A Chance for Artemis
Donation protected
It breaks my heart to announce that Artemis has been diagnosed with a rare, chronic blood cancer called polycythemia vera (PV). To make matters worse, she is simultaneously fighting a tail wound infection and requires a tail amputation.
Artemis has always been a happy girl. In fact, she has been so happy that as a pup, she developed a condition called "happy tail syndrome" where she wags her tail too hard against blunt surfaces/objects around the house and sustains open wounds to her tail. Once a wound is formed, getting it to fully heal is very difficult because the wagging never stops - even with protective vet padding and bandages.
On August 8, 2019, a wound on her tail that has not been able to properly heal became infected and Artemis was rushed to the ER vet. The doctor determined that it was necessary to amputate her tail. Before her surgery, blood tests were conducted to make sure it was safe for her to undergo the operation. Artemis' blood work revealed that her red blood cell count was extremely high indicating that something else was wrong. Surgery was immediately postponed because the risk to operate was too high. After expensive testing, and I mean like WTF expensive, Artemis was sadly diagnosed with PV chronic blood cancer.
(Notice her skin is abnormally pink due to polycythemia vera... stupid cancer! Her tail still requires amputation.)
The costs so far, and the costs to come...
Medical/Treatment Cost Breakdown:
-8/8/19: ER visit, blood testing, x-rays, IV treatment, overnight hospitalization - cost: $2440
-8/10/19: Tail exam/bandaging follow up - cost: $100
-8/12/19: Internal medicine/specialist doctor visit, abdomen ultrasound (kidney exam), IV treatment, echocardiogram (heart exam), phlebotomy treatment - cost: $1780
-Pre tail amputation phlebotomy treatment - cost: $200
-Tail amputation - quoted cost: $3250 - $4550
-Polycythemia vera (blood cancer) on-going treatment: approx. $1500/year
A call for help...
I struggle with this bit because it is my wish that I could carry this initial costly hardship on my own yet I know I'm at a financial crossroads. It truly takes courage to ask for help because I find myself going back and forth on even making this crowdfunding campaign live. It also takes strength to ask for help because forcing myself to swallow my pride so that I can still live within my means to be the best foster parent to my kids and help fight for Artemis is a struggle I am willing to overcome.
I am prepared to take on Artemis' medical financial responsibilities for the rest of her life in the wake of her cancer but the added financial support, in any denomination, will mean so much to Arty and my family. Words will never be able to express our deepest gratitude for your consideration and contribution - but Arty and I will find a way to somehow show it.
Artemis has a standing chance to fight for her life and I will do whatever it takes to fight beside her. The doctors believe in Arty too and hope that proper treatment for PV can give her a full and healthy life. Arty and I are in this life-long marathon together and we warmly welcome anyone who wants to run alongside us on this crazy happy adventure!
Again, thank you so much for reading our story and I deeply appreciate your time and kind consideration.
From the bottom of our hearts and with love,
Jason and Artemis Chang
Artemis has always been a happy girl. In fact, she has been so happy that as a pup, she developed a condition called "happy tail syndrome" where she wags her tail too hard against blunt surfaces/objects around the house and sustains open wounds to her tail. Once a wound is formed, getting it to fully heal is very difficult because the wagging never stops - even with protective vet padding and bandages.
On August 8, 2019, a wound on her tail that has not been able to properly heal became infected and Artemis was rushed to the ER vet. The doctor determined that it was necessary to amputate her tail. Before her surgery, blood tests were conducted to make sure it was safe for her to undergo the operation. Artemis' blood work revealed that her red blood cell count was extremely high indicating that something else was wrong. Surgery was immediately postponed because the risk to operate was too high. After expensive testing, and I mean like WTF expensive, Artemis was sadly diagnosed with PV chronic blood cancer.
(Notice her skin is abnormally pink due to polycythemia vera... stupid cancer! Her tail still requires amputation.)The costs so far, and the costs to come...
Medical/Treatment Cost Breakdown:
-8/8/19: ER visit, blood testing, x-rays, IV treatment, overnight hospitalization - cost: $2440
-8/10/19: Tail exam/bandaging follow up - cost: $100
-8/12/19: Internal medicine/specialist doctor visit, abdomen ultrasound (kidney exam), IV treatment, echocardiogram (heart exam), phlebotomy treatment - cost: $1780
-Pre tail amputation phlebotomy treatment - cost: $200
-Tail amputation - quoted cost: $3250 - $4550
-Polycythemia vera (blood cancer) on-going treatment: approx. $1500/year
A call for help...
I struggle with this bit because it is my wish that I could carry this initial costly hardship on my own yet I know I'm at a financial crossroads. It truly takes courage to ask for help because I find myself going back and forth on even making this crowdfunding campaign live. It also takes strength to ask for help because forcing myself to swallow my pride so that I can still live within my means to be the best foster parent to my kids and help fight for Artemis is a struggle I am willing to overcome.
I am prepared to take on Artemis' medical financial responsibilities for the rest of her life in the wake of her cancer but the added financial support, in any denomination, will mean so much to Arty and my family. Words will never be able to express our deepest gratitude for your consideration and contribution - but Arty and I will find a way to somehow show it.
Artemis has a standing chance to fight for her life and I will do whatever it takes to fight beside her. The doctors believe in Arty too and hope that proper treatment for PV can give her a full and healthy life. Arty and I are in this life-long marathon together and we warmly welcome anyone who wants to run alongside us on this crazy happy adventure!
Again, thank you so much for reading our story and I deeply appreciate your time and kind consideration.
From the bottom of our hearts and with love,
Jason and Artemis Chang
Organizer
Jason Lucas Chang
Organizer
Daly City, CA
