Kona's battle

Hello my name is Nic and I’m posting today about my beloved dog, who is my best friend, Kona.  Last week I took him in for a tissue biopsy. For the next 24 hours I heard him whimper in pain, which broke my heart into pieces. They told me the procedure shouldn’t have hurt but clearly something hurt my boy. Eventually we got the meds he needed to help him feel better, but that whimpering still lingers in my ears.


I was devastated when I got the call on Monday. I found out that Kona has two forms of cancer, soft tissue Sarcoma (on his right front shoulder) and a Mass Cell tumor (on his right back leg). You see, cancer has taken my beloved mother and sister-n-law all within the last year. Kona became my therapy dog and was allowed to come with me to school and attend my class for I am an elementary school teacher. Now my precious boy has the big dreadful “C”. It’s been a rough journey and this only makes my heart break even more. He needs to have this surgery sooner rather than later.


Kona is a dog who enjoys playing ball, going on adventures, going to the beach, and being with his momma. He is loved by all his aunts, uncles, and strangers who meet him. He’s quite the gentleman and loves to pose for pictures. Kona is my family. Seeing him sick and not himself breaks my heart into a million tiny pieces. He is my first dog, my son, which says it all. Kona is loved so much. I love my little boy to the moon and back.


For him to continue to live a happier, longer life for whatever time he has left, he needs to get these masses removed, and possibly chemo or radiation. Without surgery, he may only have months to a year to live. With the most effective form of surgery, he could go onto have at least another two years. I pray everyday that he will remain strong.


On a teacher’s salary, I have given what I can to pay for the above tests, which has cost close to $2K already. Obviously, nothing is more precious than my boy’s quality of life. This surgery would give Kona more time with the people he loves most in this world. Receiving help from you would mean the world to me and be the greatest blessing. It would help pay for his surgery and after treatment needed to help Kona recover.


Right now the estimate is $6,500 (low end) and goes as high as $8,500 (high end). So far when I have done his tests, it has always ended up being on the high end of the quote. All donations will go directly to Kona’s medical bills and ongoing care. Any contribution, big or small, would be greatly appreciated AND mean more than you could possibly know. Please share this page! Thank you so much for reading this. I pray that Kona will continue to keep his fighting spirit alive.