Help Juno Heal from Cancer Surgery

This summer I got the worst news of my life: my best friend, Juno, has cancer.

 

Juno is a goofy, adventurous husky-shepherd mix and hardly noticed the tumor on her leg, even when it got bigger than a softball. The vets tested it and saw no signs of cancer, but decided to remove it before it got even bigger.

 

Unfortunately, when they did the surgery, they realized the tumor was wrapped around her leg bone and couldn’t be fully removed. A biopsy showed that the mass was in fact, cancer: an aggressive soft tissue sarcoma.

 

It wasn’t an easy decision, but I opted to amputate to give Juno the best chance of long-term happiness.

 

The good news: Juno is expected to make a full recovery and be walking or even hiking again within a month or two! Without the leg, the cancer is much less likely to spread.

 

The bad news: Juno has an active pet insurance policy, but the insurance company (Embrace Pet Care) is calling her lump a pre-existing condition and refusing to cover any surgery or cancer-related expenses. Even though the lump stayed small for several years and showed NO signs of cancer until this summer, Embrace denied our appeal.

 

I’ve already paid $8,460.54 out of pocket for Juno’s two surgeries, diagnostics, and many vet visits, not including any followup visits or physical therapy she may eventually need to adapt to 3-legged life. She’s worth it, but the unexpected expense is incredibly stressful. Any donations will go directly to Juno’s medical bills.

Juno has brought so much joy to so many people over the years. Maybe you remember her goofy smile and high-fives from the Opower office in Arlington, or stopped by our (her) desk to hear her say “I love you” at the Uber office in San Francisco, or met her hiking a 14er or savoring a sunset as we’ve traveled the country visiting National Parks. Maybe you haven’t met Juno in person, but still feel like you know her from her adventures online. She’s the best friend I’ve ever had.

 

Any support you can give, however small, will go a long way towards Juno’s recovery. (And will seriously reduce my stress levels as an anxious single dog mom.)

 

Thank you SO much for reading and caring about Juno. I couldn’t have made it through the past few months without the love of friends, family, and total strangers on the internet who I hope to someday meet in real life. Here’s to many 3-legged #journeyswithjuno to come! ❤️