Honoring Nymeria: A Life Full of Love

Hi everyone,

Nymeria passed away peacefully in my arms at 7pm on Friday. She was fighting every day through the weight of this terrible disease. But even at her sickest, she never lost her appetite (which is wild), and she never stopped wanting to go outside and participate in this world.

I just wanted to say thank you for everything. Your kindness helped me give her the time, comfort, and dignity she deserved.

It might seem like a frivolous spending pursuit to some—and maybe I would’ve thought the same if I didn’t know this dog, if I hadn’t had her as my teacher. You read that right—she taught me.

As a musician and a teacher, I spend my life helping others grow. But this dog? She was the one teaching me: about patience, presence, resilience, and the purest kind of loyalty.

They say, "you can’t teach an old dog new tricks," but Nymeria proved that wrong again and again. Toward the end, she even learned—through sheer muscle memory—that she needed to elevate herself after eating to avoid nausea. No cues, no reminders. She just knew.

And even on her final day, she made sure to go outside, feel the breeze, and show me that she still had some joy to share.

I’ll be contributing what I can from my own income—because that’s what love looks like. But as an artist who’s always had to be resourceful, I’m reaching back out to this beautiful community for one last bit of support.

If you’re able to donate or share again, it will go toward covering the cost of the medications, vet visits, and full-time care I gave her these last few months. More than that—it helps me honor a little life that gave me so much.

With endless love and gratitude,

Benji

For full transparency, you can view the detailed breakdown of her expenses in the linked Google spreadsheet:

Click Here for the Expense Spreadsheet

You can still read her story below. You will see her diagnosis and the treatment that we had planned on up until now.

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Nymeria’s Story: A Life Full of Love & Second Chances:

Nymeria (you can call her Nymee)— she’s family. She’s my best friend, running partner, songwriting companion, and the sharpest little nugget you’ll ever meet. A small chihuahua/terrier/heeler mix with a big personality, she’s all focus, loyalty, and adventure.

She’s the kind of dog who stays glued to your side on a walk (she insists leashes are beneath us, but laws disagree). She loves running 5Ks, telling visitors to go away, and her favorite pastime is watching people talk. And if you’ve got a Starbucks Puppuccino, you’re instantly her best friend.

Nymeria’s story has always been about second chances. She was found abandoned on the streets, yet she taught me what second chances really mean in my life story. Now, I want to make sure she gets this second chance—to fight, to heal, and to have more tail-wagging years ahead.

She’s also been my greatest songwriting companion, always curled up next to me while I work on new music, offering silent but steady encouragement (or well-timed side-eye when I need to take a break).

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What We Know:

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What This Fundraiser Covers:

Every dollar raised will go directly toward either Nymeria’s comfort (medications, special foods) or chemotherapy to fight the cancer. Now that we have a clear treatment plan, we’ve adjusted our goal to $12,000 based on the following estimated costs:

Carboplatin chemotherapy (every 3 weeks): $1,000–$1,500 per session

Follow-up bloodwork (CBC test, 14 days after each chemo session): $200 per test

Ongoing supportive medications & care to manage side effects and keep her comfortable

Unforeseen costs, including emergency care if needed

Treatment will continue until progression, meaning we don’t have a set timeline—our goal is simply to give Nymeria as much quality time as possible while ensuring she isn’t suffering.

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How You Can Help:

This journey isn’t easy, but we’re committed to fighting for Nymeria. If you’re able to donate, every contribution, no matter the size, helps us afford her care. If you can’t donate, sharing this fundraiser is just as valuable.

Nymeria still has so much life, energy, and love to give. We want to give her the best chance possible.

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Ways to Support:

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Closing message:

Nymeria is deeply loved by all of us in her life, and we are coming together as a family, team, and community to get her the care she needs. Life throws curveballs, and none of us can do this alone—any support truly means the world to us and to our little Nymee.

As a thank you, I’ll personally write you a song, make you a video, and/or give music lessons for your donations—stay tuned!