Charlene's Chemo Fund

This is Charlene (aka Char Char Binks, aka Missy Smelliott, aka Charlene the Kidney Bean, aka Madam Smells-a-lot). Charlene is an adorable mix of Basset Hound and Beagle. She is truly my best friend, and she desperately needs your help. Just recently - on March 7th - this little lady was diagnosed with cancer. Multicentric lymphoma, to be exact.

A little history...


My name is Alyssa Byrd, and Charlene has been my devoted sidekick for nearly 4 years now. We've trekked together through NYC, Virginia, Atlanta, Austin, San Antonio, New Orleans, and Florida - which is where we are settled now. But long before she started hogging my bed and going on road adventures with me, she was my mother's faithful companion. For a total of 7 years, this dog has been an integral part of my family, loving and loyal from the very moment that my mother brought her home from a Virginia shelter. I still don't understand how we got so lucky, but I'm forever grateful that she's in my life. Which is why I don't want to let her down.

What happened?


Back on March 1st, Charlene's eyes suddenly became bloodshot and irritated. At first I thought it might be allergies, or perhaps irritation from dirt or foliage outside. But eye drops weren't helping, and the problem was seemingly getting worse as time progressed. On the afternoon of Wednesday, March 3rd, I took her into the vet for a closer examination. The doctor tested her eyes for glaucoma and surface abrasions, but neither of those turned out to be the culprit. The doctor then discovered that her lymph nodes were enlarged, so he took a fine-needle aspiration from one of them to test for lymphoma. The test results wouldn't be back until after the weekend, which meant that there was an extremely long and distressing weekend ahead of us. Finally came Monday, March 7th, and the doctor contacted me with the results. It was the call that I had been dreading all weekend. "Positive for Lymphoma" he said. I started to lose it, but I managed to hold the tears back just long enough to hangup the phone with a little dignity intact. Then I cried the hardest cry I've ever cried in my entire crying life, even more so than when Leonard Nimoy died. But as I looked down into Charlene's bloodshot eyes...  I could sense that she didn't want me to give up so easily. The doctor prescribed her Prednisone, but before settling on that decision and beginning that course of treatment (which would only buy us another month or two), I decided to take her into to another vet and get a second opinion on treatment options. That doctor then referred me to a nearby Veterinary Oncologist, and I took the first appointment that was available. On March 9th, Charlene was seen at SEVO-Med by an incredibly compassionate doctor named Zachary Neumann.

As strange as it sounds, March 9th was both our worst day yet... and our best day yet. That morning, I was convinced that this day might be her final day on Earth. The area around her eyes had become so inflamed that she was unable to see, and she was pretty lethargic. I didn't like seeing my baby girl suffering, and I was mentally preparing myself to put her to sleep if the doctor suggested it. Fast-forward to that evening - after more tests andan injection of a chemo drug called Elspar - Charlene was a wide-eyed and tail-wagging dog once again! Why? Because chemo gives her a strong, fighting chance against Lymphoma. It gives us a renewed hope. But unfortunately this hope comes at a pretty steep price.

Dr. Neumann provided me with estimates for the three different chemotherapy plans that are available for Charlene, with the most expensive having the best rate of success (Modified Wisconsin), and the least expensive having less (Doxorubicin). The estimates for those three different treatment plans are as follows:

A) "CHOP" Modified Wisconsin Protocol - $6378
B) "COP" Protocol - $4472
C) Doxorubicin - $3303

Ultimately, I want to provide her with the best chemotherapy available to her. Charlene is most deserving of the best chance she can get. But I fear that I'm being far too ambitious, because I'm currently in no shape to accomplish such a financial feat. After back-to-back auto repairs and current moving expenses, I had to max out my credit cards in order to cover Charlene’s recent vet fees, X-rays, tests, and medications. And while the Elspar injection has bought us two weeks time until she must start regular chemo treatments, that's still very little time for such a big miracle to happen. Which is why I am starting this fundraiser and making a desperate plea for help. Without donations... without the kindness of family, friends, and strangers... we don't stand a chance in this fight against cancer.


Asking for assistance has always been challenging for me. It's even harder to do it publicly, online, for the whole world to see. But this isn't about me or my pride. This is about Charlene getting another shot at living her life to its fullest. She trusts in me to protect her and stand strongly by her side, just as she has done for me these last few years. 

I don’t have a single doubt about Charlene's desire to fight this. I don't doubt her willingness to live a longer, happier life. If I did - or if I ever do - I would rather let her sink into eternal slumber than to see her suffer for my own selfish desires.


We are begging you, please help Charlene Byrd-Dog live long and prosper.

I sincerely thank you for taking the time to read this. I know it is a lot to process. We will keep you updated on any and all progress that we make. And Charlene just told me that she promises to make me take several photos of her "making sexy eyes" at you.


Eternally and gratefully yours,
Alyssa & Charlene
XOXOXO - furry hugs & sloppy dog kisses!