On May 4, we arrived home from work and Instead of greeting us at the door like she normally does, Luna was standing with her back right leg held up in the air. It was clear something was wrong, and I managed to get her to the vet that night. What I thought was just a pulled muscle turned out to be my worst fear, the big C word. I will never forget how the vet came out to my car and said “Well that didn’t go how I expected it to” and my heart sunk. My mind honestly blanked out, but what stuck in my head was the words “six months to a year, amputation, chemo.” Thousands of questions and thoughts swirled in my head. How could this be? What I heard was she has a death sentence. On May 6, Luna went back to the vet for an ultrasound and blood work to see if anything had spread. It was unclear if her leg was the primary or secondary spot. Finally some good news, her bloodwork and her ultrasound were clear. Who would have thought you’d get “good news” with a cancer prognosis? On May 8 I had a consult with a veterinarian oncologist. While nothing would change this diagnosis, I had questions that I wanted to hear answers from a specialist. That phone call provided me with further positive information. It is believed that this was caught super early. The fact that her blood and ultrasound, and also her lungs, are clear is such a great sign. Probably the best thing you could ask for with this kind of diagnosis. By the time most beloved pets are limping, the cancer has already spread. She is 8 years old, not considered old but rather an older dog. Her remaining leg and hip are in great condition. But what I wanted to know most was time. How much time would I get with Luna if I decided to remove the leg followed up by chemo treatments. While there is no way to tell the future, Luna could very well gain another year or two. So I have been left with a decision, one that I never thought I’d have to make for her. And if you’re still reading this, this is where you come in. I have decided that given how healthy Luna is other than her leg, she deserves a fighting chance. But with this fighting chance comes the cost of fighting. The vet has estimated that it would be $3000 for the leg surgery, followed by 4-6 (possibly more) chemo treatments to kill off any cells that may be floating around. Those treatments are around $500 each. We have a long road ahead, but I know in my heart and mind that Luna is not done, and she still has a lot of love to spread to this world.