Friends - I'm in trouble - and I need your help

@Imperious:

If you don’t get enough funds, will the veterinarian carry the balance and allow you to make some payment plan?

Up until now, all the Vets have all worked on a half now and half upon completion basis. They don’t finance period.

I believe their fear is that if things don’t go well with your animal, that people abandon the animal, or the payments. It’s probably a valid concern.

In terms of other financing, the bank was also incredibly unexcited about loaning me the money for the dog. I probably should have lied and “bought a car”, but that’s fraud :S.

I’ve invested roughly $1,500 so far - just to get the diagnosis and the referrals etc, and fortunately, due to the generosity of everyone, we’ve raised enough capital to see the Neurologist today, and get whatever scans (CT or MRI) are required.

The surgery is beyond that, and we won’t know what that will cost, or how much more we’ll need, until we’ve got the scans behind us.

As soon as the Oncologist told me that it could be up to $8,000 more to get all the way through this, that I was in trouble. I can’t say enough how much I appreciate all of you being in this thing with me.

Just got an update on Bear.

He’s going for his MRI now, and whilst under the same anesthetic, they may proceed with Surgery TODAY.  I still have no information as to what this means financially, all the details are still being worked out.

Please - please keep him in your thoughts and prayers, and thank-you for coming along this journey with us.

The scan results didn’t come in in time, so they bumped the surgery to today.

Its 7:30am now, and surgery (4 hours long) begins at 10:00am.

Thank you everyone for your continued support.

Well gentleman… it’s been a roller coaster.

Look at this picture of the before… we were told Bear was down to “weeks” of life, and that they thought they’d only get 60% of the tumor, and extend his life by a few more months.

:(

Made the call to go into the surgery (Much higher risk than we initially thought it would be), because all of you were committed to this campaign as much as I am, and I know you weren’t taking no for an answer.

Now look at the after!

Dr. Chen managed to get better than 90%+ of the tumor.  Which means that Bear’s life expectancy is extended even farther, and now has the option of still going for a “cure” scenario, which is that we hit the area with a series of Radiation over 3 weeks.

Fortunately, radiation is not like chemo, and doesn’t make the dog sick, and because it’s a veterinary school, someone is willing to house Bear for 3 weeks whilst he gets the treatments, reducing the cost to $3,000 for the whole program.

Because of this miraculous medical success, and because of your tremendous support, I’m doubling down and pushing forward for the treatment. So far I’ve been matched in this campaign dollar for dollar. I’m going to do whatever I have to do to get it done, so long as there are things to do.

Also - Bear’s recovering is going remarkably well… because of the pressure on the brain the doctor was VERY concerned about Mr. Bear neurologically.  So far, he is recovering without issue, and there is a video of him walking around outside today! less than 24 hours from surgery!

Gentlemen, I am so honored that you’ve made this stand with me.  YOU made today possible.  Without your financial support my efforts to save Mr. Bear would have been stopped butt-cold.

Way to stick it to the forces of cancer.  I am so privileged to call you my friends.

Thank you guys for all of your support. This was impossible without every single one of you.

That first picture is just a start… there’s a second picture coming (as soon as I have a few minutes) with the “reinforcements” who helped came to save the day, and get us to the top of the hill ;).

I’m also working on a short video, (that could take a little bit more time,) just for the AA.org crew; and for AA.org new Mascot!!!

The Bear General!