Just a little over 5 years ago, I (Roxie's Mom, Katie) found myself perusing a site that curated a national list of dogs in need of rescuing from high-kill shelters. Having sent our cat across the rainbow bridge a month prior, we hadn't planned on rescuing quite yet. And then, I saw this mug, and knew we had to meet her....

Wouldn't you know it, we ended up adopting Roxie 1 week before the country shut down due to COVID. Little did I know then, she'd end up rescuing me in ways I could have never anticipated.

On May 30th, 2024, Roxie walked me down the aisle. Not because I didn't want my Dad to, but because she's 1000% our daughter, and I couldn't imagine it any other way. Jump to May 5th of this year, only two months after losing Jim's dad to cancer, Roxie was diagnosed with a very rare form of skin cancer that goes beneath the skin (Subcutaneous Hemangiosarcoma), which has the potential to aggressively travel to other organs.

As we all know, vet bills are expensive. In any other situation, we wouldn't be asking for help. However, due to circumstances outside of our control (multiple family emergencies, a layoff, and this crazy economy), we are put in a position to look to our community for support. It's with the humblest of hearts that we're accepting any donations folks may be willing to contribute. Whether that's a dollar or more, we are beyond grateful for any little bit of help <3

We wanted to be completely transparent about diagnostic and treatment costs, and are more than happy to provide documentation of said costs-- we completely understand wanting to see the receipts...just ask! We currently have about $3k that we've charged on CareCredit thus far, and she'll now be treated by Veterinary Cancer & Surgery Specialists, with an estimate of about $5,763 (low end) to $7,072.

Roxie's Diagnostic Procedures So Far:

• Exam, bloodwork
• Surgery to remove mass
• Pathology
• X-ray of lungs
• Recovery prescriptions & devices; technician appointments

Roxie's Oncology Diagnostics & Procedures:

• Consultation
• Ultrasound of abdomen
• Surgery to remove remaining cancer margins on side/abdomen where mass was removed
• Pathology
• Recovery prescriptions and equipment
• Follow-up appts

The above quoted expenses don't include possible chemo treatment. This will be determined after further imaging and pathology is done.

The Good News(ish)

Roxie's X-ray of her lungs was clear, and her bloodwork is good! The tricky part to this is that, A.) she will always need imaging and surgery to remove masses/margins moving forward. B.) It's hard to know if she'd need chemo, unless there's something obvious. So the likely plan is to treat it w/ surgery, and just keep a keen eye on it spreading. Of course, this will always be expensive, but for now, she has a very promising outcome, and we are just so incredibly lucky to have so many people to love and support her, and us. She is really just the best thing to ever happen to us, and so are all of you.

Please feel free to share this far and wide. Here are a few of Roxie's favorite things: WALKS (like really, 3x/day at least, she loses her mind over them). Pup cups. Kiddos. Her people. Giving stinky kisses. Spooning. Cheese. Hide'n'Go Seek the Treat. Being stylish (bandanas, raincoats, shirts...she's even worn leg warmers!)

WE LOVE YOU SO, SO, SO, MUCH!!!!

xoxo, Roxie, Katie, and Jim