When I brought Jax home at 8 weeks old, I didn’t yet comprehend how much of an impact he would have on my life. Jax has been by my side for the last 9 years: my emotional support, my number one fan, my copilot, and my best friend. He follows me everywhere, makes me laugh, and somehow always knows when I need him. He is beloved by friends, family, and his cats—who he adores, protects, and plays with.

Recently, I discovered a mass on Jax’s elbow that just kept growing. At our last vet visit, we had a Fine Needle Aspirate done and sent to Cytology; the results revealed that he may have Soft Tissue Sarcoma—a tumor arising from connective, muscle, or nervous tissue. They are usually locally aggressive and have mild to moderate metastatic potential. The only way to find out the type and grade of the tumor is by removing it for analysis/histopathology. If the tumor is low grade, removing it with minimal margins can be curative; however, if it is high grade/malignant, they would not be able to get good margins without amputating Jax’s leg.

The next steps for now include blood work to make sure Jax is systemically healthy to be put under anesthesia. After receiving the green light from the blood work, Jax will undergo surgery to have the tumor removed and sent for biopsy. They have also recommended other staging such as chest x-rays and abdominal ultrasounds to make sure the cancer hasn’t spread.

Sarcoma is typically locally aggressive; however, if it is high grade/malignant, Sarcoma in dogs most commonly spreads to the lungs and regional lymph nodes. Although it may be necessary later down the line, we have decided to hold off on the x-rays and ultrasounds until we have more information about the tumor.

Overall, this is a costly undertaking with around $200 in blood work and a surgery estimated around $5,000. Any support you can give is beyond appreciated, whether it is a donation or simply sharing this fundraiser with others. Every donation, big or small, will go directly toward Jax’s medical care, including diagnostics, surgery, and recovery.

Jax is more than a dog; he is my family. He has filled my life with love and companionship in ways I can’t fully put into words. I want to thank everyone for taking the time to read until the end, and for helping give Jax the chance to get the care he deserves.