Babygirl, my PTSD service dog, is facing cancer, and although she is 12, she is a very strong girl and does not act her age. We feel that her chances of surviving this cancer are strong, although we need help financially to do this. She has appointments coming up for Pennsylvania veterinarian college and their oncology department.

When I first got Babygirl, I was in a very dark place. I was struggling with PTSD and nightmare disorder, and I tried to cope with alcohol. My depression and nightmares kept getting worse, but Babygirl gave me something to focus on besides my pain. When she was about six months old, my depression and alcohol use became overwhelming, and I attempted to take my own life. Babygirl crawled onto my chest and refused to leave me alone, making me focus on her instead of my pain.

We lived in Colorado, Texas, Minnesota, New Mexico, Massachusetts, and Florida. She was originally trained for explosive detection, but she didn’t like working with other handlers. She was more like a reluctant teenager, always wanting to be with her family instead.

Every time I started to spiral into depression or nightmares, she would nudge me, bring me her ball, or do something to pull me out of my own head and back into the present. She has done this not just for me, but for countless people she’s met during our travels working Renaissance festivals and during natural disasters. Babygirl has participated in search and rescue operations with organizations like Team Rubicon and the American Red Cross. She has been by my side for 12 years, and in all that time, I’ve only been away from her for maybe two weeks. She’s stayed with me through hospital visits, surgeries, and some of the hardest moments of my life.

Babygirl is also a huge part of my wife and children's lives. She is glued to my year-and-a-half-old daughter, Evie, and absolutely adores my 3-year-old, Christopher. When my wife and I first got together, I told her that if my dogs didn’t like her, it wouldn’t work out—and Babygirl and my wife have built a beautiful relationship.