Hey—can I share something really hard?

You know Oliver is my goofy, soulful 8 month old Bernedoodle, but he’s also the little heartbeat that’s helping me rebuild my life. He’s training to be a therapy dog because I want him to bring the same calm and comfort that therapy animals brought to Mike during his cancer treatments at Cross Cancer. That promise—to pay that kindness forward—means everything to me.

The truth is, I don’t know how I’d move forward if I lost Oliver. After losing Mike on December 22, 2022, and then my mother‑in‑law, a close friend, and the two elderly dogs Mike and I shared this year, Oliver has been the thread holding together so many frayed edges. He’s in my quiet mornings, in the hardest nights, and in the hope I’m trying to keep alive.

Right now, I’m scared. On December 8, Oliver got into something toxic and had to be rushed to the ER. Things spiraled, and he’s now on a ventilator fighting both the toxins and a lung infection. The vets think he’ll need at least another day or two before they can start weaning him off. I’m doing everything I can to help him pull through.

The costs are crushing—almost $16,000 per day—and I don’t have pet insurance. I’ve run out of resources. I set up a GoFundMe because so many of you asked how you could help and where to donate, and any support (a donation, sharing the link, even just a message) would mean the world to us right now. Oliver isn’t “just a dog”; he’s my partner in healing and my hope for giving back the way therapy animals helped us.

Thank you for reading this and being in my corner. Your kindness is what’s keeping me upright until I can bring Oliver home..