Support Jackson's Fight Against Kidney Cancer

Hi, my name is Bryan. But really, this story isn't about me; rather, I want to talk about the simple life of a dog and the large impact he has on not only me but those who love him.

His name is Jackson.

The year was 2019. At that time, I had a foster that was unfruitful in turning into an adoption. That dog was then taken back by the owners who were trying to give him up, and all the love and money put into him was gone with them.

A few months passed, and the hurt was getting better, but nothing could fix the hole of walking into my home and not having that smiling face greeting me. My heart was empty, and I knew that it was time to start looking for a dog that needed me as much as I needed them. That's when I started regularly visiting the local Domestic Animals Shelter.

Over the next couple of weeks in May, I would spend time with the dogs at the shelter to see if we clicked. I spent a lot of one-on-one time with just about every dog there. I even brought my mother's dog to see how they would do with him. It had to be a right fit.

It was May 28th, and I passed by one of the kennels. Looking in, there was a rather large but young "German short-haired pointer mix" with beautiful spots and a silly lazy eye, and he was looking right back at me, kinda.

Jackson is a dog of simple pleasures. He isn't one to play fetch with the other dogs but would rather sit and sniff the flowers and watch the water sparkle over the lake. He eats well and often, getting the nickname "Snackson," and is a collector of stuffed animals that he greets new people at the door with.

A simple, gentle soul that ironically would only hurt flies. It was love at first sight, and his adoption day became May 30th.

Ever since then, there haven't been too many days with us separated. As my companion, I take him on as many adventures as possible, some leading to relocations in unfamiliar territories, but we just needed each other.

I've struggled through it all, and he was ALWAYS there for me. And today, he needs my help...

Jackson has cancer that is affecting one of his kidneys. We started noticing when, even after being on a diet because he was a tad chunky, his abdomen was not shrinking. Rather, over a couple of months, it looked like it was getting bigger, and we lined up a visit to the vet. When he started peeing blood a couple of days before that visit, we knew something was seriously wrong.

The mass has grown his right kidney to 26 x 19 x 14 cm and is pushing against all his internal organs. That initial vet visit felt like a death sentence... At that moment, the times we had before felt far too short, and any plans for future adventures together had an iron door slammed closed on them. I had so much planned for us, and he needed to be there for them.

With a loving support group around me, we came to the conclusion that we had to keep trying and see what, if anything, could be done.

We recently got him a CT scan and are in talks with a surgeon to get that kidney removed and hopefully keep him with, not only myself, but the family of people around him that would have a hole in their heart without him.

That's why I'm starting this GoFundMe today. Jackson could always use more people in our corner. Any and all donations will be going towards his medical bills and making sure he is comfortable. I'm coasting off of hope that I can get my travel buddy till he grows old.

Any help for Jackson would be appreciated. Thank you.