Hello,

My name is Lucy. I have been battling genetic colorectal Cancer for five years. It has required g.i.i lung, thyroid, and other surgeries.

 

On August 13, at 54 years of age, I discovered I had an inoperable brain tumor.

 

Two weeks later I was left mostly paralyzed on my left side from the hip down as swelling from radiation took over. I am using assisted devices to help me type with this hand. Radiation has caused brain swelling which makes it difficult to type. I cant navigate much of my house.

I am trying.

 

My family is scrambling to help me with assisted devices from chair lifts to mobility equipment. Things change daily and it makes it hard to keep up. So little is covered.

I am not even addressing ANY that now. It's just too much. Too much money to make my house safe and to get things in place for a hopeful Christmas.

 

So I am biting off what I can.

My senior dog is in decline and the timing couldn't be worse. It was decided that I need a cancer companion dog that would be sensible for me to manage. That I can do.

 

A small dog even-tempered dog that could sit on my lap during chemo and or operations to provide stress relief and support. I think you agree this makes sense. My Dolce is in her last days, She is deeply loved and cared for but her quality of life has not been good despite intervention for canine cognitive disorder, she is uncomfortable and we are doing our best. We have spoken to the vet and are going day by day...

 

While I care for Dolce, My psychosocial team feels it's best I have a canine cancer support therapy dog to help me through this.

 

So I am not good at asking for help.

 

What I'm comfortable with is specific asks.

 

I would like to be able to bring my cancer therapy dog home.

 

She will need pet supplies, training, and occasional boarding during my medical interventions. She will need a vet, and indoor turf pad systems so I can not worry in my wheelchair. I will need safety gates to block her so I don't inadvertently harm her or fall on her. We are very responsible with our pets. She will need spaying later for her health.

Towards this, I will immediately need about $8500 as an ability challenged person to get my dog into Toronto, pay her adoption fee (highly reputable breeder familiar with therapy dogs), put a plan in place so we have coverage for her vet bills, and boarding food and other needs (cancer dog training) next 6-9 months. How do you estimate these things? Vets and boarding and training and food -- the sky t limit so I have to try to pull a conservative number Im guessing I would need another $8000 for the next few months after to cover the other things I mention in part. It's a very different thing to set up support for cancer therapy, especially where paralysis is involved.

a.

This has been a devastating time for my family. I assure you that this has been more real than I can ever imagine.

 

I hope that my honesty and candor have been wellrecieved. Its not easy.

I appreciate and am grateful for any help during this difficult time.

As I said, I am not even addressing the larger picture right now. Just dealing with what I have to do immediately.

Thank you for listening to my story, and for any help and support. You can help here or contact me by

Whatever you do, I am grateful for you

All my love,

Lucy