Heidi
Heidi has been my constant companion for the past 3 1/2 years since my husband died, and is always there to greet me when I come and go from our apartment in a retirement community. She is the most patient dog I’ve ever known, and if I stop to chat with someone during a walk, she calmly sits down and waits. She makes it fun to come home and, in addition, she helps to keep me more active. I can’t imagine life without her and I love her dearly.
Her cancer was diagnosed during a yearly checkup. Our regular veterinarian, Dr. Lindsey Jones of Bedford Oaks Family Vet, noticed the mass, aspirated it and a few weeks later performed surgery in hopes of removing it. Complete, excision, however, was not possible and I was pretty overwhelmed to hear the diagnosis of soft tissue sarcoma.
We were subsequently referred to veterinary oncologist, Dr Michelle LaRue of VSNT, who confirmed the diagnosis and the recommended treatment of leg amputation. That really threw me for a loop and took some thinking and research on my part to realize that it had to be done, in spite of it seeming so drastic.
I had seen grants and research projects mentioned somewhere in my reading and on asking Dr. LaRue about these possibilities, she told me about Dogslife. I could hardly believe what I was hearing, i.e. that Dogslife awarded grants specifically for cancer treatment in situations such as Heidi’s. It was almost too good to be true, but even better, was the later news that my application had been accepted, and that an award would be granted. This was most definitely, an answer to prayers, since I am on a fixed income, and could not afford the cost of another surgery.
I can’t thank Dogslife enough for giving Heidi and me a chance to continue our retirement life together. No matter what happens, I feel she has had exceptional and caring doctors who have led us to the wonderful people at Dogslife and that she is being given every opportunity to continue to enjoy life and to be successful as a “tripawd”!
- Mary Anne B. (October 2022)