Two weeks ago, my dear Maltipoo Cody was acting a bit strange. A while later, with no warning, he fell abruptly onto his side.

Up until then, Cody has been a super energetic, joyful, cuddly, playful, smart, athletic, people loving pup. (Don't just take my word for it; all of our friends and neighbors would agree.) He loves hiking, camping, playing fetch, fishing, napping, sniffing, and most of all being with his people. Just a few months ago, a chiropractor said Cody had the body of a 6-year-old.

With an immediate visit to the ER, the veterinarian found fluid around Cody's heart, which was drained. The vet then told us Cody had a tumor, and very little time to live. That was a very tearful day for me and two of my closest friends who came over to be with Cody and provide emotional support.

The next day, we brought Cody to a different animal hospital where he got diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma, an incredibly aggressive form of cancer usually seen in larger dogs like Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds. He had a tumor on his right atrium, but fortunately the fluid had not returned around the heart. They put him on a supplement to slow the bleeding.

Next, we sought out an exceptional oncologist and found one who would get Cody in the very next day due to how quickly this cancer metastasizes. Dr. Caitland Cowan at Blue Pearl Animal Hospital is amazing. She did a thorough exam and came up with three possible treatment plans, all of which give Cody a reasonably good prognosis. (She also pointed out that Cody's hind legs are so muscular it is hard to check his femoral artery!)

We opted for radiation and chemo, and Dr. Cowan made calls to facilities to get Cody in right away. The very next day, Wheatridge Animal Hospital agreed to do the radiation. I feel so blessed that we were able to start Cody's treatment right away. Thus far, there has been no indication that the cancer has spread.

Cody got his first chemo early the next week, and he is back to being the pup I have known and loved for years. He's barking at any sound that might mean danger to his people, normally a bit of an annoying trait that I rejoiced at the first time I heard this again! He is excitedly walking his usual three or more treks a day on the nearby trails in Boulder, pausing often to carefully smell the scents. You would never know anything was wrong except for the shaved areas on his torso and two front legs which were needed to do the ultrasounds and IVs. The protocol he is on could give him one to two more years! And in one research paper I read, a dog who was on the exact same supplements, medications, and chemo as Cody was completely cured of the disease!

I have always called Cody my "angel dog" because he watches out for me. I've had several pets in my life, but none come close to the bond I have with Cody. We rescued him from the Boulder Humane Society when he was just five months old. I learned that he was found homeless, with long matted fur and was flea-infested in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and brought back to the States by a wonderful woman who has brought several dogs to her home in Boulder over the years. She has kept five herself. I swear Cody asked me to come get him—I had such a strong instinctual urge to go to the Humane Society the very morning he was dropped off. I hadn't been looking for a dog. I just knew I had to go. The minute Cody jumped onto my mother's lap, she began to cry. It was love at first sight. (He was going to be her dog until it became clear that her dementia would limit her ability to take care of a dog anymore.)

As you can imagine, radiation, chemotherapy, testing, supplements, and medications are expensive. I have two very generous friends who have helped Cody thus far and I am beyond grateful for their support. I don't want to rely solely on them and don't want money to be the barrier that keeps me from having Cody for the potential nine months or more he that he can have with treatment.

I am contributing to his care as I can but I just don't have the financial resources to pay for all the treatment Cody needs. I hate asking for help, but it's the only way I foresee being able to give him the full course of treatment that involves seven more chemo infusions along with meds, supplements, and tests.

Any amount I can raise will help us greatly.

For those interested in more information on the medical side and wish to understand why we are opting to treat Cody, hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is a highly aggressive, malignant cancer of blood vessel lining cells. It often strikes older, large-breed dogs in the spleen, heart, liver, or skin, causing internal bleeding, weakness, collapse, or visible skin tumors, with potential for palliative care and slower spread through surgery/chemo. Open heart surgery is not an option in Cody's case. Hemangiosarcoma is insidious, with early signs often subtle or absent until rupture causes emergency collapse, making early detection through regular vet checks crucial for intervention. I am so grateful that his tumor has not ruptured!

Without any treatment, hemangiosarcoma would have taken Cody from me in one to two weeks. With the Chinese supplement Yunnan Baiyao alone, he could have 4 to 6 weeks. But with the radiation, chemo, supplements, and meds, he has the potential to live for many months, over a year, or even be cured!

Most dogs tolerate chemo very well. Cody is now refusing to eat kibble, so I've changed to more expensive fresh food which I used as a topper to his kibble before this. Like most Maltipoos, Cody has always been a picky eater. I am looking into making food for him myself to ensure he gets all the nutrition he needs.

For those who like to know where their money is going to specifically, here are the additional costs I foresee needing to be covered:

Seven more chemo infusions ~$500 each totaling $3,500.

Follow-up testing to see how the treatment is working, such as additional ultrasounds, X-rays, and echocardiograms. ~ $1,500.

I will update the expenses as I learn more about cost that are approximate vs 100% known.

Even if you cannot help me in this way, thank you for reading this page. And to everyone I have in my life right now, thank you for the emotional support through a very stressful situation in my life.