Save Simba: Help Him Win the Fight in 2026 with His Sister, Nala
The Bond That Keeps Us Going
Simba is the heart of our home, and his bond with his dog sister, Nala, is everything. They have spent every day of their lives together, and our biggest goal is to ensure they have many more. Over the holidays, Simba was diagnosed with lung cancer—a shock that turned our world upside down. But because it was caught early during a routine dental X-ray, we have a chance to change his future.
Recovery Update: Simba is Healing!
Thanks to your incredible generosity, Simba successfully made it through his lung lobe removal surgery! He is currently home and recovering. He is eating like a champ, drinking plenty of water, and his energy is returning. We recently had his external staples removed and he is becoming more like himself everyday.
The Path to a Permanent Cure: Understanding Stage vs. Grade
The pathology results confirmed the mass was a Grade 2 Adenocarcinoma. We’ve had a lot of questions about what this means, and it boils down to two things:
- The Good News (Stage 1): Stage is about location. Being Stage 1 means the cancer was found in only one spot—the lung lobe that was just removed. It hadn't spread to his other organs yet.
- The Challenge (Grade 2): Grade is about behavior. Grade 2 cells are "sneaky" and aggressive. Even though the main tumor is gone, these cells are active enough to have sent out microscopic "scouts" into his system before the surgery.
Both our surgeon and our oncologist made it clear: these Grade 2 cells almost always try to start a new tumor within a year, usually in another lung lobe or the lymph nodes had we decided on the no treatment route. If the cancer regrows, the typical life expectancy is only 2 to 4 months. We cannot simple "wait and see.” We have to act now to keep Simba's "regrowth clock" at zero.
A Literal Miracle: Introducing The "Basak Shield"
To fight those sneaky cells, Simba started a targeted therapy called Palladia. It is a "smart" pill that starves cancer cells before they can form a new tumor. At $493.96 every single month, the cost of this life-saving "insurance policy" felt like an impossible mountain to climb.
Then, a miracle happened.
A donor named Basak—someone we never met before who had already helped us with Simba’s surgery—stepped in again with a breathtaking gift of $2,500. We are sitting here in tears because of her heart. In her honor, we have officially named Simba’s treatment fund The Basak Shield.
Basak has single-handedly covered 5 of the first 6 months of Simba’s treatment. Because of Simba’s Guardian Angel, we don't have to panic when we start his meds. We can just focus on Simba getting better.
The Financial Status
We are committed to full transparency regarding the funds you've helped us raise. Here is a breakdown of where we currently stand.
- Total Funds Raised: $15,203.00
- Total Surgery, ICU, & Initial Meds: $8,874.11
- Oncology Consult & Diagnostic Testing: $800.00
- The Basak Shield (6 Months of Palladia): $2,963.76 (Note: $2,500 of this was just provided by Basak!)
- Prilosec Med: $29.99
- Emergency Consult, Blood Test, IV Fluids, Anti-Nausea Injection, & Antibiotic Meds: $1,299.57
- 2nd Round of IV, Anti-Nausea Injection, & Nausea Meds: $182.96
- Oncology Follow-up & Bloodwork: $536.00
- Total Medical Costs to Date: $14,686.39
Starting 2026 Together
As we move into the New Year, we are asking for your continued help to keep this momentum going. While the first 5 months of the Basak Shield are funded, Simba will need this medication for the foreseeable future. Any further donations will go directly toward the next round of medication, the monthly blood work, and the follow-up scans required to keep him safe.
We want Simba’s 2026 to be defined by health and playdates with Nala, not by a recurrence of this disease.
Share: If you can’t donate, please share this link. Every share brings us one step closer to making sure Simba stays by Nala’s side. We aren’t ready to say goodbye to our best friend, and because of people like Basak and all of you, we don't have to. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness, prayers, and support.
With all our love and a huge sigh of relief,
Marjory, Dan, Simba, and Nala