Tyson is my 8 year old Golden Retriever.  We live in Ontario, Canada.  On May 5th 2018, I got the horrible news that Tyson had Lymphoma, as my way to try to cope with this news, I started a Facebook page called Tyson’s Journal.  Tyson's Journal is available for anyone to read, comment and follow our turbulent journey that we have been on since that day.  We opted to help Tyson fight his cancer; we have tried several chemo treatments that didn't work.  However, we finally found a chemo treatment that worked for Tyson.  After 2 Tanovea chemo treatments, Tyson finally went into full remission which was amazing news to hear.  September 11, 2018 was Tyson last Tanovea chemo treatment.  While going through the Tanovea chemo treatment, we were able to have several fun adventures which, were documented on Tyson's Facebook Page, Tyson's Journal.  Tyson got to go swimming, make new friends and enjoy life again.  On November 26th Tyson was taken to the hospital because Tyson wasn’t eating and had bloody diarrhea, clearly Tyson was not well.  Tyson was admitted to the Animal Emergency Hospital that same day, Monday, November 26th and Tyson was put on IV fluids and received is medicine through his IV.  Tyson was hospitalized for the next 4 days until November 29th.  While Tyson was in the hospital, the Internal Medicine Vet ran some tests.  Tyson had an ultrasound on his stomach and an x-ray of his lungs.  They discovered enlarged lymph nodes in Tyson's stomach and chest but not the lungs.  They also discovered 2 lumps on Tyson's body,  all the lumps and enlarged lymph nodes were aspirated and we were given the devastating news that Tyson had lymphoma in his stomach and chest.  The 2 lumps were aspirated and one was lymphoma and the other one was just a fatty tissue.  None of Tyson's previous lymph  nodes that Tyson had the Tanovea chemo treatment for had come back.  However, the recent discovery of the lymphoma in Tyson's stomach and chest and the one lump being Lymphoma, we were told Tyson would have to start chemo again.  Due to the fact the other Lymph nodes have not returned or gotten enlarged again we all feel that Tyson would go into a long remission after doing the Tanovea chemo treatment again.  Tyson is a fighter and Tyson has fought so hard, Tyson doesn't want to die and as a loving member of our family, we have to try to help him in his fight against this horrible disease. 

 

Because I am unlikely to have children myself due to a medical condition, my dogs are my kids, they are my whole world. The idea of losing Tyson is utterly devastating, I never would have imaged going through this and it’s a scary emotional rollercoaster to be on.  The highs and lows have been pretty extreme and I have cried more than I thought possible over these last several months but each day I have with Tyson and I see Tyson's big beautiful smile and am able to watch Tyson enjoy his little adventures warms my heart and makes me smile.  I know through all this that my time with Tyson is special and I can only hope to have Tyson go into remission so Tyson and I can go on many more adventures together.

 

Tyson has been my ray of sunshine that has gotten me through some pretty rough times in my life, even on days where I didn’t feel like I could get out of bed much less anything else Tyson was there to comfort me, and make me feel loved. Tyson has been able to make me smile at times where I physically didn’t think it was possible to.  Tyson is such a loving and supporting soul that’s walked with me through the good times and the bad.  Now it is my turn to shower Tyson with the level of love, compassion, companionship and support that Tyson has shown me over and over again over the years.  I don’t know if I can come close to being such an amazing comfort as like Tyson has been for me these last several years, but I will definitely be keeping him in mind as a source of inspiration and standard to try to achieve myself.

 

The purpose of this GoFundMe page is to help cover the cost of Tyson's treatments, the gas to and from the oncologist at the Hospital (approx. an hour and a half or so drive one way) and blood work and tests that Tyson needs along with any other basic care during this process.  I would also like to get Tyson a new big dog bed and some sort of coat or sweater as his stomach is shaved down to the skin from the stomach ultrasound they had to do on him recently and his skin gets so cold so fast. Tyson also has a special diet and while eating with much more gusto and enthusiasm since being released from the hospital, he is still pretty picky about what he will eat and primarily only wants meats right now.

 

I have never done a fundraiser before, but anyone who could or would be willing to help would be helping and supporting an absolute sweet and loving dog and a pet owner (pet parent) to be able to do the best for him and have more time with my special boy.  Any little bit helps and we appreciate whatever people can afford to give, from time to follow us and keep us in your thoughts and prayers to money you may be able to spare to help us along this journey.

 

For those who are moved or interested by his story and journey you can come check it out on Tyson’s Journal aka @TysonsJournal on Facebook.  I post updates, photos and we answer questions for those who may be facing the same sort of things themselves.  At the very least you will be drowning in cuteness from his photos and videos that get posted <3