Wednesday, February 16, 2011

HELLO NEW SITE!!!!

In case you haven't heard the new site is up and everything will now be posted over there. stymieccf.org We are rocking on the donations.. No pun intended KROQ one of their sexy employees there was kind enough to send us a package for us to auction off items to raise money for our foundation.. if you can stop taking a coffee each month and donate that money to our foundation it will be great.. You will get more out of that money than you will your coffee because we will let you follow how your money has helped the cause.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Fantastic News!!!!

Stymie's vet came out after checking Stymie out and giving him his chemo treatment and said it looks like he is in complete remission. She said all of his lymphnodes are not swollen and back to being soft. She said they will not do an X-Ray on his chest to check that note until he finishes his first complete cycle in 3 weeks. She even called him a Rockstar. We are so happy we went through with treatment. This just signifies how important it is to get our foundation off the ground. Please Please Donate!!!! We will take in-kind donations and sell them to for the foundation. Or just regular donations. Even $5 a month can add up quickly. That is one Starbucks coffee you miss a month to help a family watch the stressfulness of treatment. It gives that many more days for a family to love their furry friend just a little bit longer.

We are completely non-profit meaning all my time and money we spend to setup this foundation NOTHING goes into our pocket. I am working under voluntary status for this foundation. Brian and I feel pets are families and people deserve to be able to keep their family member. Cancer can just sneak up on anyone. We don't always plan for the unexpected and costs can get really high.

I also wanted to report Stymie's brothers blood work came back and he does not have the cancer in him as of right now. Buddy their newest brother who has a heart murmur still has a murmur but the doctor considers it very low grade and starting to go away on it's own... We are so happy our pets are rocking it!!!! Thank you all for your support kind words and everything.

Please send us your story or comments here or by mail. We love getting mail.

Stymie Canine Cancer Foundation
PO Box 461805
Aurora, CO 80046

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Monday next Chemo

Wow, I have been busy and also ill. The foundation seems to be taking off and there are so many events we want to get a booth at. We are so anxious to get our conformed copy of articles of incorporation so we can mail it off to the IRS to become a 501(c)(3) charity. (Tax Exempt) Most places will only offer grants if that is your status. Since we are a non-profit all donations stay in the savings account until we have enough to fund a family. Grants are great so we can do these events and start bringing in more donations of all kinds.

Stymie has been feeling great the past couple of weeks. We are so excited to see how much he weighs now at the next chemo treatment. He started at 105 pounds and went all the way down to 75 pounds and gained 2 pounds last week which is a start. We also have to take our new addition Buddy for his 4 month heart check. When we got him as a puppy he had a heart murmur they wanted to watch. So Monday the day of love we are hoping for good news.. Our website should be almost ready to go live too.

Thank you all for reading the posts and keep spreading the word. We love you guys.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Funny about Feline & Canine Friends

If you are reading this blog, you are either family, friends or someone who loves pets and will get a great giggle out of this. My dear friend Vicki sent it to me today.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE PETS, THIS IS A TRUE STORY.
FOR THOSE THAT DON'T, IT IS A TRUE STORY.

The following was found posted very low on a refrigerator door.

Dear Dogs and Cats: The dishes on the floor with the paw prints are yours and contain your food The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate does not mean that it is suddenly your food, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Racing me to the top of the stairs is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It Is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space that you are taking up, is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom! If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years - canine/feline attendance is not required.

The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough.

Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following message on the front door:
TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS:

(1) They live here. You don't.
(2) If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. That's why they call it 'fur'-nature.
(3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
(4) To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don't speak clearly.

Remember, dogs and cats are better than kids because they:
(1) eat less,

(2) don't ask for money all the time,
(3) are easier to train,
(4) normally come when called,
(5) never ask to drive the car,
(6) don't hang out with drug-using people;
(7) don't smoke or drink,
(8) don't want to wear your clothes,
(9) don't have to buy the latest fashions,
(10) don't need a gazillion dollars for college and
(11) if they get pregnant, you can sell their children.....(*_*)

DONATE ITEMS!!!!

Hi we are not only looking for cash donations but also donated items that we can raffle or auction off at one of our events. Please contact me and let me know if you or someone would be willing to do this for Stymie Canine Cancer Foundation.

