Koda Bear's Chemotherapy Treatment
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Koda Bear has been my companion, my teacher, my friend, and my child since I got him as a 6 week old puppy. He has taught me so many tremendous lessons about life, love, responsibility, trust, respect, and how to love unconditionally just as he does to every single person he meets. As I looked for a photo to post, I couldn't help but smile at how many lives he has touched, how much joy he has brought, how many smiles and "thanks for making my day" he has received. He is truly a one-of-a-kind soul.
I am starting a GoFundMe to support Koda's treatment for chemo due to his diagnosis of lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes).
3 weeks leading up to New Years, Koda stopped eating his kibble. We were moving out of town and then traveling to Chicago so I assumed he was anxious and unsettled. He was hungry but would not eat his own food. When we returned to Colorado, I took him to the vet down in Golden (on a Thursday 12/28/17) as we could not get into CSU for another few weeks. The vet started with the worse and said she wanted to do a test because his lymph nodes were swollen. She also said it could be an infection. She said she would be sending the test to CSU vet, which was Koda's vet anyway, so we decided to transfer care there. Koda had an appointment set up for the following Wednesday (1/3/18), however when we woke up Sunday morning he would not move. I went to lift him up, and he cried. I knew he needed to go to the ER immediately. I picked up Koda and got him into the car and drove over an hour up to Fort Collins on New Years Eve to the ER. The entire time he was shaking and panting in pain. We waited in the ER for a total of 7 hours. Koda wouldn't eat or drink. We napped together on the floor for 2 hours. He was deteriorating rapidly. When I got up to go to the bathroom, Koda couldn't move without crying. The oncologist had to be called in because of the holiday. We finally got the news that Koda was diagnosed with stage 3 (below the diaphram) lymphoma (cancer of the lymphs) in 4 or more places (2 in his neck/shoulder; 2 behind his knees). The vet told me that if I did nothing, he had maybe 1 week to 3 weeks to live. I could not even begin to understand. How? How could this spread and evolve so quickly!? As I held on tighter, I knew I could not let that happen and I would do whatever it took to help my little baby bear. With the CHOP protocol, Koda is doing chemo for 15 weeks, alternating 3 different chemotherapy drugs. He is also on a clinical dietary trial through the university (for more information, reach out and ask). Life expectancy with treatment is typically a year+ (50%) with 20% living 2+ years. As you can imagine, the ER, treatment, and other tests are not cheap. I wanted to reach out and ask for some help. ANYTHING is so valuable and meaningful to us. Koda is so incredibly special and if you have ever met him, I know he has a special place in your heart.
Thank you so much everyone. Your kindness, love, support, and compassion are felt and cherished.
Love,
Kendall (K.C.) and Koda Bear
I am starting a GoFundMe to support Koda's treatment for chemo due to his diagnosis of lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes).
3 weeks leading up to New Years, Koda stopped eating his kibble. We were moving out of town and then traveling to Chicago so I assumed he was anxious and unsettled. He was hungry but would not eat his own food. When we returned to Colorado, I took him to the vet down in Golden (on a Thursday 12/28/17) as we could not get into CSU for another few weeks. The vet started with the worse and said she wanted to do a test because his lymph nodes were swollen. She also said it could be an infection. She said she would be sending the test to CSU vet, which was Koda's vet anyway, so we decided to transfer care there. Koda had an appointment set up for the following Wednesday (1/3/18), however when we woke up Sunday morning he would not move. I went to lift him up, and he cried. I knew he needed to go to the ER immediately. I picked up Koda and got him into the car and drove over an hour up to Fort Collins on New Years Eve to the ER. The entire time he was shaking and panting in pain. We waited in the ER for a total of 7 hours. Koda wouldn't eat or drink. We napped together on the floor for 2 hours. He was deteriorating rapidly. When I got up to go to the bathroom, Koda couldn't move without crying. The oncologist had to be called in because of the holiday. We finally got the news that Koda was diagnosed with stage 3 (below the diaphram) lymphoma (cancer of the lymphs) in 4 or more places (2 in his neck/shoulder; 2 behind his knees). The vet told me that if I did nothing, he had maybe 1 week to 3 weeks to live. I could not even begin to understand. How? How could this spread and evolve so quickly!? As I held on tighter, I knew I could not let that happen and I would do whatever it took to help my little baby bear. With the CHOP protocol, Koda is doing chemo for 15 weeks, alternating 3 different chemotherapy drugs. He is also on a clinical dietary trial through the university (for more information, reach out and ask). Life expectancy with treatment is typically a year+ (50%) with 20% living 2+ years. As you can imagine, the ER, treatment, and other tests are not cheap. I wanted to reach out and ask for some help. ANYTHING is so valuable and meaningful to us. Koda is so incredibly special and if you have ever met him, I know he has a special place in your heart.
Thank you so much everyone. Your kindness, love, support, and compassion are felt and cherished.
Love,
Kendall (K.C.) and Koda Bear
Organizer
K.c. Cooper
Organizer
Fort Collins, CO
