
Cooper Needs Surgery!
Donation protected
**UPDATE** My goodness, everyone, I am blown away. Thank you all so much for helping Cooper. I will now be able to schedule his surgery when the vet calls on Friday. I raised Cooper's fundraising goal to see if we could possibly get his whole surgery covered, over the down payment. Cooper thanks you all and is sending smooches and tail wags to you all! Much love.
Hi. I'm Jess and I'm raising funds for surgery that my beagle/lab, Cooper needs to have a soft tissue sarcoma removed from his left shoulder.
Cooper is more than just my dog, my companion, or even my baby. This angel in brown fur with extra floppy ears has saved my life several times. He has been by my side through sickness, heartache, homelessness, success, leaving an abusive marriage, gaining 2 college degrees, uncertainty, and finally, finding who I am and embracing it. This loving, sweet little troublemaker (he is half-beagle, after all) has helped me find my self worth; he gave my son the mom he deserves.
A couple months ago, a lump appeared on his shoulder. We didn't think anything of it at first and thought it was a harmless fatty cyst. Until it started growing. That happened, of course, at the same time I stepped back from my work in technical theatre to focus on my own health as I recently went through a very serious cervical cancer scare (and while that has been cleared, they're still needing to check several more of my systems - gi, cardio, neuro, etc. - my own next procedure is 9/11.) Even when my own ob/gyn told me to brace for what looked likely to be cancer, I wasn't a shred as scared as I am now for my Cooper.
While trying to save up for a vet, Cooper's tumor ruptured and I brought him immediately to Banfield Pet Hospital in Maple Grove, MN who did a biopsy. The following few days were excruciating waiting for the results! And finally, the vet called... but not with news anyone would want. The biopsy revealed that Cooper's tumor was indeed a cancerous soft tissue sarcoma and would need to be surgically removed. It was also too large at that point for his vet at Banfield (Dr. Bucki) to be comfortable removing and she referred us to Mission Animal Hospital in Eden Prarie, MN.
I was devastated, but I made the call to Mission who advised us that the fastest course for a surgical consult would be through their animal urgent care. Early the next morning, my mom and I loaded Cooper into her car and headed in. After a long wait but with much care and support from the staff and his amazing vet, Dr. Heatheranne, we finally have a plan for Cooper. He's started antibiotics and an NSAID that have already helped a lot, but he ultimately needs the surgery.
But here's where Cooper could use your help.
The estimate for his surgery is $2479.49 at the low end and $2998.34 at the high end. His first round of care at Banfield was $300, the bill at Mission was another $250ish. To book his surgery will be another $200 - all of that has been unexpected, but that will be okay in time. However, on the morning of his surgery, I have to pay 35% of the higher end estimate, minus the $200 depost I'll pay when booking his appointment - that comes to about $850.(The rest I can go on a payment plan for, but any extra would help too.) This is the part we need help with.
Please help my Cooper get the surgery he needs to save his life?
I'm trying to find a way to upload his estimate from the vet so hopefully I'll have a better photo soon, but this is what I have for now. It's chopped into 3 photos, but it's his whole invoice. (Still figuring out go fund me...)
Also, if anyone so generous as to donate would like to confirm any of this information, I let Cooper's team at Mission Animal Hospital in Eden Prarie, MN know that people might call and inquire about his care but that I'm 100% okay with them sharing any of his info with someone willing to help. Their phone number is (go fund me recomended i remove their number, but if you google "mission Animal Hospital Eden PrarieMN" you'll get it). Cooper's full name is Cooper Forga. But they have had tons of calls lately so they asked me to tell people to please leave a voicemail if they don't get through.
Thank you all so much.
Organizer
Jessica Forga
Organizer
St. Michael, MN