Ava Coffey: (Amputation + Cancer Fund)
Donation protected
Full history (for TL;DR skip to bottom):
On the 25th of July (8 days ago) Steph and I welcomed our newest son to the world, Boone Walter Coffey. Boone had been planned for and was in the making well before the 9 months he spent with Steph. We had been extremely excited for his arrival! Sadly, something we hadn't planned for was also on the way.
Unfortunately, a cloud had been hanging over our heads for several weeks leading up to this great day. On the day of Boone's birth, Ava was scheduled for an appointment to be evaluated at a specialty clinic for total lameness in her back left leg.
For unknown reasons Ava began limping in June and by July she was totally unable to use her back left leg any longer. If you know Ava - this is her worst nightmare. As a dog who thrives on running, jumping, swimming and generally throwing her body around with abandon - this was a catastrophic emotional blow. Throughout June and July Ava became more and more depressed with her limited activity and mandated rest - the cause of the issue still unknown despite several vet visits.
At this point we were working under the assumption that Ava had a torn ACL or other tendon/soft tissue issue. I was blindsided one day when we visited a surgeon and the doctor told me that Ava's tendons were fine - but that she had a malignant tumor growing inside her femur and that there was a strong chance she had osteosarcoma - a nasty form of bone cancer. The other explanation we were offered was a Ava had a fungal infection within her bone - something that could be detected or ruled out with a simple blood test. So, we did what we could and held out hope that she had a fungal infection instead of cancer.
The tests came back negative and sadly all signs pointed to tumor. Osteosarcoma in canines has a 90% chance for metastasis, meaning that even with any procedure of tumor removal, it is all but certain there are latent tumors residing elsewhere in her body - likely the lungs or brain. Since she is only 5 years old, even the doctors were surprised at how unfortunate Ava's case was. The cancer will kill her in one way or another, eventually, but with treatment we may improve the quality of her life and lengthen the time she has remaining.
Irrational, emotion-driven insight:
I can't think of a dog on this planet who is more undeserving of this fate. Ava is not a perfect dog - but she is the most kind, smart and thoughtfully-gentle dog I've ever met. It's been a long-running joke that I am upset that we had her spayed - because there needs to be more light like Ava in the world. She was a blessing to Steph and I when we were starting out and I can't think of a single day where she hasn't made us smile. A dog with a list as friends that's longer than my own, she has been universally loved and cared for by the different communities that we have been lucky enough to know. It's heartbreaking - but somehow it's worse when I think that it's our sweet Ava on the other end of this nasty business.
Where we are now:
Today we were finally able to get Ava in to see a canine Oncologist. After almost 4 hours, x-rays and blood tests - the doctor laid out what seemed like 5,000 different paths we could take. The end-state of each not much better than the one before. Our goal: keep Ava alive as long as possible and keep her as happy (pain-free and active) as possible during that time. We looked at all our options. What is inevitable, given our goal and the realities of the hand we were dealt - her leg must be amputated. The amputation will clear her of pain, but has the possible side effect of triggering the latent metastasis to rapidly grow - possibly killing her faster if they were in the lungs or brain. To combat this, we looked for signs of already-growing metastasis in her chest. What seems like the first bit of good news - we found none. To combat the growth of these microscopic cancer cells, she will need to follow the amputation with chemotherapy.
As the length of treatment chain went on - we talked about enrolling her in possible clinical trials that could tack extra months on to her life. Every added step that would offer an extension of her life however had drastically mounting costs. Steph and I are prepared to do right by Ava - a choice that eventually led us here.
Gratitude:
It's no understatement to say that Steph and I have been overwhelmingly blessed in our lives. We both were fortunate enough to have the support, luck, and drive to improve our situations and now are able to work, own a home and raise a family. We are blessed with 2 healthy children, incredible family members and supportive and caring friends. Living in this country with these blessings are things I wake up and reflect on every day. While tough news and challenges on the level of cancer might be routine or on-par with what most people in the world experience - we are blessed to be stunned by bad news. It's this realization that makes it hard to ask friends and family for assistance.
To do right by our sweet dog Ava, we were handed a commitment of around $8,000 to see her treatment to the end. This is a sum that our family can meet (and will if required), but unexpectedly coinciding with the planned costs of a new baby and Steph's planned weeks of unpaid maternity leave from work, the total cost of these (planned and unplanned) bulk expenses arising at the same time rapidly endanger our funds for emergency. An emergency fund is just that - for emergencies - though it is horrifyingly difficult to weigh the financial stability and security of our young family with the moral responsibility we feel to care for Ava in the best way possible.
It is with this in mind that we humbly ask our friends to contribute to Ava's comfort and longevity. In the long list of blessings we enjoy, having Ava in our lives is near the very top. It's a fact to say that she absolutely brought life, light and purpose into our lives on a daily basis and that she likely did the same to all who have ever wrestled on the ground with her or raced her across a field. *Reality check* She's a dog - but damned if I'm not proud that she is our dog.
TL;DR and Conclusion:
Ava has a tough, tough road ahead starting on Monday, 8/5 when she will have her leg amputated. She will have 2 weeks of recovery before removing that pesky dog collar and her stitches. After that, she will begin chemotherapy. After several rounds of chemo, she will be eligible to participate in ongoing clinical trials that might offer additional months to her life - most of which are out of town and will require travel, lodging and emotional stress.
As a family, we are committed to sacrificing our time, money, and effort for Ava's health and happiness. Any help from her friends only serves to increase her life expectancy and comfort. We don't make this request lightly - but we do it to give her any additional margin of a chance she might have, and we are extraordinarily grateful to any of her friends who choose to contribute.
