My favorite adventure travel and furry cuddle buddy needs help and I have to raise enough money to have a cancerous tumor removed from her back. The “good news” is the tumor is in the lower epidermis and can be removed without any complications, but they have to do it sooner rather than later so that it doesn't grow larger, or worse yet, spread. They also won’t know exactly what kind of tumor it is until it’s removed. She’s going in for a procedure on Tuesday, November 19. From the moment she came into my life at 8 weeks old we've been bonded to each other, and I will be eternally grateful to anyone who can share their support monetarily.

This story begins with a phone call from the vet at the San Francisco SPCA, who called to give me Paige's test results after taking her in to have a lump on her back checked out. I honestly believed it to be just one of those lumps of fat dogs sometimes get when they grow old - like a skin tag on our skin. Then the vet on the line started speaking a series of words I quickly ignored and forgot once I heard the word: tumor.  Immediately I cut the vet off and asked if I could phone him back. I needed to process the only word I could recall him saying: tumor.

 Rewind several years back to my 30th birthday when my mom told me over the phone, she had cancer. I had just gotten into the shuttle at the airport, headed back to SF from Chicago for a little b-day trip, and that's when I told my mom to let out what she had been hesitating to tell me. And with that my mom says, "I have cancer."  Halt!  Everything, except for the shuttle I was traveling in, came to a sudden halt.  I dropped my bag to the floor and looked at David, my boyfriend at the time, as tears started to stream down my cheeks and onto the shuttle floor. I pretty much had the same reaction when the vet uttered the word “tumor,” only this time I had to pull over and park my car, not only to tell the doctor I'd phone him back, but to find a way to break the news to Shannon, Paige's "aunt."

Shannon and Paige have slowly grown closer over the last year or so, which is amazing considering Paige, in all her 14 yrs. of life, has always had eyes and paws solely on me. If she ever gave anyone a second look it's because they were probably holding a chicken treat, which are her favorite. I have never had a more loyal, courageous and loving dog than Paige, and after spending lots of time together, Paige and Shan had developed a similar bond with each other.  After about an hour of just sitting there and crying, I finally came to and decided I had to tell Shan, and phone the vet back.  

 So, is Paige okay?  She will be if there is a way to fund this surgery. The total cost of the procedure will be around $5,000.  This includes anesthesia, which is always the biggest cost, as well as hospital fees, medication, dressings, etc.  At this point just under $1,000 has been spent on vet visits and lab tests (also included as part of the $5,000).  It’s a cost I can’t even get close to covering without completely going broke. Yes, they have payment options, but then there's interest tacked onto that.  So, I am looking to any and all of you to please help, especially those who have met Paige and myself and who know this little Jack Russell Terrier is my best pal and lifelong companion. I know not everyone is in a position to donate money, but remember any little bit helps.  Saina ma'åsi (thank you)