DANIEL MENA

Sweetie is our 12-year-old dog and truly a beloved member of our family. My parents and I adopted her when she was just 8 weeks old in February 2015, and from that moment, she became like a little sister to me. For the past 11 years, Sweetie has filled our home with love, affection, and joy. She’s always been there for us, offering comfort and companionship through every season of life. Now, at 12 years old, Sweetie is facing her toughest challenge yet. She has been diagnosed with mammary tumors in her chest, and more smaller tumors are starting to form in her lower abdomen—similar to breast cancer in humans. The news has been heartbreaking for our family. Sweetie needs a series of blood tests, urine tests, MRIs, and X-rays, followed by surgery to remove all of the tumors. Without these procedures, we don’t know how much time we have left with her. The treatments and surgery will make a tremendous difference in Sweetie’s quality of life. They will help her feel like herself again and, we hope, give her more time to spend with us. We know the recovery process will be difficult—she’ll have large wounds where the tumors are removed—but we are determined to do everything we can for her. Sweetie means the world to us, and we want to give her the best chance at more happy years. To anyone reading our story, I ask you to think about your own pets and the love you’ve shared with them. If you’ve ever lost a beloved animal, you know how heartbreaking it can be. Please, if you feel moved, pray for Sweetie and let your heart—and the love of Jesus Christ, our Lord God and Heavenly Father—guide you. Any support—whether through donations, sharing our story, or sending prayers—would mean so much to us and to Sweetie. Thank you for taking the time to read about our girl and for considering helping her.