I realize how the title sounds, but I feel like I am justified in this situation. I hope you'll see why.

When I was 16, I got a pug puppy for my birthday. At the time I was young and didn't fully understand the medical costs required to keep brachiocephalic dogs in full health. For many years vets have suggested the NARES surgery to us to help my dog breathe better, and it's something I've always remembered but have never been able to afford as I come from a very poor family with a single mom. I love my dog with all my heart, but knowing what I know about their quality of life, I would NEVER get or advise anyone else to get a pug unless you have the financial means to keep them in full health.

I'm now 23 years old and live with my grandparents. Despite my dreams and ambitions, I'm currently unemployed due to severe chronic stomach pain and episodes of passing out. I've been seeing a variety of Specialists for the past couple of years trying to get a diagnosis, but my symptoms have only gotten worse despite increasingly longer and more invasive tests. So far I only have a diagnosis of unspecified colitis and POTS, which still doesn't explain all my symptoms. All that being said, I'm desperately trying to generate some income through my writing, but as most writers know, its a slow start to actually make any income if you don't have any connections.

My dog is now 7 years old, and he has an increasingly hard time breathing, which I mentioned to my mom while at a family dinner earlier this month. She loves my dog almost as much as I do, and immediately told me to call around to animal hospitals and get a quote f0r the NARES surgery. I was surprised at this, considering she's been in a rough financial spot for several years at this point, but she assured me that she had gotten a large tax return, and could put it on her credit card. So, over the next couple of days I called around to animal hospitals in my area until I got a quote for the surgery for just $650 - about $400 less than most other places. When I told my mom, she told me to immediately schedule the surgery. I even doubled checked if she would be okay financially if we went through with it, and she said yes. So, I scheduled the surgery for the end of the month.

Cut to now, my mom called me today and demanded that I get a job and pay for the surgery myself, which in is just a week and a half. I explained to her, as I have probably hundreds of times in the past, that getting just any minimum wage job would not be possible for me, as simple things like bending over and picking up boxes makes me incredibly nauseous and dizzy. As usual, she refused to listen to me and called me lazy, demanding that I cancel the surgery. I told her no, and reminded her that she had agreed to pay for it multiple times, and it was too late to cancel, but she wouldn't listen to me. I want to mention that I HAVE had jobs before at fast food places, restaurants, and retail, but I stopped working 2 years ago due to Chronic pain. I don't know what to do at this point, my dog HAS to have this surgery, as I live in an incredibly humid part of the country, which could kill him during the summers here.

Several members of my family think I am just lazy and over exaggerating my symptoms, and that I should suck it up and get a job anyways. What I want to know is if people think I'm the asshole here, and if so, what should I do to rectify the situation within my capabilities?