Chemo and Love for Mack

On December 19, 2017, I was sitting in my backyard playing with my pups, who began to bark and run around in a frenzy. I thought I saw a tail through the fence, so I went to the front yard to investigate. Next door, I see a tail wagging above a trashcan. I yelled "come here, pup!" and this big headed goofball came running towards me with the biggest smile on his face, tail wagging lethally fast. We were best friends from the beginning. 

When I met Mack, I was not in a good place in life. Burdened by depression, anxiety, and excessive alcohol use. I couldn't find the energy to fix myself, and my husband (Nathan) also struggled as a result. From the beginning, Nathan was not on board with keeping Mack. We had 3 dogs already at the time, and it seemed a bit too much for us to handle. I called Animal Control, posted on facebook, and made a solid effort to find a home for this big guy. I told Nathan that Mack would be staying with us until he found a home, but agreed that we wouldn't keep him (as much asI wanted to). Everybody who knew me knew that Mack had already found his home. I always knew he would be with us, but it took a little convincing for Nathan. After about a week and a half of having Mack around,Nathan said to me, "we can't get rid of Mack. I haven't seen you this happy in a long time. He's staying." -- This statement is the epitome of my relationship with Mack.

Mack saved me in more way that one, and has stolen the hearts of so many of my friends and colleagues. 

Mack has been quite lethargic over the past couple of weeks, and we became increasingly concerned. His oral intake began to decrease, and Mack just wasn't "Mack" anymore. Thinking it was a stomach bug, I brought him to the vet last week. That's when my world flipped upside down. 

Mack has been diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Mack's prognosis is poor, as the cancer is incredibly aggressive. Seeing how this disease was destroying his body and spirit, myself and Nathan made the decision, along with Mack's oncologist, to start chemo. For dog's, chemo is not curative. The goal of chemo is palliative care in an effort to increase the amount of good days he has left. Chemo in canines does not have the severe side effects that we see in humans, and truly does work to give them the boost they need to live comfortably in their final weeks. In an ideal, perfect world, where the chemo works exactly how it is supposed to (accompanied by steroids), Mack would have about 4-5 months left with us. Realistically, Mack will most likely be around with his goofy ass smile for another 6 weeks to 2-3 months.

So why choose chemo? Because I couldn't put a price on providing him with the best quality of life I could possibly give him over the next couple of months. Myself and Nathan have decided that Mack was put into our lives for a reason, and this reason is to give Mack the best life we could, even if only for a short time. Unfortunately, chemo is devastatingly expensive, with the expectation that we will invest upwards of $5000. We have dedicated the money we received from our wedding to Mack's chemo, which he will receive weekly. If you know me at all, you know that money is a situation that makes me incredibly uncomfortable to discuss. But I also know that Mack is loved by so many, and any help we could receive to give this angel the happiest life he deserves would mean the world to us.

I want to make it clear that we do not expect donations, and anything that is donated will be applied directly to his chemo treatments and improving his quality of life over the next several weeks. Mack has been such a bright light in not only my life, but also the life of friends who have been following the #pittysaga and events of his life over the last 6 months. 

Why Mack is being taken from us, after only months of having him in our lives, is beyond comprehension. But, he is deeply loved, and I hope to save him from pain over the next months. He has saved me, and a dollar sign cannot be placed on how valuable that is. We are already starting to see a huge improvement in his energy, disposition, and appetite since he began treatment yesterday, and we are desperate to keep him feeling well as the disease takes its course.

Thank you all in advance for even considering being a part of this journey, and for those who have been invested in his life since the beginning. You all are just as much a part of this family as he is.

-Amanda & Nathan