Ninja Pant's Splenectomy
Seven years ago I met Ninja at the West Michigan Humane Society. With a name like "Ninja" I couldn't not ask to spend a little one-on-one time with him in a meeting room. We fell in love. It's hard not to with this guy. If you've ever met him you understand how easy it is.
Ninja's been the best buddy I could ever ask for. When you're 20 and you bring a dog home on an impulse, that dog is around for a lot of life changes. That dog comforts you through a lot of bad days and tags along for a lot of adventures. I can't imagine what my life would be like had I not brought him home that day.
Earlier this week Ninja was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma. It's a form of cancer that first attacks the spleen, and then the heart. It's known as the "silent killer" because it typically isn't detectable until the spleen begins to hemorrhage. In Ninja's case, that's how we found it.
The worst part about having a dog is that you can't explain to them that they hurt because of a disease. We had two options for poor Ninja boy, and when it came down to it we just couldn't let him go without a fight. Less than 24 hours after being diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma, Ninja had a splenectomy. The vet kept the mass that they removed to show us... it was over 5 pounds! The surgery is the most successful diet Ninja has ever had!
A chunk of the splenic mass was sent in for biopsy. We haven't heard back yet if it is benign or malignant. Given Ninja's age (10) and his breed (retriever/shepherd) we are 98% sure it is malignant. I keep closing my eyes and imagining a phone call from the vet in which she tells me it is benign. Please think positively for us. Please be benign.
While I typically think of Ninja as my dog, this week has made me realize that he is also Bmoney's dog. He is Leijhi Koval's dog and he is my mom's dog. He belongs to past roommates and to a lot of our family members and friends. Maybe it's better to say we belong to him. Ninja is a lucky boy to have so many people care about his well being. Bmoney and I are even luckier because he sleeps at the foot of our bed and calls anywhere with us home.
We are in awe of all of the support in the decision to fight for more time with our clumsy pup. Thank you to everyone who has called, texted, or messaged us on facebook.
A few friends have asked how to help with Ninja's medical bills. Bmoney and I are incredibly humbled and really appreciate everyone's goodwill. Ninja's vet bill is rapidly approaching $2,000 and will greatly exceed that if we begin chemo. Please don't feel obligated to donate, this is just for those who really want to help us financially. We appreciate hugs and treats for Ninja, too! It's really awesome that people love Ninja as much as we do and it has been very comforting to us.
Our $1,500 goal was set because that is what we had been told to expect before Ninja went in for surgery. Really, any amount will help tremendously. If we are so lucky to meet our goal amount, everything raised above $1,500 will be donated to the West Michigan Humane Society in gratitude for connecting us with our sweet Ninja boy. I hope that more people will find a dog as amazing as ours with the help of the Humane Society.
Thanks so incredibly much,
Jill Martindale
