My Hamilton has Cancer
Donation protected
Hello, this is Hamilton Cornwallis III my pet mini pig. My name is Floyd, I am Ham’s hooman, and I am here on behalf of Ham. All donations (minus 2.9% to GoFundMe) go directly to Hams medical needs. Receipts will be posted.
A little over 2 months ago, Hamilton began to sneeze. A few days passed and he began to have a nose bleed on his left side. It was a little blood at first and within a few days got a lot worse!?
We don’t have a vehicle to transport a 250# potbellied pig. So, we had to find a Vet who makes house calls. Which after Covid 19 has become a very difficult thing to do and comes at a price. $400.00
A biopsy was taken and labs were done. Unfortunately, it was not good news. Hamilton has been diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma. We are devastated and it couldn’t come at a worse time financially, as these things often do. 
We have been in communication with our vet who is collaborating with Virginia Tech to take on Sir Hamilton Cornwallis Cancer. A preliminary estimate of costs to treat him is anywhere between $10,000 and $15,000!!!
This is way out of my league in cost. The choice is clear it is either euthanasia or ask for help. So here we are.
We have our first appointment. Our vet sent me these messages.
(Message #1)
“Got back in touch with Dr Mckenzie. Estimate for ct anesthesia and work u0 roughly 1500-2000. I'm waiting to hear back on how fast they think they could move on treatment plan after the work up to give you a timeline.”
(Message #2)
“ Just heard from Dr. Mckenzie. They can do take in for Hamilton on Tuesday the 16th with the CT the morning of the Wed the 17th. Then depending on what they find will determine how fast they move on surgery or treatment. Would that work for you?”
Now, we just need to figure out how to transport Mr. Cornwallis!
Little Ham used to love car rides. Big Ham, not so much. Baby Ham was transported from Oklahoma to his first home in Earlysville Virginia by his breeder as a gift. When he was young, we would take him on various trips, sometimes back-and-forth to Richmond to visit friends. He liked it very much but, as he got bigger, he began to become anxious, especially on long trips. Requesting/ demanding frequent stops and throwing tantrums.
As he got heavier, it became harder and harder for all parties involved, to get him in and out of the vehicle. At around 150 pounds we had to stop doing car rides.
Now at 250 pounds, it really needs to be his idea, and most car interiors are not designed with a pig in mind. We all decided it would be best if pig became a homebody. Hamilton does not protest.
Everything was fine until. … Hamilton started showing signs of being sick.
As an adult pig, we have only had to move him once, when we had to move from Earlysville, Virginia. To North Garden, Virginia, two years ago. That took days of planning. Which ended up being a U-Haul with his crate in the back of it. This was only a 20 minute drive. It didn’t go well.
By the time we got to the new house he was very traumatized, with a broken tusk, a bent up crate and a very disgruntled pig. He stayed mad at me for three days after. I have absolutely no idea how we are going to do this.
If anyone reading this has any advice, feel free to send me a message.
April 14th
The best case scenario in working out the logistics of getting Hamilton to Virginia Tech, two hours plus away will cost us approximately $400 for round trip. A lot of planning is happening. We are looking forward to speaking with the vet tomorrow and working out payment information and any advice or leads, that we can use to get Hamilton to his appointment, in the safest and most efficient way possible.
April 16th
I got to speak with the Vet today. We had to reschedule Hams work up today. It is going to take more time to arrange piggy transport. We have procured a sturdy crate with wheels (and brakes). With the team effort of the hospital and friends. Logistical plans are being made. We also needed to raise a few more dollars to start the work up. It is looking to be around the 29th. Now, to get Ham to his first appointment to see what is going on inside of Ham. To see what treatment,(if any), we can give Hamilton for recovery. ❤️
April 25th
I got Hams crate on the 22nd!
We are still $1000 shy of our target. He leaves for his work up on April 29th.
Today I got him half way into his crate. Still some work to go.
April 30th
Yesterday was not a good day for Hamilton. As predicted, Hamilton did not travel well, between the heat and the trauma of travel, we almost lost Hamilton. By the time we got to Blacksburg, he was barely conscious and struggling. The staff at the animal clinic acted quickly to cool him down with fans, alcohol, packing him in ice and wet towels. It took him almost an hour to be able to get out of the crate on his own. I sat with him and comforted him as he recovered. He slept next to me for 30 to 45 minutes. I stayed with him for as long as I could. By the time I left, he was wobbly, but walking around, drinking water and even attempted to climb into his water bowl. It was very hard to leave him there and the house feels empty without him. Hopefully we will hear something back today and it will be good news..
May 1st
The doctor sent this picture this morning, showing an anxious Hamilton who is ready to come home. We are going out this evening when the weather is a little cooler to pick him up and bring him home. We don’t want to have a repeat of what happened on his way out.
May 2nd
Hamilton made it home last night. The evening temperatures were much better for him. We were careful to not have a repeat of the trip out. He is exhausted but very happy to be home. He was very pleased to be able to poop in his own yard this morning. (As seen in the picture below.) So, here is the news… We were given two choices. They would have to remove Hamiltons nose, and we may get another year with Ham. Or, we can leave him intact and bring him home and give him the best life for however long he last… We are devastated. So we brought him home whole, to love all of him the best we can. Thank you everyone, for everything!!! It wasn’t the outcome we were hoping for. But we needed to try, and with everyone’s support, we did just that.
May 11
We got the invoice for Hams visit to Virginia Tech today. Although we are not pursuing $15,000 for his surgery, any help we can get for his work up and end of life arrangements would be greatly appreciate.
This page is a work in progress. I will continue to add more information as we go. Please come back and visit to get up dates and please share this page.
