- E
- D
- B
I’ve been going back and forth about doing this, namely because it makes me uncomfortable to ask for help and in part because I can do this on my own if need be. However, after just having paid off Stew’s two surgeries from last year, I realized I would rather owe my friends and family than to continue the seemingly endless cycle of giving the majority of my paychecks to credit card companies.
I would rather be able to drive across the country with Stew in the fall and reconnect with all of you, and buy you drinks and dinner, or pay the favor forward in the future. I do not want anyone giving because you think you need to - just if you feel like giving a little. A little always goes a long way, and I will manage just fine not matter what. ❤️
The important thing is that this will make Stew’s quality of life, however much longer I have with him, that much better. And at ten years old, I have a feeling he has plenty of years left in him yet!
A little about the surgery: Stew was diagnosed with low grade mast cell cancer in early 2020 (what a gift of a year that was…), in addition to having multiple fatty tumors of various sizes. He had surgery in the spring to remove 8 tumors, one of which was cancerous. He recovered like a champ, even if he did look like a frankenpup. His second surgery was not as simple, as a large lipoma (fatty tumor) had been by his chest/armpit area, and up into the nerve endings there. By the time it started protruding from his chest, it was almost as large as a football. The surgery took place in December, during which another small cancerous tumor and small fatty tumor were also removed, and the empty space left required a drainage tube that stayed in for weeks, along with multiple rounds of antibiotics to combat infection. Bringing Stew home from the hospital, and the days that followed were heart wrenching, to say the least, and are what I dread the most about going through this again. But in true Stew fashion, he quickly forgave and forgot and bounced back to his happy, youthful self. Unfortunately, the tumor did too, because the surgeon wasn’t able to get all of it out safely.
So here we are, just seven months later. The CT scan revealed three large lipomas on his chest, two that are joined in the brachial plexus, and one in front held within muscle tissue. The good news is that they’re on the outside, and I have gone with the well-equipped VCA in Sacramento, and a fast, board certified surgeon who specializes in this and who seems very confident that he can get all of it out without damaging the nerves. The recovery will be a long one no doubt, but the hope is that Stew will bounce back quickly and in better shape than before. Third time’s a charm right?
Anything helps, and regardless of that I appreciate you!
Love,
Laura and your favorite doofus, Stewie ❤️
I would rather be able to drive across the country with Stew in the fall and reconnect with all of you, and buy you drinks and dinner, or pay the favor forward in the future. I do not want anyone giving because you think you need to - just if you feel like giving a little. A little always goes a long way, and I will manage just fine not matter what. ❤️
The important thing is that this will make Stew’s quality of life, however much longer I have with him, that much better. And at ten years old, I have a feeling he has plenty of years left in him yet!
A little about the surgery: Stew was diagnosed with low grade mast cell cancer in early 2020 (what a gift of a year that was…), in addition to having multiple fatty tumors of various sizes. He had surgery in the spring to remove 8 tumors, one of which was cancerous. He recovered like a champ, even if he did look like a frankenpup. His second surgery was not as simple, as a large lipoma (fatty tumor) had been by his chest/armpit area, and up into the nerve endings there. By the time it started protruding from his chest, it was almost as large as a football. The surgery took place in December, during which another small cancerous tumor and small fatty tumor were also removed, and the empty space left required a drainage tube that stayed in for weeks, along with multiple rounds of antibiotics to combat infection. Bringing Stew home from the hospital, and the days that followed were heart wrenching, to say the least, and are what I dread the most about going through this again. But in true Stew fashion, he quickly forgave and forgot and bounced back to his happy, youthful self. Unfortunately, the tumor did too, because the surgeon wasn’t able to get all of it out safely.
So here we are, just seven months later. The CT scan revealed three large lipomas on his chest, two that are joined in the brachial plexus, and one in front held within muscle tissue. The good news is that they’re on the outside, and I have gone with the well-equipped VCA in Sacramento, and a fast, board certified surgeon who specializes in this and who seems very confident that he can get all of it out without damaging the nerves. The recovery will be a long one no doubt, but the hope is that Stew will bounce back quickly and in better shape than before. Third time’s a charm right?
Anything helps, and regardless of that I appreciate you!
Love,
Laura and your favorite doofus, Stewie ❤️