Help Max with cancer treatment

Hello.  My name is Monica Temple. I’m 69
years old, retired from the practice and                teaching of critical care nursing.   My husband, Bob,   is 72,  a cancer survivor on continuous.   oxygen therapy. I love nursing, and am grateful that it has helped me care for  our 17 dogs,       cats and  horses, all but 2  of which are                 rescues, each of whom has a story. 

My beloved rescue black lab,  Max-a-million,   had a mass removed on his left side in August. We rejoiced when the pathology report came back benign.  It was a terrible shock when it
grew back aggressively,  this time showing
cancer, a rapidly-expanding sarcoma, on
surgical biopsy. 

With Covid delays, by the time Max could be
seen by an oncologist  at Orange County
Cancer Group in Tustin,  it was massive, and
radiation/chemotherapy  were the only              options to save his life.  Watching it grow,
unable to do anything about it, was one of the most helpless feelings I’ve ever known. 

He was treated with 6 radiation treatments
thus far, and thank God the tumor is shrinking, amazingly so. He began chemotherapy of IV     Doxorubicin on May 6, and this will continue     for several months. His white count dropped    as of Friday, and he has had some diarrhea.        The vet put him on two antibiotics, but said       this is not unusual. Next chemo is May 25. 

All of this has been much more expensive thanwe thought.  So far, with surgery, radiation,        and first chemo, we have spent $12,000 to        save Max’s life. It is estimated the remaining     cost will be $7,000 for chemo, blood work, andother meds.

With Max’s response thus far, we are
hopeful  he will be with us for a  long time            to come.  Throughout, he has remained his         loyal, loving, exuberant self. 

Max is so full of courage.  He once fought a      mountain lion that was lurking in a thicket         beneath my garden, where I had just been       working. The vet who treated him for                     injuries said he has an amazing will to live. 
Just months ago he fully engaged a bold             coyote behind the barn to save our little dog     Jasper.  

Once in the vet’s office, I turned around from  the desk to see a 10 year old boy sitting on the floor, face- to-face with Max. I was startled as  I went over to them.  The boy just stared into Max’s eyes and said, “He’s looking into my         soul”. I thought, “What a perceptive kid”, and     said “Yes, I feel that way too.”

Max is a beautiful soul, my companion at the    barn. He  is the devoted heart of  our home,      and one of the greatest blessings in my life. 

We are on a fixed income, and the majority of our expenses are food, supplies, and vet care    for our  animals.  Last year, we rescued a             starving horse, having no choice but to pay        the owner’s demand of  $2500.00 to secure     his safety. He is now thriving. One of our cats, Cloudy, required orthopedic surgery by a           specialist, and our Husky, Storm required knee surgeries, all at the same specialty hospital in Tustin, Ca. Securing the highest quality               veterinary  care for our animals is very                 important, but very expensive, and we are asking for help. 

Just as I believe God called me into nursing, I     believe He also called me to take care of His    creatures. I am so grateful He brought Max into my life. Could you consider donating to Max’s care? And please,     keep him in your prayers. Thank you.