[nagdu] major dilemma

[Bryan Brown]

Bernadetta ,

    This is a very tough decision. My thoughts are with you.

    B

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bernadetta Pracon" <bernadetta_pracon at samobile.net>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2010 10:47 PM
Subject: [nagdu] major dilemma


> Hi Everyone:
> If you recall, a couple of days ago I introduced myself to the list, and I 
> shared with you that my Seeing Eye pup, Kipp, has cancer.
> Well, I had a meeting with his oncologist today, and, needless to say, I 
> am very worried about the situation. Kipp's cancer is in his mouth, and 
> she said that in order to remove it, they would have to perform a very 
> difficult surgery. She added that that surgery would not necessarily 
> garentee that the cancer would be aborted, in which case, they would have 
> to put him through radiation. When she told me this, I asked her what his 
> chances of survival were once this was treated. I felt she was not being 
> streight with me, so to speak, because she sort of avoided the question. 
> she said, "if we do the surgery alone, the cancer might show up again in 
> seven months or so. If we do the radiation with  the surgery, it might not 
> show itself for about two more years." So then I asked her how the cancer 
> would progress if no treatment was undertaken, and she would not answer 
> that. The only reason I asked her that is because I wanted to find out how 
> dangerous Kipp's cancer is to him.
> However, my worry is this: I looked at his discharge papers today, and I 
> saw the cost of the surgery. Ten thousand dollars in total including 
> anesthesia and the hospital stay, etc. , and sixteen thousand dollars for 
> radiation. If I was a full-time worker and had a well-paying job, I 
> wouldn't mind forking over twenty six grand to cure my best friend in the 
> world. Unfortunately, I'm a student and a freelance writer, and I've never 
> even owned that much  money at any one time. In addition to that, his 
> discharge papers were much more concise than that doctor, and it was 
> stated that neither the surgery nor the radiation would give him more than 
> a sixty five percent chance of survival. About the surgery, it stated that 
> this procedure would consist of removing  part of his upper jaw, so he 
> would not be able to eat normally for a long time and would  likely  have 
> to adjust to his new life for a while.
>
> My dilemma is this:  If I don't have nearly enough money to pay for his 
> surgery, how do I go about financing it? I've looked online for some sort 
> of animal foundations where I could get a loan or a donation to fund his 
> treatment, and I haven't found anything that caught my eye. Does anyone 
> know of any financial resources for ill service animals in need of 
> expensive treatment? Of course, I'd use Kipp's pet insurance as a basis 
> for this sortof cost, but I know they only cover about four thousand of 
> what it would cost to cure him.
>
> Secondly: I know this might come off as a strange thought, but I'm 
> wondering, if he really has that many odds against him with this disease, 
> is it humane to put him through this sort of suffering if it might not 
> help him in the end? I mean, right now, Kipp is still a happy, seemingly 
> healthy, energetic boy. He's blissfully unaware of his illness, it seems. 
> His cancer  was found by accident, as a matter of fact. If not for a 
> routine check-up, I would not have known he was ill in the first place. 
> If I put him through surgery, all of a sudden, he'll wake up from his 
> anesthesia not being able to eat, and a part of his inner mouth will be 
> missing. Imagine how confused and scared he'll be for a long time, while 
> he recovers. They'll have him on IV fluids for a while, and then they'll 
> send home injections to use in order to nourish him. /Also, it's clear to 
> me that he won't be able to work anymore after this surgery. He's still 
> very eager to work, and I've been told by the doctor that there's no 
> reason for him to retire unless he starts feeling worse, or until the 
> surgery takes place.  It's important to mention that he won't be with me 
> anymore after a while, because I'm not allowed to keep a retired service 
> animal in my apartment, due to the no-pet policy in the building. So he'll 
> be  moving in with my mother, and I'm concerned that, even though Kipp 
> knows and loves her well enough, he might feel even more freaked out if 
> I'm not around to take care of him. I've had him for four years, and he 
> gets very upset if i'm gone for long periods of time. If I didn't opt for 
> the surgery, I could keep him with me longer, and maybe find ways to 
> medically ease his pain if the cancer progresses.
> I'm really lost as to how to handel this. It's my first guide dog, and 
> I've never had to make these sort of decisions for another dog before. I'm 
> sure many of you were faced with this sort of situation before. Can anyone 
> please give me any advice? Also, has anyone specifically delt with a Fibro 
> Sarcoma before, or with a dog who had to have a tumor removed from his 
> mouth?
>
> Any thoughts, advice, or information would be greatly apreciated.
>
> Thank you ever so much in advance..
> Sincerely,
> Bernadetta
>
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