Saving our Sadie Bug

In August of 2017, our then 11 year old Jack Russell (Sadie Bug) became congested.  We went to our vet with her multiple times to see if there was anything to be done to help her sinuses. Then she developed a huge round lump on the side of her neck that grew so much in one weekend that it looked like an egg. The mass was removed and tested and turned out to be cancer: a mast cell tumor which releases histamine and that's why she is so congested.

After the mass removal, it grew back in less than a month with the same intensity. Again, it was removed. And again it came back. Our vet said he would not operate again. So, we took her to a cancer specialist 250 miles away and they referred us to a local vet who DID operate.  He felt convinced he had gotten all of the cancer. Sadie's sinuses even started to drain and clear up. Then it began to slowly come back. A margins test revealed that her cancer margins were FIFTEEN - basically, triple what is acceptable.

We've been doing chemotherapy in some form for several months. We blew through our Australia Vacation savings and would do it all over again. We got a credit card with a $10,000 limit specifically for this after our small vacation nest egg was spent and the costs are adding up. Surgeries, scans, tons of medication, and blood tests weekly have taken such a huge chunk out of our wallet/credit card that we thought we'd ask for help. 

The tumors are FINALLY responding to Palladia, Vinblastine, steroids, benadryl, and Lomustine. She's also on Meloxidyl for pain, Entyce to keep her hungry, Cerenia for any stomach upset and Flagyl for diarrhea.

Because her good blood cells have been compromised with the chemotherapy, she has developed an infection.  The low blood cells have made her refuse to eat so she is fed through a tube as we wait for the tumors, WHICH ARE FINALLY CHANGING, to shrink. She's getting fluid and daily IV antibiotics, too. Luckily, she is home with us every night.

You may be wondering why we don't just put her down.

If you saw the LIFE in this dog you would understand. Despite being so sick, she still chases birds and squirrels. She begs to go for daily walks multiple times. She patrols our fence when she asks to be let out into our backyard. If you start coughing, she will drop what she is doing to run and attempt to save you by smothering you with love. She loves her cat Ellie and will put one of Ellie's toy foam balls in her mouth and toss it by flipping her head to give it distance. Ellie fetches it and brings it back to her dog every. single. time. 

Everyone says that a dog will let you know when it's time to put them down. Sadie is still trying so hard to be Sadie. She's a lover of life and more than that --- she's the best thing that ever happened to us. We are willing to fight this for as long as she is. 

We can no longer do it alone.

We need help. 

Can you please help us?

We just want her to dance again:

Thank you for reading this so far. And thank you for your consideration. We appreciate anything --- even if you can't donate, please consider sharing this fund raiser on your social media. You could help save her life just by sharing.

Thank you all. So much.