Graffiti, our beautiful 8 year old corgi, has been living with an aggressive, metastatic cancer diagnosis for over a month. While we truly believed we could manage his care on our own, recent medical emergencies, rising medication costs, and insurance limitations have made that no longer possible. This GoFundMe exists because the cost of Graffiti’s care has grown beyond what we can manage on our own, and many of you have asked how to help support him directly.

On 11/25, during what we believed would be a routine annual exam and X-rays, we discovered a large tumor on his spleen. Further testing showed findings consistent with splenic hemangiosarcoma, an extremely aggressive cancer in dogs, and revealed that it had already spread to his lungs. We were completely shocked, as he was in excellent physical condition and showing no outward signs of illness.

Wanting to be absolutely certain we were doing what was best for him, we consulted three different oncologists at three separate hospitals. Because the cancer had already metastasized, all ultimately recommended against surgery, as it would not improve his outcome and could significantly impact his quality of life. We were told he has 4-6 weeks left with us. Since then, our focus has been on supportive and comfort-based care, helping Graffiti feel as good as possible for as long as he continues to show us that he wants to be here. He is currently comfortable, enjoying life, eating, walking, cuddling, and spending his days surrounded by love. He is a little more tired than usual and slightly more selective with food, but he is not suffering. We are with him around the clock, listening closely to what he needs.

On 12/30, Graffiti experienced an unexpectedly serious emergency. Although he seemed relatively fine at the time, an ultrasound revealed a significant amount of fluid in his abdomen, indicating that his tumor had been leaking internally and required immediate intervention. Fortunately, it was not a full rupture, which would have been far more critical. As part of this emergency, Graffiti received both a plasma transfusion and an autotransfusion. Since then, he has been doing remarkably well, regaining energy, wanting to eat, and acting more like himself. We are hopeful that with his current medications, his body will continue to clot smaller leaks on its own. At the same time, we know another larger bleed could occur and may require similar intervention, and we are planning with that possibility in mind.

Two weeks prior to this emergency, Graffiti also required other unexpected ER visits, including care for acute vomiting that involved fluids, anti-nausea medications, and supportive injections. This episode was likely related to the illness, the medications he’s on, or a combination of both. These moments have been a reminder of how unpredictable his condition can be, and how quickly care needs and costs can add up.

Supporting Graffiti day to day requires a combination of critical medications and supplements. One of the most important is aminocaproic acid, which we use in liquid form as it has been the most effective option for him. It plays a crucial role in helping existing clots remain stable and preventing catastrophic bleeding. He also takes Yunnan Baiyao to support clot formation, along with turkey tail mushroom extract, a high-quality supplement used to support immune function and studied for its potential role in slowing or shrinking certain tumors.

He also occasionally needs supportive medications such as anti-nausea drugs, probiotics, and pain management medications to keep him comfortable and able to rest. On January 3rd, we began gabapentin to help ease anxiety and promote relaxation, along with codeine for pain control. Together, this combination has allowed him to truly rest, conserve his energy, and give his body the space it needs to compensate after the recent bleed.

Up until now, we truly believed we would be able to manage Graffiti’s medical expenses on our own, with the help of our community supporting us through our merchandise. However, after insurance claims were finally processed and many costs were not covered, combined with rising medication costs and recent ER visits, we’ve come to the difficult realization that we are going to need some help. We are deeply grateful for everything you have already done for Graffiti, and at the same time, we anticipate additional costs ahead, including the possibility of further transfusions if he experiences another bleed that we are able to control, as well as end-of-life care when the time comes.

During this time, we don’t foresee pursuing many partnerships. Our focus is on Graffiti - on keeping him comfortable, staying present with him, and continuing to share thoughtful updates while raising awareness about hemangiosarcoma. We are navigating this period carefully and responsibly, with his well-being at the center of every decision.

The goal we’ve set reflects what we anticipate needing to cover Graffiti’s medical care and comfort-focused support. Funds raised will be used first and foremost for his direct needs.

If we are fortunate enough to exceed that goal and there are funds remaining after those needs are met, they will be directed toward hemangiosarcoma research and early-detection.

This fundraiser is solely intended to support Graffiti’s care and related advocacy efforts.

This journey has made it clear how overwhelming and isolating an HSA diagnosis can be, and our hope is to help support better resources, awareness, and outcomes for others facing this disease.

We also want to share honestly that much of our emotional support during this time has come from this community. The messages, kindness, love, and presence you’ve shown have meant everything to us. You have shown up for Graffiti in ways we could never have imagined, and you truly feel like our family.

We’ve received many messages asking how to help, and this GoFundMe is an option for those who want to support Graffiti directly. If you’re not able to contribute financially, please know that watching, sharing, and engaging with our posts has always been more than enough, and it truly means more than you know.

With lub,

Brady & Graffiti’s loyal Serbants