Help Support Bella Mae’s Battle Against Osteosarcoma!

Creating this fundraiser is incredibly difficult for me for numerous reasons. Most importantly, the fact that it is even reality breaks my heart. Secondly, I am not one to ask for (or even accept) help, but I understand why it has been suggested.

Bella Mae has been my faithful shadow and life sidekick for 13 years. My first baby. My absolute soul dog. A built-in BFF for our son from the beginning (nicknamed “Nanny-dog” when he was a baby due to her gentle concern and care for him). Many of you have seen her grow-up over the years via her absurdly patient tolerance of my photography antics with her as the subject. Those who know her personally know that she is doggy perfection. An OG GSP in our area, she was an all-too good advocate over the years for the breed (too good, we always warned others not to judge the breed by her!) A gracious foster sister to countless animals over the years, never showing jealousy or irritation of having to share her world. I could go on, and on, and on.

Nearly two weeks ago, Bella fumbled getting up on the bed. An action that shouldn’t have broken her arm did just that. To our devastation, her Xray showed the reason - Osteosarcoma. We couldn’t know definitively without a biopsy - which would take over a week to confirm. If cancer (and confirmed highly probable by our vet and two specialists), a repair of her bone would not heal. Unable to leave her with a broken limb to wait for a biopsy we were facing saying goodbye or amputation. Amputation would take away her pain and potentially the cancer, buying her pain free time. Keeping her comfortable with pain medication, we took the rest of the day to determine what to do. We know her age. My heart carries the painful knowledge of her age every time I soak in her beautiful white face. But, we also knew otherwise she is healthy, and zestful for life. We couldn’t NOT try. It wasn’t her time. We knew it wouldn’t be an easy new normal at her age, but we knew we would be right with her every three-legged step of the way. With confirmation there was no spread into her lungs, we proceeded with amputation.

Her recovery had been going so well - our heavy hearts were seeing firsthand that we made the right choice. Her spirits were like nothing happened. Her appetite bigger than ever. She was ready to figure out her new body and new normal more than we could let her yet while she heals. But, two days ago her incision began draining exceedingly. Everything had looked healthy and great prior. By our vet appointment the next day it was worse. We learned that an area of her incision has gone necrotic (the tissue is dying) at no fault of hers or ours or the surgery…these things can just happen. We learned that it would get worse before better and add time to her healing process. Devastated. We promised our girl pain free time, whatever may be left, and now we are chipping into that. We are assured it can and will heal, it just complicates things. As such, her duration on her pain-med regimen will be prolonged, and we are adding laser therapy to help encourage healing.

This is lengthy and I appreciate you sharing in the journey if you’ve read along this far. I can get wordy, I know. My loved ones are probably chuckling reading that and shaking their heads “yup”. But, those same loved ones who know us best know that the past year has been exceedingly difficult. Major unforeseen life changes, one curve ball after another. Sometimes I laugh through the tears asking the universe to please give us a little break because I can’t even believe the constant flow of, well, crap. And because of that, I return back to confirmation that I understand why putting this fundraiser together is being encouraged. We entered into this decision knowing we would figure out how to make it work for our girl, and it isn’t anyone else’s burden to carry. But, we are truly beyond grateful to those wanting to share the load a little with us. We love our girl beyond measure - and we love that she is so loved by others as well. Donations will go toward assisting with the incurred expenses for pre-screening, surgery and post care as well mobility aids necessary for her new normal once she heals.

I wrap this up with tear filled eyes and a hopeful heart. Hug those fur-loves of your own extra tight tonight. Their time with us is all too short.