This GoFundMe and the donations given for it are for my dog Margo to hopefully not only continue her cancer treatment, but to have continued with a second opinion from another oncologist after reading why in the story below. Whether you're reading as someone who knows Margo and I at the dog park we visit regularly, one we don't visit, or if you are simply reading this online: Below is the story on my experiences so far in Margo's care, the financial difficulties that followed, and why I ultimately am asking for your help and generosity with making sure my wonderful dog gets the care she needs (If extra generosity permits it, this care being certain

things that I had to put on hold that she could use that I currently can't give her such as a dental)

Last year, my loving dog and best friend, Margo, was diagnosed with cancer. Being without a doubt the most loving and special animal friend in my life so far, Margo had been there for me during some of the darkest, uncertain moments of my life after a motorcycle accident in 2019. When the possibility of cancer came from the symptoms she began experiencing, I didn't hesitate and sold my current motorcycle when it was needed to help pay for an oncologist based on my sister's recommendations from the clinic she worked at as a vet tech.

After some initial scans and her diagnosis, this oncologist reassured me and told me that she, herself, wasn't willing to perform any sort of procedures because of the location of the cancer, that my options were limited with her ultimately taking prednisone and oral chemotherapy. I was clueless, this being my first time taking any animal to an oncologist, so I took her word for it. Since then, this particular oncologist has consistently done things such as cost me extra money unnecessarily, such as ordering me to get certain scans and tests that didn't show any of what she needed the first time last year, but still ordered to have done despite the waste of money and time after it giving us absolutely nothing useful. Both the first and second time she expressed that it didn't show anything cancerous or that could be considered a mass and her ordering the much more advanced, expensive scan that showed us what she needed. The first time being understood, but after she was surprised these scans didn't show anything the second time, showing absolutely no recollection of Margo's past treatment and how we had gone through this before and gained nothing. Not only was it a financial disregard, it was clear with her reaction she simply hadn't cared to review what we had done in the year or so under her care.

More importantly and on top of this, besides letting me know a certain liver enzyme was elevated and how it was normal, she didn't give me any sort of medication advisories or warning of side effects from the prednisone or chemotherapy she had Margo on or very simple recommendations to minimize them. There was no mention of the medication causing of prednisone causing a breaking down and deterioration of hip and abdominal muscles from extended use or that I could slow down or minimize it through regular exercise. I found all of this information out and more myself from my own research after wondering why Margo wasn't running right when I began to take her to the dog park for exercise once again, which I would have done much sooner knowing I could have helped with this. Other things, such as why she was having days where she appeared to be very anxious when the dose was lowered on prednisone, was lowered is also something I learned about myself. I only got a confirmation of these things I discovered by her for the first time when I contacted her to check if supplements recommended online to fight these issues were okay to be taken with her treatment.

Besides the reasons given so far, one of the turning points where I truly began to question and doubt this oncologist was something that left me dumbfounded and confused. After the experience I mentioned of her ordering and making me pay for the scans that showed us nothing a second time, then ordering the more expensive scan, she thought it best to get it many months later to line up a year of window of progress. Until that happened, the oral chemotherapy that Margo had been taking prescribed by this woman, one of Margo's only options by her: She quintessentially told me "I'll write you the prescriptions, it might help until then...you can choose to give it to her, or you could not." and told me it was my choice. She did this with a notable lack of concern or explanation on what she had just told me about this medicine and her sudden uncertainty of it being able to be effective, despite she had expressed the confidence and assured efficiency of Margo taking it before then. With quite a few reasons now, I had ultimately lost faith that this oncologist knew what she was doing or even worse, that she even cared about giving Margo the best treatment she could that I had entrusted her

to do.

From that point forward, I wanted nothing more than to take her to get a second opinion I had been highly considering, but couldn't afford in that moment knowing this scan had to be given regardless of the oncologist. However, things only got harder from there because the sister I mentioned who was living elsewhere suddenly decided she was going to opt out on her promise to help me get this scan with her discount at the clinic she worked for. This took away my option of being able to get that sizable discount and have it paid off slowly. Without that option, there was no way I could afford it myself, certainly not in the window I was told to have it done. . It didn't even matter because shortly after that, someone in my house unfairly lost their job. With those unfortunate financial burdens, there was no way of me taking Margo to anyone new like I had wanted before she runs out of her medicine I had been given the "choice" to administer. Now, I am at a point where I'll not be able to get the scan anytime soon or even continue treatment under that first oncologist, despite the many reasons I have not to.

With that said, thank you for taking the time to read this far. Please, Margo needs your help. I need your help to help her. Please help us. This dog is truly my best friend and so very special to me. After everything explained above and the doubt her first oncologist now makes me feel; Please help me make sure she is not only able to continue treatment, but please help me be able to get that second opinion. To know she is getting the best treatment and best chances of me being able to keep my best friend around as long as I can is something I need to know and plead for your kindness and generosity to make happen. If you haven't met Margo and I, please know you're helping someone who appreciates your generosity so very much, whatever you can give. If you have met and know Margo and I personally, I hope that with your help, Margo and I will be able to come play with you and your own dog friends for as long as possible.

No matter who you are: you have my thanks again for simply taking the time on reading this all. As someone who doesn't use social media any more, even if you can't give any donation: just by you sharing this on a social platform, it could very much be put it in front of someone who can donate and is more helpful than you can imagine for someone in my position. So, shether you are just givnng the time in reading, are sharing it on a social platform, you're someone who personally gives us donation, or perhaps you go above and beyond and do more than one? if you choose to help Margo and I, however you can, please know you do have my sincerest thanks. Thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart. Truly.