Together for April: A Call for Compassion

I will start off by introducing myself to those who may not know me or my story with April. I have been disabled my entire life, which caused having independence to be very limiting. I knew a service dog would increase my independence, but what I wasn't prepared for were the other aspects of my life she would change. April & I became a team officially in 2018; she is trained to assist me with mobility tasks such as opening/closing doors, turning lights on/off, picking up items and placing them in my lap or in my hand, and pushing buttons for elevators or doors. Besides the physical tasks she assists me with, she has given me an unconditional love that I so desperately needed at the time. Our bond is one I have never experienced and one I don't think I will ever have again after her.

On September 7th, I brought April into her vet for a lump to be checked out; the vet took a sample and it was determined to be Mast Cell Carcinoma. I was devastated to hear this; her demeanor, appetite, and energy have not changed at all, so how could my sweet girl have cancer? Unfortunately, this form of cancer is very aggressive, specifically in the area where her tumor is at. Because of this, we need to move quickly. April has already met with an oncology specialist and a biopsy was done to determine if it has already spread to her liver and spleen. If it has not spread, the next step is to surgically remove as much of the tumor as possible and radiation afterwards to remove any remaining cancer left behind in the area. If it has spread, the plan will be to do the surgery and radiation all over to help stop the spread.

As many of you are aware, vet bills can run high and accrue very quickly. Being disabled, I am on a limited income, which is causing much more stress and anxiety worrying about how to pay for her specialist visits. That leads us to where I am now, asking for your help. I know times are hard for many, and if you are unable to help financially, sharing my story will do just as much.

Thank you in advance for helping me save my girl.