Main fundraiser photo

The Dude's Medical Expenses

This was a very successful fund, that allowed my cat to live a great life for a year.  My friends and strangers donated to the fund that paid for his treatment for this terrible condition.,.,. but now, a year later, he has a massive tumor and will die.  My vet has been amazing, but she has her own problems now and I have got to pay her back.  I have added $1000 above the initial REALIZED cost to pay her back as much as I can and make the last days of the Dude as comfortable as I can....

I am raising money for my cat Kid, Jr., also known as  The Dude, a mature black shorthaired cat who has been my companion for over 13 years to have radiation treatment on his thyroid. (I want to make a correction.  Initially I said it was surgery, but it is NOT.  He needs a radio-oncology procedure.  I corrected the title not to mislead.)  He is being kept alive and somewhat healthy with morning and evening medication.  His disease is Hyperthyroidism He is a bit older than some people think is work fixing!  But he is a very old friend and (honestly, I am a pretty old person) had a good five more years that he can live in the lifestyle he should remain accustomed to!

I initially figured about $2000 based on the information I received when I first discovered the problem. The money collected needs to cover the actual procedure, which is provided by only two clinics locally and three altogether in the state. Radiocat is the national leader in the process, but the local VMC clinic has proven to be the more appropriate to our needs.  The treatment is about $1200, but I found out that he will need a lot of laboratory work to determine if he is a candidate which starts with $350 of chest x-rays, tests and blood work etc. with my own vet first. Three previous sets of testing before intake to assure he is a good candidate round this up to about $2000 not to mention general visits and medication and potential aftercare.


I have been doing trade outs of my artwork to fund the medication that I will have to give him until he dies - if the tumor does not get worse.  I was a willing and happy donor to many animal rescue groups and even blogged a pet painting site until he got sick and I felt the need to help at home.  I still support the charities donating art, and try to support myself doing human and animal portraits.

He was diagnosed because he had an even odder disturbing condition called feline hyperesthesia.  I was awakened in the middle of the night and he yelled and ran and was terrorized with no cause.  He was a robust 18 pounder at the time.  He is pushing 10 pounds these days.  Because my vet was astute, we have found the heebie-jeebies are going, but his life is not what it should be.

I have started a blog on him. I hope that you can join me and see how your donations improve his life.  I hope it is not a memorial to him, but I am writing to tell his tale.  He is such a part of my life and really an inspiration to my career.

OF COURSE you can order my artwork if you want to help, but if you can contribute whatever you wish, I would like to send you a thank you note with the painting I have featured above to anyone who can send me their snail mail address when they donate.  (Not really sure how this works, as it is my first try!)

If you can read this but not too sure about money on the internet, I can accept donations at the PO Box to the right.  Just make it The Dude c/o Debra Jones!  I will add your name and send you a note.

Thank you!


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Donations 

  • Kay K.
    • $15 (Offline)
    • 13 yrs
  • Max
    • $30 (Offline)
    • 13 yrs
  • \"Dutch\" Koelman
    • $25 (Offline)
    • 13 yrs
  • Jane Parker
    • $10 (Offline)
    • 13 yrs
  • Adrian Burrell
    • $50 (Offline)
    • 13 yrs
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Organizer

Debra Jones
Organizer
Scottsdale, AZ

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