Help Bongo Battle Cancer and Pancreatitis

Bongo is more than just a dog. He is a go-everywhere, love-everyone, do-everything companion and truly a best friend. To know him is to love him, and he knows so many, due to the "go-everywhere" part of his personality.

Bongo was diagnosed with Nasal Chondrosarcoma in early December. We waited a month before we could get him a consultation with an oncologist, and his treatment would start soon after that. Three days of daily radiation and we could bring our boy home. Or so we thought.

Bongo developed severe pancreatitis as a result of anesthesia during his CT scans. Not even a week after his scans, we were at the ER to find out why he was having bloody diarrhea. Bongo was supposed to be getting his first radiation treatment the next day. He was admitted for the night, and his oncology team was made aware of his condition, as further anesthesia could make the condition worse. They went ahead and did his treatment since, without it, the cancer would likely spread and make his prognosis much worse. He stayed in the hospital after each treatment for supportive care, especially since he was struggling with the pancreatitis.

On what was supposed to be his last treatment day, the radiation machine broke while Bongo was already under anesthesia. This rendered his treatment impossible, worsened his pancreatitis, and he developed aspiration pneumonia due to regurgitating on the breathing tube.

Because of his declining condition, he was admitted to the ICU for the weekend, with hopes he would improve from the pancreatitis and pneumonia and get his final treatment on Monday.

On that Monday, he was unable to get his treatment but was able to come home. He would get his treatment on Wednesday after the machine was fixed and was on a complicated medication schedule for his various ailments. He was definitely more himself and was happy to be home, although he didn't appreciate the cone and the IV catheter that remained in his leg.

Bongo received his last radiation treatment on that Wednesday as planned and came home afterward. Through the next two days, I watched his mood improve and seemingly do much better. He was sometimes protesting taking his medicine, but overall seemed much better on the gastrointestinal front. He was suffering from the side effects of the radiation treatment, with his breathing being rough and sneezing a lot, but that was expected.

Things took a turn over the weekend when on Sunday, Bongo suddenly stopped eating and was frequently regurgitating. On Monday morning, he was regurgitating blood, and I took him back to the ER. He was admitted once again for severe pancreatitis. As I write this, he has been in the hospital for three days for supportive care for esophagitis, pancreatitis, and gastritis. He's had abdominal ultrasounds done to monitor his condition, and it seems to be improving. He even ate for the first time today.

All of this has been overwhelming mentally, emotionally, physically, and especially financially. Anyone who knows me knows that I don't normally ask for help, but in this case, I need it.

Bongo is the best thing in my life, and I would do anything for him, including put myself into debt to save his life. Anything you donate, you're really donating to him, and he's the best boy.