My name is Rachel Coronado, and for the past 20 years, I have poured my heart into my work as a professional dog groomer. Dog grooming is not just my career—it's my passion. I truly adore and treat every dog that comes through my doors as my own and have built strong, lasting relationships with my clients and their beloved pets. Last year, my world was turned upside down when I began experiencing a lack of appetite, exhaustion, and persistent stomach pain. After several visits to the ER and a CT scan and MRI's, I was shocked to learn what was found looked like a very large cystic lesion taking over my right lobe of my liver. A biopsy soon followed and it turned out to be a tumor, and I was faced with the difficult decision to undergo surgery. The good news was that the tumor could be removed, giving me hope for a healthy future and a chance that it would not turn malignant.
The hardest part was deciding to close my business for 2-6 months to focus on my health. This meant saying goodbye, even if temporarily, to the pet families and clients who have become such an important part of my life. My family and I scheduled my surgery for the end of January 2026, and I notified my clients about the closure. There were tears, hugs, and a lot of reassurance from my amazing clients that they would await my return.
We closed the grooming shop just before my surgery, and I am so grateful to share that the procedure was successful—the tumor was removed and tested as non-cancerous. The love and support from my family, friends, and loyal clients have kept me going through this challenging time.
As the sole groomer and owner, I now face the worry of how to keep my business afloat while my savings diminishes during my recovery for one more month. The ongoing operating expenses continue, even though the doors are temporarily closed. This GoFundMe campaign is a blessing for me to help cover the shop expenses so I can keep the doors open during my recovery and healing and can reopen upon my return and continue doing what I love. I truly appreciate you taking the time to read my story and would be so grateful for your support during this time of healing and hope and resilience and perseverance. God Bless you and Woof Woof woof!