If you know me, you know Calpurrnia. One of one, a unique creature, my sweet and sassy baby girl.

Last Sunday, I felt a bump on her neck I hadn’t noticed before. She didn't seem bothered, but I made a vet appointment anyways. 3 days later, it was larger and had started to press on her windpipe and esophagus, which was terrifying. After several tests, she was diagnosed with a thyroid tumor. She is currently on medication to reduce the swelling in her neck and manage her symptoms.

If there is a plus side to any of this, it's that we caught it early - the tumor is in one spot, the cancer has not spread. It's treatable.

This all started only 3 days after James and I got engaged - life swung wildly from one of the best days of my life to one of the worst weeks I've ever had. We didn't know how bad her diagnosis would be, and trying to think about a world without my Calps in it wrecked me.

We’ve been fortunate for so many reasons – we caught this early, we were able to schedule her treatment for early next week, her doctors are confident radiation can shrink and hopefully kill the tumor. With her current meds, she's back to normal breathing and eating and of course causing trouble (as I type this she’s trying to knock things off the counter.) But until we get the tumor treated, it will continue to grow and eventually constrict her airway and esophagus again.

It's hard to ask for help, but medical bills add up so fast and this all happened so fast. If you’re willing and able to contribute a little bit it would mean so so much to us. James and I just love her so much. She’s a huge part of my heart and our family and she has so much spirit and spice and life left to live. She’s a little fighter and lover that sends you so many head boops.

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