Help Bella the Unicorn Beat Cancer
Donation protected
Please help us save little Bella's life. She needs radiation treatment to beat this nasal tumor. Every share, like and dollar makes a difference. Thank you all!
**If you want to donate directly through the hospital you can call them and ask to put a credit on our account (Veterinary Cancer Group: (949) [phone redacted]: Sarah Peklo).
**If you would like your donation to be tax deductible you can donate through the Riedel and Cody Fund. There are a few steps to this process, scroll to the very bottom of this page for the details.
You can read our story below.
Her Story
Bella is a beautiful, loving, adventurous 12-year old Tortoiseshell kitty. We met in 2008, when I went to the shelter to find a companion for my new life in California. Bella was on what amounted to kitty death row. They had estimated her age at 10 and she had been there for 6 months, no one wanted to adopt an older cat. When I brought her to the vet for a checkup he told me that either she is a vampire cat or the shelter vastly over-estimated her age due to her bad teeth. So Bella got a new lease on life even though she did eventually have to get all teeth (except one!) removed.  
The Illness
Late this summer Bella began to have upper respiratory symptoms so we took her in to the vet, thinking she had a cold. Thus started a several month journey of endless tests, medications, mis-diagnosis after mis-diagnosis and an enormous amount of money in vet bills that only gave us more questions while Bella got sicker. Eventually an X-ray revealed a mass obstructing Bella's right nasal passage and moving into her left.
Additionally they spotted a mass on her left lung that had been missed by two separate vets earlier in the process. It was at this point we were told Bella probably had cancer and were referred to an oncologist. Our first oncologist was of the opinion that Bella's presentation didn't look like typical cancer so we underwent yet more tests and medications that again amounted to nothing.
To add to her atypical presentation, the CT scan revealed another mass in her forebrain, very close to but not connected to the nasal tumor. Meanwhile, our poor girl started to have daily nosebleeds that at their worst clog both nostrils. We are constantly vigilant to help her keep her little nose clean, thankfully steroid treatment has helped reduce the inflammation and bleeding while we try to raise the funds to get rid of the tumor.
Bella the Unicorn
Bella is called a unicorn by the medical staff due to her unique presentation. Our first oncologist explained "we get all the unusual cases here, and even among those, she is very unusual". Not only are the brain and lung tumors not yet symptomatic, they do not present as the typical metastasized versions of either each other or the nasal tumor. This is one reason it took a long time to get a definitive diagnosis but also the reason she has a great chance to beat this thing back if we can get her into radiation treatment.
Her Future
For Bella the Unicorn to stay with us she needs radiation treatment for her three tumors. She has bleeding and drainage from her nose every day and is clearly uncomfortable, struggling to find a position to rest where she can breathe easily. Thankfully her overall health is still good but with no treatment she will suffer, the nasal tumor is dissolving bone and pushing outwards and up, if we don't stop it it will cause her a lot of misery and we will have to make the ultimate hard decision.
Radiation treatment will shrink and potentially virtually eradicate the tumors. After that it is up to her immune system to keep the cancer in check. We have started Bella on a whole host of herbal tinctures and holistic remedies in addition to the already 100% homemade diet she has been on for years. Considering how her overall health has improved despite growth of the nasal tumor we are very confident Bella can kick cancer's butt as long as we give her her best chance, which means radiation ASAP. 
Why We Need Your Help
Unfortunately, this treatment is not cheap. For that matter, none of the processes and procedures that have gotten us to this point have been. We have spent thousands and thousands of dollars just to get to the point where we have a definitive diagnosis and treatment plan. We have used all of our resources, we are out of options. For Bella to get the care she needs we need support. I can honestly say this is the hardest thing I have ever done, to ask others for money, but it is to save little Bella's life and take away her pain and for that I will do anything.
She is now under excellent care, with Dr. David Bommarito at Veterinary Cancer Group in Tustin. We have the estimate for treatment which essentially has three parts. There is the CT scan to map and plan the radiation for the nose and lung, the MRI to map and plan for the brain and the actual costs of IMRT itself. The total estimated cost is $9,451.29. There is a breakdown at the bottom of the page if you want the details.
You all know that Justin and I are not ones to ask for handouts, but in this case when our little Bella is suffering, we are asking for anything that you can give. You can see by the pictures that she is truly a member of the our family, she is so important to all of us. Thank you for taking the time to read our story and please send positive energy our way.      
Treatment Cost Breakdown
MRI: Still waiting on the estimate as it needs to be done at a facility separate from the hospital. Average MRI for kitty brain tumor is $2,000.
CT:  
IMRT:         
To make your donation tax-deductible, go to https://riedelcody.org and click 'Donate Now'. Fill out the form, where it says 'Dedicate this donation in memory or in honor' choose 'Yes Please' and put Bella Peklo in the name field. That's it! The foundation will send you a receipt and will forward the donation directly to Bella's hospital.
