Sammy Needs Radiation

Reagan Childers is organizing this fundraiser.

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My name is Reagan, and anyone who knows me knows that my cats are my life. One of my babies, Sammy, whom I’ve had since about 5 weeks old, has unfortunately recently been diagnosed with an injection site fibrosarcoma. She’s a 6 year old absolute weirdo firecracker with chronic allergies and a talkative personality….and a teacher for a mom who does not make nearly enough money for cancer treatment. We’ve been through thick and thin together. She’s my little shadow - I often say we’re obsessed with each other, and it’s not an exaggeration! I cannot lose her.

In November or December of last year, I noticed a lump on her rear left outer thigh area. She had a dermatology appointment coming up very soon (chronic allergies, remember), so I brought it up to her dermatologist at that appointment. They did a needle aspiration that day and discovered an abnormality, so on December 28th, she had a biopsy. A couple weeks later, in the middle of sixth period, I got the call that it came back as cancer.

We’ve spent thousands of dollars on testing and staging already, and thankfully the cancer has not spread beyond this site, but time is of the essence, as this type of cancer is very locally invasive and can grow back and spread elsewhere within months. The two treatment options we were presented with were an amputation of her leg, which isn’t ideal as the location would require resection into the pelvic tissue and body wall, and that’s just not a great idea for her; or radiation at a hospital hours away from us, which costs an estimated $12,000 minimum for her specific treatment. Radiation is her best option, I and her original oncologist, a surgical oncologist, and her new oncologist who performs radiation have decided.

Being that she’s so full of life and happiness, it’s conceivable that we do anything BUT fight like hell to beat this, which brings me to you. Most people don’t just have $12,000 lying around, myself included. I already have taken out a loan for her staging and testing, and finances are tight. I need help, and that is incredibly hard for me to say. I don’t often do that, but this cat means the world to me, and I am desperate. Anything, ANYTHING can help and would be so appreciated. I mean, look at that face! I can’t imagine living without it.