***UPDATE: It is with sadness that we report the Bortezomib treatments that have kept Charlie in remission for the past 6 months has failed. Our oncologist has offered us a final option for a chemo treatment called Tanovea. This is a rescue therapy for lymphoma but has been used experimentally with multiple myeloma. We don’t want to give up after coming this far, and we are humbly asking for a little help. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love, prayers, and support.
Our hearts are breaking as we write this. On June 21st, our beloved dog, Charlie, was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma - a type of blood cancer that is quite rare in dogs. She is fighting for her life, and without treatment, we would not have much time left together.
Charlie is more than just a pet—she is our family, our constant companion, and our source of unconditional love. From the moment we brought her home from Felines and Canines Chicago back in 2017, she has filled our days with joy, laughter, and comfort. She came to us when we were grieving the loss of Sal’s Mom, and Charlie gave us back our smiles at one of the lowest and darkest times imaginable. We like to say that she rescued us, rather than we rescued her. She is there to greet us with a wiggling butt, to cuddle us with her loving presence, to shower us with endless doggie kisses, and to remind us of the simple happiness in every moment. She truly is the sweetest, most gentle and compassionate little companion anyone could ask for, and has always been our perfect pack mate.
Our doggie oncologist says there is no cure, but there is hope for more time. With the right treatment, Charlie can keep living a happy life she deserves and the cancer can go into remission. As of today, Charlie has sadly failed to respond to the first line treatment for this disease, an oral chemo called Melphalan, that typically has a ~90% success rate, and has also failed to respond to two other common rescue treatments. This was more devastating news for us. The oncologist suggested a final option, a chemo infusion, that is often successful in human MM, but has very little in-depth data supporting this as a therapy for dogs with this disease. Her first four treatments of this infusion have provided Charlie some much needed relief, and we are cautiously optimistic in moving forward with the drug and continuing this regimen. However, the cost of this ongoing care combined with the hefty bills over the past 2+ months has become prohibitive. Vet visits, testing, medications, procedures, overnight stays in critical care, long nights in the emergency room, and follow-ups add up to more than we can afford on our own. As you can imagine, watching Charlie struggle has been incredibly difficult for us, and we’re determined to do everything we can to help her fight this awful disease. We would do anything to save her, but we can’t do this without help.
That’s why we are reaching out to you—family, friends, and kind-hearted strangers—for support. Every single donation, no matter how small, brings us closer to giving Charlie the care she needs and the quality of life she deserves. If you’re unable to donate, sharing this campaign means just as much.
Charlie has given us nothing but love, loyalty, and joy. Now we’re fighting to give her the care she needs to keep going. Please, if you’re able, help us save our baby—our best friend.
From the bottom of our hearts—thank you for reading, for caring, and for supporting us in this fight.
❤️ Joe, Sal, and Charlie