We appreciate all the people who are keeping up to date with the blog. I know I haven't posted anything about Stymie lately. Stymie is doing great and getting back to his normal self. The lymphnodes are no longer a size 5 but down to minimal. This is where we want to keep them otherwise it causes Stymie not to be able to eat and forces him to have to stay the night at the vet. We want as much time with him as we can at this time.

We are looking at getting a booth at the Avon, Revlon and several other events cross the country. We are extremely excited about this and feel it is the best way to get our name out there and get donations.

We are open to any suggestions or ideas so keep those coming as well.

DONATE NOW!!!!

We are giving out free PawBenders from Good Time Burgers for the first 25 people who send in donations. You can donate any amount and you will receive your coupon in the mail. Please remember we are a Non-Profit Organization so all funds will go to a family in need.

Thank you for your support.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

SCCF Goals

Our goal is to hold fundraisers and other functions (online, fliers, mailers, etc… ) to raise funds for people who cannot afford the cost of cancer therapy for their pet so they can sustain the quality life of their canine.

Our goal is to help use the money we have raised toward new research studies on canine cancer.

Our goal is to raise awareness on how important it is to get pet insurance to help with unexpected costs just like for humans.

Our goal is to team up with veterinary offices to help provide lower cost for those who come for help through us.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

You can make a difference

If you are able to donate any amount even $5 dollars will help a family in need. All people who donate will receive a photo of the family that they are helping. Photos will be sent once we reach our goal amount to start giving out money to those in need. We will also give you a link to a blog for you to follow the families progress of their pet. We feel this is important so you can see the difference you have made by your contribution.

If you are unable to use PayPal you can mail your payment as well to:
Stymie Canine Cancer Foundation
PO Box 461805
Aurora, CO 80046

Thank you all for talking about the foundation and spreading the word. That donation of your time to help inform people of our foundation is just as important.





Updating Stymie Canine Cancer Foundation

Stymie had his 2nd dose of chemotherapy and he is slightly tired from it. We are hoping this new dose will work just as well as the last one. I am busy working on foundation information and trying to get more donations. We are really working towards becoming tax-exempt as most of the large companies require us to be 501(c)(3) before they will give us grants or donations.

Our goal is to hit $50K for the year so we can give out support to at least 10 families. Please keep referring people to our site to donate even if you are unable to. The faster money we get money in the faster we can loan it out to people in need. I will try and write more later today if not today for sure tomorrow.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Cytology Report

I am not sure if I spelled Cytology correct or not but the vet called with the update from the pathology that was sent out on Stymie. It is said to say he does have T-Cell Lymphoma and not B-Cell Lymphoma. The reason it is sad is because they do not stay in remission as long as B-cell patients. This means to us that Stymie has a life expectancy of only 6months to 1 year. Without Chemothearpy there is no chance his life expectancy would be as long. Please donate to our foundation as chemo does prolong a persons pets life and everyone should be allowed to have those few extra months to spend with their pet. It also improves the quality of life of the pet.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Looking for Vets

Stymie Canine Cancer Foundation is looking for Veterinarians who are willing to donate their time and do a Canine Cancer talk for one of our functions near you. As we get speakers we will setup the time and place near you.

We are also looking for vets who are willing to help the cost for families whose pets have cancer. We would refer people to your veterinary service based on a case by case after screening of the family. We hope you will become one of our preferred Vets.

About Stymie Canine Cancer Foundation

Stymie Canine Cancer Foundation (SCCF) was formed February 1, 2011 the day after Stymie was diagnosed with Cancer. The founders (Aimee & Brian Thompson) decided to create the foundation because when they found out their dog Stymie had cancer their heart sank. They wondered what they would have done if they did not have pet insurance with the cancer writer. As devastated as they were they realized how many people out there are not as fortunate as them to have gotten pet insurance and would have to face the alternative option of NO treatment for their pet. They wanted to make sure that families have a place to turn to help with the financial burden for treating cancer in their pet. They recognized that pets are part of the family and to not have options is heartbreaking. SCCF started to help those families in need of assistance. They will work with Veterinary offices to get price breaks for those families that come through SCCF as well as help fund the care for their pet. SCCF wants to raise awareness of how important it is to get pet insurance when you get your pet to help with unexpected costs.

