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DAKAR’S BATTLE WITH LYMPHOMA

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His only chance is a stem cell transplant from a donor, a very effective and advanced, but costly procedure. Only one veterinary center in the world can actually provide this treatment - fortunately here in the US.
This is the very same technique used to cure, for instance, children with leukemia.
 
WE NEED YOUR HELP. Any donation, no matter how big or small, makes a difference.
We need your help to share this campaign with your contacts. This makes a difference.
This will save Dakar's life.

We were so happy before this. Our first baby coming in August… and then we have suddenly been faced with this immense pain. We dreamt so much of our baby playing and growing up with his big brother Dakar. Now this might not ever happen.

Whoever knows Dakar can tell how much of a sweet hearted, gentle, lovely dog he is.
He is a special dog.
 
Dakar has been diagnosed with cancer.
He is only 5 years old and this is unfair.
 
He has a T-cell Lymphoma - very aggressive in dogs.
Without therapy he will live no longer than 3-4 weeks.
With current best therapy he can live only another 6-9 months.
 
This breaks our heart.
There are no words. We have no more tears to cry.
He does not deserve this.
Dakar is our family. Everybody loves Dakar. He has a true good heart.
 
He is just a puppy, he’s too young to go.
We couldn’t even finish to celebrate his 5th birthday, that we had to cope with this tragedy.
His death will leave a deep void in our lives and in the heart of many people who loves him.
 
He has only one chance to survive, thanks to Dr. Suter at North Carolina State University and his pioneering work on canine lymphomas in the last decade.
 
Dakar needs a stem cell transplant from a donor - technically known as allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.
 
This is the very same technique used, for instance, in children with leukemia - with excellent results. Indeed, progresses made on dogs some 50 years ago made possible to treat children today
Many dogs have been already treated successfully, but Dakar would be the first Great Dane in the world with a T-cell lymphoma to receive this treatment.
His cause will also contribute to science: any improvement in the field will be beneficial to many other dogs and, most importantly, many children, giving them hope to live a long and good life.
 
It is a technically complex and costly procedure, but with excellent results. The only one that can actually give him a chance.
 
Only one veterinary center in the world -North Carolina State University- can actually provide this treatment.
 
We are already tracking down brothers and sisters and testing them for compatibility as donors -thanks to the good heart of their owners- but we need your help.
 
Only for diagnosis, costs have already amounted to $6,500
Chemotherapy will be another $16,000
Costs to analyze and match the donors are $6,000 - $8000
Stem cell transplant is $25,000
+ costs associated with search, transportation and medical expenses for the donor dog $5,000 - $10,000
+ medical expenses for Dakar’s strict follow-up for two years $5,000 - $ 8,000
Dakar’s health insurance will cover only a small part of those expenses and none of the indirect costs.
 
This immense financial burden is even more challenging in consideration of the imminent arrival of the newborn, let alone all our joy shadowed by the pain for Dakar’s condition.

Dakar already lost 20 pounds, but he is a strong dog.
And most importantly he is full of love.
Together we can win this.
 
Every donation can make a difference to save his life.
He doesn’t deserve to die.
 
All donations will go towards Dakar's care. Any amount exceeding the campaign goal will be donated to the scientific research for the cure of canine lymphoma.

Thank you so much to each and every one of you, from the bottom of our hearts.
Francesca, Michele and Dakar
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Donations 

  • Luis Lu
    • $50 
    • 3 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $500 
    • 3 yrs
  • Alfonso Fimiani
    • $30 
    • 4 yrs
  • Eszter Farkas
    • $5 
    • 4 yrs
  • Alex Azarian
    • $50 
    • 4 yrs
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Fundraising team (2)

Francesca Di Matteo
Organizer
New York, NY
Michele Silvestro
Team member

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