Hi Everyone,

 

Thank you for taking time to read our story.

 

Archer is our beautifully goofy 3-year-old Golden Retriever. I say "our" but really Archer is our teenage son's dog...and best friend. They spend all of their time together, from the moment he comes home from school until the moment they both go to sleep.

 

A week ago Sunday, Archer's face suddenly swelled up like a balloon. We suspected an allergic reaction or bee sting, so we rushed him to the pet hospital. My son sat by my side for two hours in the waiting room until the vet came out and told us that Archer's lymph nodes were enlarged. He suggested we run tests to check for cancer. A few days later we received the horrible news that Archer's tests came back positive for Large Cell Lymphoma.

 

If you are like us, you probably had no idea that Golden Retrievers are predisposed to Lymphoma. 1 out of every 8 Goldies develops Lymphoma, and the prognosis is shocking. Without treatment, life expectancy is just 1-2 months. Most dogs respond well to chemotherapy and go into remission; however, there is no cure and the chance for long-term survival is slim. New cancer treatments like adoptive T-cell therapy or bone marrow transplant show promise but are cost-prohibitive for most families.

 

Even chemotherapy alone is a significant expense and one that could not have come at a more inopportune time. Four months ago I lost my job, and the recent trips to the pet hospital have put an extra burden on our already-strained resources. We will know more about the total costs after the oncologist visit on March 22, but we anticipate veterinary expenses in the range of $5K-$8K.

 

This has been a difficult time for the whole family but for our son most of all. We are trying to help him process this awful news, but his heart is broken. We promised him that we would do everything within our means to help Archer, but we realize that we cannot do this alone. If you can, please help us give Archer more time. We are grateful for anyone who can donate or offer encouragement.

 

Words cannot express how thankful we are for your support. Much Peace and Love.