Cehmotherapy in 2 Days

Stymie has chemotherapy in 2 more days. We are going to try and move it from Tuesdays to Mondays so Brian and I both can stay with him during it. Brian does not work on Mondays. Stymie seems to be bouncing back to his normal self but we can't leave behind the idea that chemotherapy is just there to give a quality of life. In other words it does not get rid of the cancer like it does in humans. We are happy that he feels so well so that he is at home and we can enjoy his company.

The foundation is starting to take off and we are really hoping we start getting more donations. We have decided that everyone who donates will get information on the family the money went to. However, we can't start doing that until we get more donations. We are working on our tax exempt through the IRS and will push for an expedited decision. If you haven't had a chance to donate please do so by going to our donations blog. If you are unable to donate please spread the word. Pets are our children and each one deserves a better life with their family.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

DAY 4 after Chemotherapy

Stymie is doing great this morning. He is like his old self giving us kisses in the morning and starting to play with his brothers. We got a call from the vet yesterday to check on Stymie. We were hoping it was going to be a call on the biopsy but not so much luck on that. They took part of the Lymphoma so they can see what stage and type of Lymphoma Stymie has and the results were supposed to be in by yesterday. We do know just from how many lumps Stymie has he is at least a Stage III in his cancer.

If you have joined our causes page on FB please do so by clicking the link to the right of the blog. Also, if you are able to please donate or at least send people to our site to spread the word about your foundation we have started. Thank you all for the love and support we have been receiving.

I am not sure when our website will be up but will keep you posted on that as well.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

UPDATE

Last night Stymie who we also call Mossey had bleeding from his mouth. We couldn't at first figure out where it was coming from and finally figured it out. He had a small cut on his lip. The prendisone was preventing him to stop bleeding. We called down to the vet who suggested pressure and we were fortunate to get it stop bleeding.

Stymie Canine Cancer Foundation seems to be off to a great start. We are hoping to raise 50K this year so that we can help at least 10 families. Chemotherapy is very expensive and can cost over 6K for the 6 months of treatment. We cannot start handing out money until we start reaching some goals. We don't want to have to choose between the different families and hope we can provide for several. If you would like to donate please go to our link on Donations Blog. We understand during this time of financial low not everyone can afford to donate at this time. We ask that you help by spreading the word about our foundation and help us get the name out there.

www.stymieccf.org should be functional sometime today at the latest tomorrow. If you have not done so yet please follow us on Twitter Stymieccf and on Facebook www.facebook.com/stymieccf

If you have any suggestions, idea or people you think we should be in contact with please let us know.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

DONATIONS

I am so thankful for all my friends that have joined this site.  Even if you cannot donate at this time, I ask you spread the word of this foundation.  Helping spread the word is just as important as a financial donation. All proceeds will be given to those who cannot afford chemotherapy as well as new research to help fight for a cure. 

http://www.fightdogcancer.com/dogs/179-stymie-boxer-Lymphoma

When Stymie was diagnosed with Cancer we were devastated. We wondered how we were going to pay for this expensive treatment.  We were fortunate we had insurance coverage along with the cancer rider.  Although, we have to pay out of pocket first and then wait for us to be reimbursed, we are fortunate we have the funds at this time to do this.  It made me think of all the other people out there who are not as fortunate.  It is so upsetting just to learn your pet has cancer but to know you can't afford to get treatment because you didn't get insurance like several others out there.  I am hoping this foundation will make a difference in so many ways. One to help sustain the life of other dogs with Cancer as well as promote the importance of pet insurance.

Thank you all for your support.





Brian & Aimee Mission

Brian is allowing me to go on a mission to spread information on Canine Cancer. I am in the process of starting a foundation.  Canine Cancer and the treatment is not cheap.  It can set people back to where they may not be able to afford the treatment.  We are fortunate we got the insurance which most people have not gotten.  We are here to start promoting information on how important it is to get pet insurance and who we find as the best company. We are going to raise money for people to apply for grants to help pay for their dogs fight against cancer.  We are going to work with Research companies as well as Vets to work on getting discounts for those who we feel really need the help.  We are here to fight for PETS with CANCER!!!!! Join this fight now and spread the word.  Get on our e-mail address to watch the progress of this foundation and to help join the fight!!!!

