Murdock is a 10-year-old golden retriever who has been the heart of our family since the day we brought him home. He's the kind of dog who makes strangers stop on the street, who greets everyone like they're the best person he's ever met, and who has given us a decade of pure, uncomplicated love. Over the past few weeks, we noticed something was off. Murdock started losing feeling on his left side — stumbling, losing his balance, unsure where his legs were taking him. Yesterday we got answers, and they weren't easy ones. Murdock was diagnosed with a spinal cord tumor at his C2 vertebra, suspected to be a meningioma. The tumor is compressing his spinal cord and causing the neurological symptoms we've been watching worsen.

We have options, and we're choosing to fight for him: radiation therapy, which gives him the best realistic chance at stabilizing the tumor, restoring some function, and giving us more good time together. We've exhausted most of his pet insurance on the diagnostic phase, and we're looking at a significant gap to cover. Any contribution — truly, any amount — helps us get Murdock the care he deserves. He has spent ten years showing up for us. We'd like the chance to show up for him.