Help Luca Get Butthole Surgery

Yep, you read that right. My sweet, goofy, dependable guy needs butthole surgery. Followed by chemo. Because cancer, as it turns out, is a real bummer.

Last week, Luca was diagnosed with anal sac adenocarcinoma. It's grim and absurd in equal measure, and somehow, weirdly on-brand for us. The plan is to remove the tumour, then start oral chemo to hopefully slow things down. We don’t know how much time we’ll get, but I’m hoping for more. We’ve still got shit to do!

I met Luca ten years ago, not long after I moved to Melbourne. I didn’t know anyone, didn’t know what I was doing with my life, and wasn’t in close contact with my family. Turns out he’d just been dumped by his, and when I saw his face on a rescue page, I fell hard. The shelter said he was a handful, and I thought... well, same kiddo ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I bribed a truckie to drive him down from NSW through the night so I could meet him on the side of the highway in the morning.

When he got out of the truck, he was all legs and nerves, and even more of a handful than I’d imagined. He was BIG, and I had no idea what I was doing, but I was determined to figure it out. And slowly, we did.

He got me out of the house and into the world. He gave shape to my twenties—a time when I was lost, lonely, and a bit of a mess. He gave me something outside of myself to care for. A reason to practice showing up. We grew up together, and honestly, I think he’s probably responsible for some of the best parts of me today.

No story about Luca would be complete without his other mum, Kasey, who took us both in five years ago after we (I) blew up our whole life (again), and has been keeping us afloat ever since. She even taught him how to ring a bell when he wants to go outside. Turns out you can teach an old dog new tricks—you just need a little help from your friends.

Being with him as he gets old is the deepest kind of honour. He’s grey and slow and he stinks, but he’s even more beautiful to me now than the day I picked him up.

The surgery will cost just over $3,000, and chemo will be ongoing. I’m only sharing this with a small group of people who know and love us. I don’t expect to raise the full amount, but if you’re in a position to throw in a few dollars to help, I’d be incredibly grateful.

Luca plans to spend next summer with me, swimming in the river in Mount Beauty, like always. And I’m going to make goddamn sure that happens.

With love,

Jade, Luca (Boof, Lenny, Slugboy, Mr Chips) & Kasey, Luca's second favourite mum.