Just having to tell this story and ask the community for help really puts things in context that this is our current reality!

Let me start off by saying hello, my name is Whitney. I am here at the moment trying to give assistance and get assistance to help my elderly aunt and uncle save our family dog! Really a huge part of our family who we would be devastated if this cancer takes her from us!

I would like to give background about "Lexi" so you could get the full circle story on why our family dog is so important to us. In 2016, before the murder of my cousin Lonnie, he introduced Lexi into the family as a pup. That has left his parents, Joyce and Boosie (also the family, the village), to care for her. Our dog became an extension of Lonnie and something more that he had left for us as a little reminder of him! He loved Lexi more than anything, so much so my aunt Joyce keeps traditions going and cooks for her. She (Lexi) eats very well. Even to the point I will go over to their house just to walk her or play with her outside. Lexi truly shows unconditional love. Even though she was so young when my cousin physically left us, we would go to his gravesite and Lexi would take the flowers out of my hand and walk over and sit right where Lonnie was without any assistance! It blew my mind and is so special that it's a story I can never stop telling.

More recently, a lump was shown on Lexi's stomach and over time it grew so much that it was too hard not to notice. My aunt Joyce/family sprung into action to find out what it was and what we needed to do. Long story short, cancer is now the reality and we have done a biopsy which came back inconclusive. The docs then stated that the next steps were x-rays, where if the cancer has not spread to the chest cavity they would be able to operate, but if it did spread then Lexi's time remaining would be limited! We did have insurance for Lexi but we found out recently it had lapsed due to my family finding out my uncle is dealing with the early stages of dementia. So now we are left with the task of having to pay out of pocket for any appointments and procedures she has from this point! This is where you all come in and help when you can and where you can.

The goal is $4,050 for the surgery and care afterwards as we are praying she can have, but if GOD has other plans and needs his main girl with him we would like to keep her comfortable and around love but buried properly to send her off right to be with her dad in heaven because she definitely deserves it! My aunt and uncle would greatly appreciate the help as would the family! I can't stress enough how much dealing with life situations can take tolls on a person and the moment you get around family pets the love and release they bring is beyond words being able to describe the relief they bring! We know anyone with a pet can understand how stressful what we are going through can be. I just wanted to help my aunt and uncle hold on to one of the loves their son had before he was taken from us and now this! Lexi brings joy to anyone, even the people who claim they don't like dogs but end up loving her! That's really just how special she is.

I make sure to walk her almost every day with my children as we are not in the same household. Our family members take turns since our aunt and uncle can't, we still make sure she is able to still be a dog and get that time! I am really at a loss for words even writing this and never thought about ever losing her or it being a chance that we could! It broke my heart when my aunt broke the news to me, I could only imagine how she felt in that office hearing this same news and not knowing if you would be able to save your dog! Again, I want to thank our community and hope that since we couldn't prevent or save my cousin, their son Lonnie, that we can at least try and save Lexi and come together in doing so! Thank you, Whitney