A little over 2 months ago, Hamilton began to sneeze. A few days passed and he began to have a nose bleed on his left side. It was a little blood at first and within a few days got a lot worse!?We don’t have a vehicle to transport a 250# potbellied pig. So, we had to find a Vet who makes house calls. Which after Covid 19 has become a very difficult thing to do and comes at a price. $400.00 A biopsy was taken and labs were done. Unfortunately, it was not good news. Hamilton has been diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma. We are devastated and it couldn’t come at a worse time financially, as these things often do. We have been in communication with our vet who is collaborating with Virginia Tech to take on Sir Hamilton Cornwallis Cancer. A preliminary estimate of costs to treat him is anywhere between $10,000 and $15,000!!!
This is way out of my league in cost. The choice is clear it is either euthanasia or ask for help. So here we are.
We have our first appointment. Our vet sent me these messages.
(Message #1)
“Got back in touch with Dr Mckenzie. Estimate for ct anesthesia and work u0 roughly 1500-2000. I'm waiting to hear back on how fast they think they could move on treatment plan after the work up to give you a timeline.”
(Message #2)
“ Just heard from Dr. Mckenzie. They can do take in for Hamilton on Tuesday the 16th with the CT the morning of the Wed the 17th. Then depending on what they find will determine how fast they move on surgery or treatment. Would that work for you?”
Now, we just need to figure out how to transport Mr. Cornwallis!
Little Ham used to love car rides. Big Ham, not so much. Baby Ham was transported from Oklahoma to his first home in Earlysville Virginia by his breeder as a gift. When he was young, we would take him on various trips, sometimes back-and-forth to Richmond to visit friends. He liked it very much but, as he got bigger, he began to become anxious, especially on long trips. Requesting/ demanding frequent stops and throwing tantrums.As he got heavier, it became harder and harder for all parties involved, to get him in and out of the vehicle. At around 150 pounds we had to stop doing car rides.
Now at 250 pounds, it really needs to be his idea, and most car interiors are not designed with a pig in mind. We all decided it would be best if pig became a homebody. Hamilton does not protest.
Everything was fine until. … Hamilton started showing signs of being sick.
As an adult pig, we have only had to move him once, when we had to move from Earlysville, Virginia. To North Garden, Virginia, two years ago. That took days of planning. Which ended up being a U-Haul with his crate in the back of it. This was only a 20 minute drive. It didn’t go well.
By the time we got to the new house he was very traumatized, with a broken tusk, a bent up crate and a very disgruntled pig. He stayed mad at me for three days after. I have absolutely no idea how we are going to do this.
If anyone reading this has any advice, feel free to send me a message.
April 14th
The best case scenario in working out the logistics of getting Hamilton to Virginia Tech, two hours plus away will cost us approximately $400 for round trip. A lot of planning is happening. We are looking forward to speaking with the vet tomorrow and working out payment information and any advice or leads, that we can use to get Hamilton to his appointment, in the safest and most efficient way possible.
April 16th
I got to speak with the Vet today. We had to reschedule Hams work up today. It is going to take more time to arrange piggy transport. We have procured a sturdy crate with wheels (and brakes). With the team effort of the hospital and friends. Logistical plans are being made. We also needed to raise a few more dollars to start the work up. It is looking to be around the 29th. Now, to get Ham to his first appointment to see what is going on inside of Ham. To see what treatment,(if any), we can give Hamilton for recovery. ❤️
April 25th
I got Hams crate on the 22nd!
- THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH!!
- I have been talking to a few large animal transportation sources. The best price is $1019 for 2day round trip to the large animal Vet in Blacksburg. We priced it down and have decided U-Haul is the most cost effective.
- $20 rental
- .71/ mile plus fuel approx $500
We are still $1000 shy of our target. He leaves for his work up on April 29th.
Today I got him half way into his crate. Still some work to go.
April 30th
Yesterday was not a good day for Hamilton. As predicted, Hamilton did not travel well, between the heat and the trauma of travel, we almost lost Hamilton. By the time we got to Blacksburg, he was barely conscious and struggling. The staff at the animal clinic acted quickly to cool him down with fans, alcohol, packing him in ice and wet towels. It took him almost an hour to be able to get out of the crate on his own. I sat with him and comforted him as he recovered. He slept next to me for 30 to 45 minutes. I stayed with him for as long as I could. By the time I left, he was wobbly, but walking around, drinking water and even attempted to climb into his water bowl. It was very hard to leave him there and the house feels empty without him. Hopefully we will hear something back today and it will be good news..
May 1st
The doctor sent this picture this morning, showing an anxious Hamilton who is ready to come home. We are going out this evening when the weather is a little cooler to pick him up and bring him home. We don’t want to have a repeat of what happened on his way out.
May 2nd
Hamilton made it home last night. The evening temperatures were much better for him. We were careful to not have a repeat of the trip out. He is exhausted but very happy to be home. He was very pleased to be able to poop in his own yard this morning. (As seen in the picture below.) So, here is the news… We were given two choices. They would have to remove Hamiltons nose, and we may get another year with Ham. Or, we can leave him intact and bring him home and give him the best life for however long he last… We are devastated. So we brought him home whole, to love all of him the best we can. Thank you everyone, for everything!!! It wasn’t the outcome we were hoping for. But we needed to try, and with everyone’s support, we did just that.
May 11
We got the invoice for Hams visit to Virginia Tech today. Although we are not pursuing $15,000 for his surgery, any help we can get for his work up and end of life arrangements would be greatly appreciate.
This page is a work in progress. I will continue to add more information as we go. Please come back and visit to get up dates and please share this page.
Organizer
Floyd Hair
Organizer
Charlottesville, VA