On the 25th of July (8 days ago) Steph and I welcomed our newest son to the world, Boone Walter Coffey. Boone had been planned for and was in the making well before the 9 months he spent with Steph. We had been extremely excited for his arrival! Sadly, something we hadn't planned for was also on the way.
Unfortunately, a cloud had been hanging over our heads for several weeks leading up to this great day. On the day of Boone's birth, Ava was scheduled for an appointment to be evaluated at a specialty clinic for total lameness in her back left leg.
For unknown reasons Ava began limping in June and by July she was totally unable to use her back left leg any longer. If you know Ava - this is her worst nightmare. As a dog who thrives on running, jumping, swimming and generally throwing her body around with abandon - this was a catastrophic emotional blow. Throughout June and July Ava became more and more depressed with her limited activity and mandated rest - the cause of the issue still unknown despite several vet visits.
At this point we were working under the assumption that Ava had a torn ACL or other tendon/soft tissue issue. I was blindsided one day when we visited a surgeon and the doctor told me that Ava's tendons were fine - but that she had a malignant tumor growing inside her femur and that there was a strong chance she had osteosarcoma - a nasty form of bone cancer. The other explanation we were offered was a Ava had a fungal infection within her bone - something that could be detected or ruled out with a simple blood test. So, we did what we could and held out hope that she had a fungal infection instead of cancer.
The tests came back negative and sadly all signs pointed to tumor. Osteosarcoma in canines has a 90% chance for metastasis, meaning that even with any procedure of tumor removal, it is all but certain there are latent tumors residing elsewhere in her body - likely the lungs or brain. Since she is only 5 years old, even the doctors were surprised at how unfortunate Ava's case was. The cancer will kill her in one way or another, eventually, but with treatment we may improve the quality of her life and lengthen the time she has remaining.
Irrational, emotion-driven insight:
I can't think of a dog on this planet who is more undeserving of this fate. Ava is not a perfect dog - but she is the most kind, smart and thoughtfully-gentle dog I've ever met. It's been a long-running joke that I am upset that we had her spayed - because there needs to be more light like Ava in the world. She was a blessing to Steph and I when we were starting out and I can't think of a single day where she hasn't made us smile. A dog with a list as friends that's longer than my own, she has been universally loved and cared for by the different communities that we have been lucky enough to know. It's heartbreaking - but somehow it's worse when I think that it's our sweet Ava on the other end of this nasty business.
Where we are now:
Today we were finally able to get Ava in to see a canine Oncologist. After almost 4 hours, x-rays and blood tests - the doctor laid out what seemed like 5,000 different paths we could take. The end-state of each not much better than the one before. Our goal: keep Ava alive as long as possible and keep her as happy (pain-free and active) as possible during that time. We looked at all our options. What is inevitable, given our goal and the realities of the hand we were dealt - her leg must be amputated. The amputation will clear her of pain, but has the possible side effect of triggering the latent metastasis to rapidly grow - possibly killing her faster if they were in the lungs or brain. To combat this, we looked for signs of already-growing metastasis in her chest. What seems like the first bit of good news - we found none. To combat the growth of these microscopic cancer cells, she will need to follow the amputation with chemotherapy.
As the length of treatment chain went on - we talked about enrolling her in possible clinical trials that could tack extra months on to her life. Every added step that would offer an extension of her life however had drastically mounting costs. Steph and I are prepared to do right by Ava - a choice that eventually led us here.
Gratitude:
It's no understatement to say that Steph and I have been overwhelmingly blessed in our lives. We both were fortunate enough to have the support, luck, and drive to improve our situations and now are able to work, own a home and raise a family. We are blessed with 2 healthy children, incredible family members and supportive and caring friends. Living in this country with these blessings are things I wake up and reflect on every day. While tough news and challenges on the level of cancer might be routine or on-par with what most people in the world experience - we are blessed to be stunned by bad news. It's this realization that makes it hard to ask friends and family for assistance.
To do right by our sweet dog Ava, we were handed a commitment of around $8,000 to see her treatment to the end. This is a sum that our family can meet (and will if required), but unexpectedly coinciding with the planned costs of a new baby and Steph's planned weeks of unpaid maternity leave from work, the total cost of these (planned and unplanned) bulk expenses arising at the same time rapidly endanger our funds for emergency. An emergency fund is just that - for emergencies - though it is horrifyingly difficult to weigh the financial stability and security of our young family with the moral responsibility we feel to care for Ava in the best way possible.
It is with this in mind that we humbly ask our friends to contribute to Ava's comfort and longevity. In the long list of blessings we enjoy, having Ava in our lives is near the very top. It's a fact to say that she absolutely brought life, light and purpose into our lives on a daily basis and that she likely did the same to all who have ever wrestled on the ground with her or raced her across a field. *Reality check* She's a dog - but damned if I'm not proud that she is our dog.
TL;DR and Conclusion:
Ava has a tough, tough road ahead starting on Monday, 8/5 when she will have her leg amputated. She will have 2 weeks of recovery before removing that pesky dog collar and her stitches. After that, she will begin chemotherapy. After several rounds of chemo, she will be eligible to participate in ongoing clinical trials that might offer additional months to her life - most of which are out of town and will require travel, lodging and emotional stress.
As a family, we are committed to sacrificing our time, money, and effort for Ava's health and happiness. Any help from her friends only serves to increase her life expectancy and comfort. We don't make this request lightly - but we do it to give her any additional margin of a chance she might have, and we are extraordinarily grateful to any of her friends who choose to contribute.
Organizer
Will, Steph and Cip Coffey
Organizer
Georgetown, TX