Last week, our sweet baby boy Apollo was diagnosed with large cell gastrointestinal lymphoma. What started out as any other day quickly turned into one of the worst days of our lives. A couple of weeks ago, Apollo started acting different out of nowhere. If you have cats, you know the feeling — nothing you can point to, just a sense that your baby isn’t your baby today. That is the cruelest part of cancer in cats. They are so good at hiding pain that by the time you can see something is wrong, it has usually been wrong for a while. What caught our attention was that he started hiding under the bed, something he simply never does. Then he stopped eating altogether. His mom was away on vacation while it started, so we chalked it up to him missing her, the way any cat parent would. It wasn’t until we noticed the weight coming off him that we knew this was something else. We took him in to the vet immediately.

Three emergency visits later, after full testing and imaging, we finally had an answer we did not want: a large mass in the abdominal area, extending into the intestines and the surrounding lymph nodes. By the grace of God, when we called the specialist that same day, they had just had a cancellation. We got him in the very next morning. That day started out feeling like a miracle but ended as one of the hardest days of our lives. Our baby boy got diagnosed with a highly aggressive cancer — large cell gastrointestinal lymphoma. Because of its location, its size, and how fast it moves, surgery is not an option. The only path forward is chemotherapy, started immediately, and prayer for complete remission. We are aware of the odds against us. We are also aware of how special this boy is. And we believe miracles only happen when the power of love meets the refusal to give up so we are moving forward with the CHOP protocol and fighting this head-on with Apollo for as long as it morally makes sense to. His first full round begins tomorrow, July 23rd. We have a long road ahead of us, but we are walking it with him one day at a time.

CHOP is the gold standard chemotherapy protocol for lymphoma — a rotation of several medications given at the hospital, weekly for the first two months, then every other week for four more, alongside a daily steroid at home. Roughly six months of treatment in total. If you are picturing what chemo looks like for people, let that go. Cats are dosed for quality of life, not maximum intensity. No hair loss, and most cats feel well enough to be completely themselves between treatments. Around 60% of cats respond, and the ones who do can gain many good months, some far longer than that. Sixty percent is not a guarantee. But it is a real chance, and he deserves someone willing to take it with him.

So many of you have asked how you can help. This fundraiser is the answer. Our goal is to cover the full CHOP protocol at MedVet Cleveland — the ultrasounds, the bloodwork before every treatment, and the medications that keep Apollo comfortable and eating through it. It will also cover a full workup for his brother Midas, to make sure this isn’t hiding in him too. Anything left over goes toward helping another cat in this community fight lymphoma, because no family should have to make this decision based on a number. We’re documenting the entire journey — the good days, the hard days, all of it. Most people never learn about this disease until it’s too late to act. If Apollo’s fight teaches even one of you to catch it earlier in your own cat, then something good comes out of this no matter what happens.

Thank you for supporting our family when we need it most. Whether it’s a share, a like, a comment, or a donation — we appreciate it more than words can say.

Sincerely,

Giavanna, Donte, Apollo & Midas

aka Mr. Whiskerz ❤️