Many of you know that last month Dahbe had to be rushed into a life saving emergency surgery for a ruptured adrenal mass. And while Dahbe has insurance that has helped to pay some of the bills, Jess still has over $6000 in unpaid bills, and those bills continue to rack up as Dahbe continues to heal. Jess has helped so many of us with our own dogs, I’m hoping we can all give back a little and help mitigate some of those bills as they continue to add up.

Here is the background story on Dahbe’s mass and surgery in Jess’s words:

6 weeks ago, after what was a normal day at work, Dahbe suddenly went pale and needed emergency surgery for a ruptured mass that I had no idea she had. No one could tell where it was coming from at first, but the early concern was hemangiosarcoma. City by the Sea stabilized her, and we rushed her to Red Bank ER. After more imaging, we learned the mass was on her adrenal gland, not spleen, not hermangio, and I was given the choice no one wants: say goodbye, or do a very risky surgery to remove it and stop the bleeding.

We chose surgery because we all agreed Dahbe wasnt ready, if anyone had a fighting chance it was her.

Surgery was complicated. They were able to remove the mass and stop the bleeding, but they also had to take one of her kidneys to save her life. So two organs removed. She fought in the hospital for a week, needing two blood transfusions and facing new issues every single day. But she kept fighting. And when she finally came home, the first thing she did was drag me to her sister Fayra—confirming all id hoped for the day i decided to bring her into our family. Me and Fay were both lost without her. Some close friends who were there every step of the way made sure i was not in this alone, and to be honest im not sure i would have survived this without them. They know exactly who they are, and i am so grateful for you ❤️

The first week home felt hopeful, but her recheck bloodwork showed her remaining kidney was struggling. We’ve been doing fluids, changing her diet, and watching her levels closely. Until last week each bloodwork was worse then the last and i could not breathe, not that thats changed much. How can she make it through this surgery with a considerable fatality rate, and then lose the battle to a kidney failure? We’re in the waiting period now—hoping her kidney stabilizes so we can move forward. Oncology and internal medicine both agreed that right now the priority is protecting that kidney. The mass was malignant, its a rare cancer, and not a ton of research on treatment and prognosis, and there is a small lung nodule so they believe its spread, even though its uncommon, but we can’t even consider treatment until her kidney is healthier. We finally saw small improvement in her bloodwork last week, and ive been waiting without breathing for this weeks results - they’ve IMPROVED. Not a ton, but a step in the right direction and I’ll take it.

This has been the biggest emotional roller coaster I’ve ever been on. The support from everyone has meant more than I can express. Everyday ive been faced with new decisions and Im basing them off of knowing she wasn’t ready to leave us. And she’s proving me right every day—she feels good, she’s 95% herself again, and she’s defying every odd thrown at her. She’s starting post operative rehab, shes back to nosework, and aint nobody told her shes sick. I am so grateful to all the doctors on her team working so hard to save her life and provide me with all the info i needed to make the right choices. Without them, without the technology offered at Red Bank, without Pet Insurance, without the support and help of my primary vet and staff being ridiculously accommodating, Dahbe probably wouldn’t here today.

The bills are piling up, some astronomical, she certainly will have more, but i cant think of anything id rather spend my money on than her, which is no new news to be honest and id do it all again to save her life and get her back home with us.

We have a long road ahead, but right now all that matters is today. My girl is still here. She’s fighting. Shes happy. We’re taking it slow, but just trying to get her life back to normal. And if this doesnt prove she’s a real life magical dragon, i dont know what will❤️ so please keep fingers crossed for my girl that she continues to be the tough, bad a$$ little hood rat dragon that I’ve always known she was and thank you everyone for all the love and support - it’s completely overwhelming ❤️