Help Fozzie Beat Cancer (& Save Other Dogs While Doing It)!

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The Short Version:

My beloved dog, Fozzie, was diagnosed with a rare cancer and his best shot at survival is participating in a trailblazing clinical trial that will be a breakthrough in cancer treatment for dogs.
I'm asking for financial help to make the trip to San Diego for Fozzie to have this procedure and to cover the expenses to participate in the trial.
Below you can read more about the history of Fozzie's cancer diagnosis, about why he needs this procedure to save his life, and about the clinical trial itself.
Not only can Fozzie benefit from this life-saving procedure, but if this clinical trial is successful overall, it has the chance to radically change cancer treatment for all dogs by finally giving veterinary oncologists a way to address lung metastasis.
So many people have reached out to me since my dad's death and Fozzie's cancer diagnosis asking what they can do. I can't stress it enough: this is exactly how I would like your help!

About Fozzie's Cancer Diagnosis:

Fozzie began limping in February and was diagnosed with what we thought was osteosarcoma in his front paw the next week. A CT scan performed then showed a small nodule on his lung and a surgeon told me his prognosis was only a few months if he had lung metastasis. Then my dad passed away the next week. It was absolutely awful.

The day after my dad passed, I had an appointment with the best veterinary oncologist in Austin to learn about our other options. The oncologist, Dr. Stein, disagreed with that surgeon and thought it was worth amputating his leg to study the tumor there as well as removing his other tumor in his lymph node. When we did, we discovered it wasn't osteosarcoma but a very rare type of sarcoma called malignant pilomatricoma. There are only a handful of recorded cases in the veterinary science of this cancer. While we know it is not as aggressive as osteosarcoma, the lack of data and science around it means our best possible treatment option is to get to "no visible cancer".

After Fozzie's amputation, he has adapted beautifully to three legs. Even his surgeon said, you would never know this dog ever had four legs. He is happy, he is strong, and he is just as playful and spirited as ever. He's sailed through three rounds of chemo with minimal side effects. However, chemo in dogs is not curative and he still has that nodule on his lung.

About Lung Metastasis:

Metastasis to the lungs is usually what kills dogs who have cancer, the science is pretty clear. Surgery to remove those tumors is by far the most effective way to extend a dog's lifespan but traditional thoracotomy (lung surgery) involves breaking ribs or the breastbone and the recovery is long and painful. When one is looking out for a dog's best quality of life, that kind of surgery usually doesn't make sense. It's a terrible choice to have to make, but for the first time, there is now another option.

The MIMIC Study:

A clinical trial called the MIMIC study is testing a new, minimally-invasive surgery in dogs to remove tumors from the lungs. With current innovations in minimally invasive surgery, this procedure can now be performed through tiny incisions and the use of a surgical camera (thoracoscopy), instead of a large incision and spreading the ribs or breastbone. Fozzie's downtime will be only 24 hours after the surgery, and then he'll be ready to go home.

Because Fozzie's type of cancer is so rare, the best data we have on how to extend his life as long as possible is to remove this nodule on his lung. It feels like a miracle that this study exists and that he has qualified for it. I've spoken with the veterinary surgical oncologist running the study, Dr Chris Thomson, a number of times and the risk of complication is low and the data he has is very promising.

Not only can Fozzie benefit from this life-saving procedure, but if this clinical trial is successful overall, it has the chance to save so many dog's lives in the future. I feel really lucky that Fozzie's illness can contribute something so important to the world of veterinary medicine.

Does it really work? Is it safe?

The doctor we trust the most is Fozzie's oncologist here in Austin, Dr Stein at AVES. Dr. Stein is in the same network of researchers as Dr. Thomson, and they are both part of a small group of board-certified veterinary oncologists in the US. Dr. Stein has spoken personally with Dr. Thomson about Fozzie and the surgery's viability and has urged us to move forward. That seal of approval has meant a lot.

Additionally, I learned about this study from the story of a puppy named Whiskey, via a podcast about Tripod dogs (it's a thing!). Whiskey's prognosis went from 1-3 months to living another two years and she recovered very quickly. Whiskey's owner lives in Dallas and I've reached out to her to learn more about her experience. Here is Dr. Thomson and Whiskey's owner discussing the MIMIC procedure, and here is more reading about Whiskey's story .

And here is an interview with Dr. Thomson about his work overall:

What are the costs and logistics?

Because Fozzie already has the nodule on his lung, it is time-sensitive that he gets this procedure, so we have scheduled it for June 26. The clinical trial is being performed at Veterinary Specialty Hospital North County, just outside of San Diego, where Dr. Thomson practices.

We will drive from Austin to San Diego, Fozzie will get another CT scan at VSH North County on Tuesday, June 25, then he will spend the night there and have the surgery performed the next day. If there are no complications, he will stay at the hospital for one more day for observation while he recuperates. Then he'll be released on Friday, June 28 and we will drive back to Texas.

The study is partially funded but not fully funded. The cost of the CT scan is covered but the anesthesia for it is not. We have a $5000 stipend to apply towards the surgery but additional costs will range from $4000 to $7500. We also will have travel expenses to drive to San Diego and back, as Fozzie can't fly immediately after lung surgery.

Cost breakdown - How I got to $10,000:

Anesthesia for the CT Scan: $1300
Max out of pocket costs for surgery: $7500
Gas from Austin to San Diego and back: $500
Lodging expenses (2 nights in El Paso, 1 night in Tucson, 4 nights in San Diego): $700

The cost of Fozzie's amputation and chemo has already been significant so I'm asking for help to make this life-saving option feasible.

Why it matters:

First, we have the chance to save Fozzie's life. As many of you know, Fozzie is my sole companion and has been with me through a really rough last eight years. In the wake of my dad's passing especially, I want to do everything I can to give Fozzie the best possible shot at the happiest and healthiest life possible.

But also, this is an opportunity to contribute something back to the world of veterinary medicine that could completely change the prognosis for dogs with osteosarcoma, and sarcomas in general. Currently, dogs with osteosarcoma who don't have an amputation have an average lifespan of only a few months, and those who do have an amputation and chemo still only have an average lifespan of a year. It is the most common cancer in dogs and this is a very promising trial that could forever change those statistics and give dog owners better options.

Getting the news of Fozzie's cancer diagnosis and being told he had only a few months to live was absolutely devastating. If we can help others have better options than that in the future (and it helps Fozzie, and the risks are low) then that makes the pain of it all worthwhile.