Help Hippo Fight Brain Tumor: Support Megan & Jason

Hi everyone! My name is Sarah & I am Jason's cousin, as well as Megan's best friend.

As most of you know, one of their babies, Hippo, was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor that has caused her to have Cushing's disease AND diabetes insipidus. As many of you know, Megan is more in tune with her dogs than many of us are with our own family members. Months and months ago, Megan knew something was wrong. Hippo was slowing down at not even 6 years old. Most of us (including myself) chalked it up to her recent leg surgery, as well as her becoming an adult dog. But Hippo enjoyed things less and less. She didn't want to run around outside, she didn't want to "go around" as much as normal. She still went on walks, she still ate and drank normally, but Megan knew something was wrong. She fought to advocate for Hippo to no avail. Around 2 months ago, Hippo began urinating more often, and inside, where she normally didn't. Hippo was misdiagnosed with a UTI about 5 times before Megan put her foot down. Hippo was peeing every hour, including throughout the night. She would drink a bowl of water in one sitting. She would pee on herself, inside, or wouldn't make it outside before her bladder was too full. This was heartbreaking to Megan and now Jason as well, knowing something was wrong with their baby. Megan demanded a referral to internal medicine from her vet, where she started to get answers. The Internist agreed that something was not right and this was not a UTI. Hippo was then tested for Cushing's, which was positive, and Megan and Jason were able to feel some relief feeling as though they got answers. However, it was the calm before the storm. Hippo then got an MRI which showed the worst, a brain tumor. Megan and Jason are now facing treatment with their baby. I say baby, because Hippo is not "just a dog" to them. Hippo is one of their two children, and their lives revolve around them, as ours do for our children.

Their baby was given 6-8 months to live without treatment.

However, after meeting with the radiologist, they were optimistic that, with radiation, Hippo would have more good quality years to live. Megan and Jason would never extend her life if she were going to be in pain, but they were assured that she could live a relatively normal life with treatment.

However, with treatment, comes payment.

Jason works tirelessly daily doing physical labor to support their family, and Megan works as a special education, dedicating her life to helping others. More than that, Megan works as the foster coordinator (though, she does so much more than that) for Happy Paws Haven Co., a foster based animal rescue. With Jason by her side and supporting her when she needs help, she works tirelessly to rescue dogs from all over the US, and place them into their forever homes. There hasn't been a day that I have known Megan that she hasn't been advocating and working some type of cause to help people.

So, here is the part where I ask for your help. We all know that teaching and manual labor are both underpaid jobs. This is an unexpected expense, but one they could not say no to, to have more years with their spunky Hippo. They need your help. Radiation will cost around $7,500, and past that, Hippo will need to be on medication to control her symptoms for the rest of her life. That has started to take a toll, financially, for the Turbin's. So I ask you, if you know Hippo, Rhino, Megan or Jason, please help. If Megan has helped you rescue your pet, please help. If Jason has helped you with a project or has made you laugh around a bonfire, please help. If you just simply see the Turbin's lives through Facebook, and can see how much they give back and love their dogs, please help. They need our support now more than ever. Anything helps, anything will help us get to our goal.

Thank you for reading my long-winded story. Let's get Hippo the treatment she needs, and the support Megan & Jason needs. Love you all.