Thank you all so much. Your support means the world.
**If you want to donate directly through the hospital you can call them and ask to put a credit on our account (Veterinary Cancer Group: (949) [phone redacted]: Sarah Peklo).
**If you would like your donation to be tax deductible you can donate through the Riedel and Cody Fund. There are a few steps to this process, scroll to the very bottom of this page for the details.
You can read our story below.
Her Story
Bella is a beautiful, loving, adventurous 12-year old Tortoiseshell kitty. We met in 2008, when I went to the shelter to find a companion for my new life in California. Bella was on what amounted to kitty death row. They had estimated her age at 10 and she had been there for 6 months, no one wanted to adopt an older cat. When I brought her to the vet for a checkup he told me that either she is a vampire cat or the shelter vastly over-estimated her age due to her bad teeth. So Bella got a new lease on life even though she did eventually have to get all teeth (except one!) removed.  
The Illness
Late this summer Bella began to have upper respiratory symptoms so we took her in to the vet, thinking she had a cold. Thus started a several month journey of endless tests, medications, mis-diagnosis after mis-diagnosis and an enormous amount of money in vet bills that only gave us more questions while Bella got sicker. Eventually an X-ray revealed a mass obstructing Bella's right nasal passage and moving into her left.
Additionally they spotted a mass on her left lung that had been missed by two separate vets earlier in the process. It was at this point we were told Bella probably had cancer and were referred to an oncologist. Our first oncologist was of the opinion that Bella's presentation didn't look like typical cancer so we underwent yet more tests and medications that again amounted to nothing.
To add to her atypical presentation, the CT scan revealed another mass in her forebrain, very close to but not connected to the nasal tumor. Meanwhile, our poor girl started to have daily nosebleeds that at their worst clog both nostrils. We are constantly vigilant to help her keep her little nose clean, thankfully steroid treatment has helped reduce the inflammation and bleeding while we try to raise the funds to get rid of the tumor.
Bella the Unicorn
Bella is called a unicorn by the medical staff due to her unique presentation. Our first oncologist explained "we get all the unusual cases here, and even among those, she is very unusual". Not only are the brain and lung tumors not yet symptomatic, they do not present as the typical metastasized versions of either each other or the nasal tumor. This is one reason it took a long time to get a definitive diagnosis but also the reason she has a great chance to beat this thing back if we can get her into radiation treatment.
Her Future
For Bella the Unicorn to stay with us she needs radiation treatment for her three tumors. She has bleeding and drainage from her nose every day and is clearly uncomfortable, struggling to find a position to rest where she can breathe easily. Thankfully her overall health is still good but with no treatment she will suffer, the nasal tumor is dissolving bone and pushing outwards and up, if we don't stop it it will cause her a lot of misery and we will have to make the ultimate hard decision.
Radiation treatment will shrink and potentially virtually eradicate the tumors. After that it is up to her immune system to keep the cancer in check. We have started Bella on a whole host of herbal tinctures and holistic remedies in addition to the already 100% homemade diet she has been on for years. Considering how her overall health has improved despite growth of the nasal tumor we are very confident Bella can kick cancer's butt as long as we give her her best chance, which means radiation ASAP. 
Why We Need Your Help
Unfortunately, this treatment is not cheap. For that matter, none of the processes and procedures that have gotten us to this point have been. We have spent thousands and thousands of dollars just to get to the point where we have a definitive diagnosis and treatment plan. We have used all of our resources, we are out of options. For Bella to get the care she needs we need support. I can honestly say this is the hardest thing I have ever done, to ask others for money, but it is to save little Bella's life and take away her pain and for that I will do anything.
She is now under excellent care, with Dr. David Bommarito at Veterinary Cancer Group in Tustin. We have the estimate for treatment which essentially has three parts. There is the CT scan to map and plan the radiation for the nose and lung, the MRI to map and plan for the brain and the actual costs of IMRT itself. The total estimated cost is $9,451.29. There is a breakdown at the bottom of the page if you want the details.
You all know that Justin and I are not ones to ask for handouts, but in this case when our little Bella is suffering, we are asking for anything that you can give. You can see by the pictures that she is truly a member of the our family, she is so important to all of us. Thank you for taking the time to read our story and please send positive energy our way.      
Treatment Cost Breakdown
MRI: Still waiting on the estimate as it needs to be done at a facility separate from the hospital. Average MRI for kitty brain tumor is $2,000.
CT:  
IMRT:         
To make your donation tax-deductible, go to https://riedelcody.org and click 'Donate Now'. Fill out the form, where it says 'Dedicate this donation in memory or in honor' choose 'Yes Please' and put Bella Peklo in the name field. That's it! The foundation will send you a receipt and will forward the donation directly to Bella's hospital.
Thank you all so much. Your support means the world.
Organizer
Sarah Peklo
Organizer
Crestline, CA
