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Hi everyone,
My name is Cheryl, and you may know me and my boy Benji, or you may be a kind stranger who simply loves dogs.
Benji is my 9-year-old husky, my best friend, and my world. I adopted him through Dogs Trust when he was just 18 months old, and since then he has been my shadow, my walking companion, and the reason I smile every single day. He is well known and loved by so many dogs and owners locally (and even around the world) for his gentle, friendly nature and that big, goofy grin.
It’s just me and him, and he truly means everything to me.
What’s Happened
On 8th October, I took Benji for what was meant to be a routine check-up, as he had started behaving differently around food and non-food items. On the surface, the vet and nurse were happy with how he looked, but blood tests sadly showed raised liver enzymes.
A few days later, we were referred to Stone Lion Hospital in Wimbledon for an ultrasound and further testing. They discovered a large mass in his abdomen but could not determine what it was attached to. We were then referred to Aura Veterinary Hospital in Guildford, where the oncology specialists carried out further tests and a CT scan.
On 27th October, we received the results. The scan confirmed that Benji has a hepatocellular carcinoma, a type of primary liver tumour that is slow growing and, thankfully, has not spread to other organs. The tumour is attached to the right side of his liver, and while surgery presents some risk due to its location, it offers the best chance of cure.
The team at Aura explained that surgery to remove the tumour could be curative, but it will cost around £8,000.
So far, I have already spent around £5,000 on consultations, scans, blood tests and specialist appointments to reach this stage. I have used up Benji’s full insurance limit and have been covering the deficit from my own savings to get him this far. Sadly, Petplan will not cover any further treatment, and I have now reached the point where I simply cannot afford the surgery on my own.
We need to book him in by mid-November to give him the best possible chance of recovery. If we have to wait any longer, he will need another £3,000 CT scan and more tests, which I just cannot afford.
Why I’m Asking for Help
I honestly hate asking for help, but right now I do not know what else to do. It is just me and Benji, and I want to give him every chance to live the happy, healthy life he deserves.
He is still full of life, bouncy and excited for his walks and a good play, and he curls up beside me every night. I know he is not ready to give up, and I am not ready to give up on him either.
Where Your Donations Will Go
Every penny raised will go directly towards:
£8,000 – Surgery to remove the liver tumour (hepatocellular carcinoma)
If we raise more, any extra will go towards Benji’s medication and recovery care
(If there is anything beyond that, it will be donated to Dogs Trust in Benji’s name)
How You Can Help
If you can, please consider donating – no matter how small, it all adds up and makes a difference.
And if you cannot donate, sharing Benji’s story would mean the world to us.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading this and for caring. Benji has touched so many lives with his love and spirit, and I just want to make sure he gets the best chance to keep shining.
Thank you, truly.
Cheryl & Benji
**Benji is booked in for surgery on Monday 17th November**
Please follow Benji below for more updates and to see how he's getting on and please keep us in mind!
Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@benji_thesiberianhusky
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