First Chemo

First thing in the morning Brian and I were up and ready to go.  We both could hardly sleep so we were ready to head down early in the morning back to the hospital.  When we got down there we were introduced to one of the oncologist nurses and she brought us back to Stymie. Brian and I got into his kennel and laid on him and gave him loves like we normally do.  We had done our research the night before and knew our odds.  The Oncologist came over to talk to us and let us know what she had found the night before when the surgeon had stopped her and informed us of the X-Rays she had taken that he does have a mass in his chest walls as well.  We told her we wanted to do Chemotherapy. She gave us pricing options to fit budgets and we said go aggressive this is our baby. Also, we were fortunate to have pet insurance with Cancer coverage.  She said they would start it right then and for us to call at 2 and see how he is doing. 
I called a few minutes before 2 and she said he is doing better that he is starting to look around and be interested on what is going on around him and to come down at 4 to see if he is ready to come home.. We got down there right at 4 and Stymie had eaten his first meal. He was ready to go home. We were so happy.

CANCER!!!!!

Brian and I were driving over to the vet after I had to have a medical procedure to meet up with our friend and son who brought Stymie to the emergency veterinary hospital for us so it did not weight. Of course it is a cold snowy day and traffic was horrible. As we were driving we got a call from the surgeon who performed Stymie's knee surgery. He was returning our call about Stymie not eating. He agree Stymie should be seen through the ER side and have them treat him.  We let the Surgeon know Stymie was already there and he immediately said he would go take a look at him and remove his staples for us.  It didn't seem very long to when we received another phone call from the surgeon.  He said he was so sorry but he felt Stymie has cancer.  As I tried to hold back the tears Brian reached over to hold my hand and he tried to stay strong too.  He informed us the lymph nodes on stymie all over his body were extremely enlarged.  He went even one step even further and said the oncologist is here today but she is in a meeting. He informed us he was texting her and making sure her staff would not let her leave until she saw Stymie. He went above and beyond to make sure Stymie got immediate attention from the Oncologist.
We finally arrived at the ER Vet and met up with my friend and Mikee our son.  I explained more of what we had heard from the surgeon and we patiently waited for the Vet to come out and talk to us. When the vet came in she reiterated what the Surgeon had told us.  We were devastated.  We all asked if we could go back and say bye to Stymie before we left him for overnight.  She said absolutely.  We all walked back gave him kisses and loves. The ER Vet said she would have blood results in an hour and to either call or wait.  We all decided to go eat around the corner.
Mikee and our friend Chris we told them to go ahead and go home but I wanted to go back and hear about the blood work.  Brian and I went back to the hospital and we asked to wait with Stymie till all the results came back. As the words came out of her mouth saying it is confirmed Stymie has cancer we broke down.  Our hero our gentle giant our big baby can't have cancer.  He is my nap buddy.  Brian and I really didn't want to leave Stymie overnight. We waned to spend every moment with him.  However, we knew he needed IV fluids and to be monitored. We were told to come back the next day or call in the morning to see how Stymie is doing and to talk to the Oncologist.  Brian and I cried the whole way home. We both are devastated.

Stymie.

Stymie is a very stoic loving dog.  He was the dominate one over his brother and the protector of the house. He loves going to day care and playing with other dogs and playing at home with his brothers.  Everyone who has met Stymie falls in love with his big jowels and affectionate way he has with him.

Stymie was diagnosed as having Lymphoma on January 31, 2011. This was not the diagnoses we were expecting at all.  Stymie had knee surgery December 23, 2010 in which he had some complications. He got an infection in his knee and was told by the vet that we didn't keep it dry enough. My husband and I were devastated.  We take the best care of our dogs. we couldn't believe we had let that happen.  As time went on with the infection area healing and Stymie needing new stitches it was starting to heal and Stymie was getting up to enjoy life again with his brothers. 

A few days after hew as up feeling good Stymie stopped eating.  He absolutely refused food. We tried all of our coaxing methods including giving him table scraps. He wanted none of it.  This originally when all this started 105 pound boxer now down to 76 pounds was not eating.  This went on for 2 days and we could no longer watch him not eating and whither away in front of our eyes. We knew something was wrong. We were thinking some infection because of the knee.  We were wrong.