Grace's Health Treatment
On Friday, January 16, 2015, I took my 7 year old Xoloitzcuintli, Gracie, who I rescued and adopted from Mexico, to the vet because she had extrememly labored breathing and was lethargic. I received the heartbreaking news that afternoon that she had fluid around her heart and an x-ray revealed a cardiac hemangiosarcoma; I was still reeling from my dad uinexpectedly passing only a few weeks before and at a total loss. Due to the location of the tumor, surgery was not an option. Prognosis with chemo treatment was rather bleak, anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
After researching and reading up about her type of tumor that weekend, and then speaking with a specialist, it was decided that the best course of treatment for quality of life and longevity is to go a TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) route. With a combination of a fully holistic/organic diet, herbal supplements, chinese medicine and an aggressive 3-day Vitamin drip protocol, we had a strong chance of cutting off the blood supply to the tumor and potentially shrinking it and giving her many more months to years of a happy life!
TCM and the Vitamin Drip are a less expensive treatment than chemotherapy, but it is still quite costly and much more than I had anticipated spending. Given Gracie is my ESA therapy dog , is young and has SO much more life ahead of her, fighting this tumor and hopefully eradicating it are the only options I have. As of March, the tumor isn't visible and there are no new growths, however, she needs to maintain the same supplemental and herbal treatment, which costs in excess of $300-$400 a month (most of which is on a high interest credit card :( ). Her next follow up is in October, at which point we "hope" to modify and reduce some of the treatment.
Despite my hesitation to set up a fund, I am doing so at the prodding of a few friends. Any amount would be helpful and I know Gracie would be forever grateful for the love you show. If you would like to follow her progress, you can also follow her Facebook page: Gracie's Fight: Eradicating the Heart Tumor
Many thanks from us both ... 
