About the Campaign
Bloody nose makes for lucky early cancer discovery!
Tommy, a three-year-old Golden Retriever, was rushed into emergency surgery after a bloody nose. The ER vet was stumped for a bit, but tests and observation revealed something unrelated to his nose bleed (which turned out to be a minor thing and was fine). There was something wrong with Tommy’s spleen.
The surgery to remove his spleen saved his life, but the diagnosis was devastating: hemangiosarcoma, an aggressive cancer that often isn’t caught until it’s too late. Hemangiosarcoma is a cancer of the blood vessels, specifically the lining. It is known has a silent killer because it is usually undetected until a blood vessel collapses and causes a hemorrhage, and then it is too late and spread to far even if the hemorrhage can be treated.
This cancer is rarely caught early, and typically only by accident, as in Tommy’s case. In effect, a blood nose ended up saving his life! Against the odds, his cancer was discovered early—before it spread to his liver or other organs. With treatment, Tommy’s prognosis is far brighter than usual: he has the chance to live another five years or more, healthy and happy, by his family’s side.
Eric and his wife Erin first met Tommy during the pandemic, when their search for a rescue dog kept hitting dead ends. A friend told them about a litter in Michigan, and they took a $100 flight out. One look at the puppy with the white spot on his forehead, and they knew he was meant to be theirs. Even before joining their family, Tommy had already been bringing joy to nursing homes. Since then, he’s been the heart of their household, a gentle and goofy companion who loves everyone he meets.
Now, keeping Tommy alive means ongoing cancer treatment for over a year—medications, follow-up visits, and monitoring that come at a staggering cost. Eric and Erin have already managed to pay nearly $16,000, draining their savings and cutting expenses wherever possible. They both work full-time—Eric in project management, Erin in environmental nonprofit work—but living in New York City with student loans and high rent has pushed them past their financial limits.
They will not give up on Tommy. He still runs, plays, and wags his tail like the joyful young dog he is. With your help, Tommy can continue his treatment and keep defying the odds. His prognosis is very good for this type of cancer, and he is only three years old, so five more years is more years than he has even been alive so far! With his dedicated owners and the fantastic doctors at VERG, he is set up for success.
Every donation goes directly toward his veterinary care. He will have regular visits at VERG (the vet) for medication, monitoring, and adjusting the medication. We have seen dogs to very well for a long time on chemotherapy, and these newer treatments are having better and better results. Below is breakdown of a treatment cost (click or tap to enlarge), and here is a full itemization of his bill: Tommy’s Invoice.
