Delilah's Fund
Donation protected
When my 11-year-old rescue horse, Delilah was diagnosed with lymphoma six months after adopting her, I thought my heart fell out of my body. She is my first horse. I only just adopted her on November 1, 2014. I did not grow up with horses, nor do I have children, so Delilah and my rescue dogs are my family.
Eleven is young in the horse world. Delilah was living a life of abuse and abandonment - left for dead with a nail up her foot - until the wonderful people at Hanaeleh horse rescue found her. Now, this sweet thoroughbred that only recently found love and sanctuary, is facing another heartbreak. Equine oncology is in its infancy - information is scarce. Most vets aren't even sure what to do. Some people suggested I put her down. How could I? Looking at her you would never know she was sick. She is frolicky and feisty and basks in our sunset trail rides.
So, I researched everything I could get my hands on, desperate for help. Finally, my vet discovered a new treatment being tested and in April we started treating Delilah with the new vaccine, ImmuneFX. It was costly, and we were the poster case for horse lymphoma as up to that point, it was mostly being tested on horses with melanoma. But to our cautious relief, most of the tumors shrunk. However, one on her jaw continued to grow - eventually bursting. The hospital told me there was nothing they could do for her. I was devastated.
Then my small animal oncologist told me about CCNU which is being used in Canada. With CCNU I learned that lymphoma doesn't have to be a death sentence for my beautiful girl, especially when her internal organs are completely cancer free. Delilah can not only have a good prognosis but she can thrive. And other horses - even people - will benefit from what she is doing.
I work full time, but I am concerned about the next phase of her treatment which will cost around $6,000. If you can find it in your heart to help save Delilah and other animals like her, you will have our eternal and heartfelt gratitude. More than that, you will have the satisfaction of knowing you are helping the horse world end the death sentence given to horses with lymphoma, and possibly helping humans as everything my vet and I are doing is being documented and submitted for publishing (ImmuneFX is currently testing their vaccine on humans).
Additionally, any money we receive over our goal, Delilah and I will be donating to horse and animal rescue. She insists!
Thank you so much for reading. Love and light to all of you.
Warmly,
Michaela Apruzzese
Eleven is young in the horse world. Delilah was living a life of abuse and abandonment - left for dead with a nail up her foot - until the wonderful people at Hanaeleh horse rescue found her. Now, this sweet thoroughbred that only recently found love and sanctuary, is facing another heartbreak. Equine oncology is in its infancy - information is scarce. Most vets aren't even sure what to do. Some people suggested I put her down. How could I? Looking at her you would never know she was sick. She is frolicky and feisty and basks in our sunset trail rides.
So, I researched everything I could get my hands on, desperate for help. Finally, my vet discovered a new treatment being tested and in April we started treating Delilah with the new vaccine, ImmuneFX. It was costly, and we were the poster case for horse lymphoma as up to that point, it was mostly being tested on horses with melanoma. But to our cautious relief, most of the tumors shrunk. However, one on her jaw continued to grow - eventually bursting. The hospital told me there was nothing they could do for her. I was devastated.
Then my small animal oncologist told me about CCNU which is being used in Canada. With CCNU I learned that lymphoma doesn't have to be a death sentence for my beautiful girl, especially when her internal organs are completely cancer free. Delilah can not only have a good prognosis but she can thrive. And other horses - even people - will benefit from what she is doing.
I work full time, but I am concerned about the next phase of her treatment which will cost around $6,000. If you can find it in your heart to help save Delilah and other animals like her, you will have our eternal and heartfelt gratitude. More than that, you will have the satisfaction of knowing you are helping the horse world end the death sentence given to horses with lymphoma, and possibly helping humans as everything my vet and I are doing is being documented and submitted for publishing (ImmuneFX is currently testing their vaccine on humans).
Additionally, any money we receive over our goal, Delilah and I will be donating to horse and animal rescue. She insists!
Thank you so much for reading. Love and light to all of you.
Warmly,
Michaela Apruzzese
Organizer
Michaela Karen Apruzzese
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
