioned against this. Within a few days, I already knew my answer. Kobe has been there for me so many times during many low points in my life. I had to repay him the favor and save his life! Within a few days, I made a website and a gofundme page and was able to raise a few thousand dollars from kind friends and family. We were so blessed to get donations that it gave me enough motivation to fight for him. On December 4th,

We flew to London for his surgery at the Royal Veterinarian College (RVC). We took him to a winter festival and the Camden market nearby. This was his first vacation ever and gave us quality bonding time together. I was lucky enough to be able to work at my companies London office. Kobe’s surgery was on December 10th where he survived open heart bypass surgery and recovered very well! By the time he was discharged, I was shown a final echo of his heart and it had already returned to its normal size! The staff at the RVC is so compassionate, Dr. Dan Brockman and his staff are truly amazing.

We finally were heading home after a post-op checkup at the RVC to get the all clear to fly home. When we flew Kobe back home, he literally barked at every person at Heathrow Airport, that's how I knew Kobe was getting back to his normal self. After safely arriving home Kobe was quarantined at my parents house for three months and was recovering well. When he finally finished his quarantine three months later, COVID-19 had hit the United States and then we were being quarantined! It was an opportunity for us to spend even more additional time together and he has been attached to us at the hip ever since!

Breed: Maltese
Age: 10
Diagnosis:Stage C
Surgery Date: December 10th, 2019
Hometown: Staten Island, New York, United States
Owner: Matthew Wong
Cardiologist:: Dr. Joshua A Morgenstern, Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island
Surgical Team: RVC, Drs. Dan Brockman & Poppy Bristow