A Paw in Both Worlds

**Last Update**  My dad, who is awesome, paid off the balance in an unexpected windfall.  What you all have done, donating to a complete stranger's dog's recovery?  That was awesome.  May you all be blessed with a happier outcome.  As it is, we expect Bella to be around another month.  We didn't beat the cancer, but we're loving her every minute she is with us.  Thank you all, again.  May God bless you and your furbabies!

Hi! My name is Bella and I've been diagnosed with a deadly cancer. I'm a rescue dog that my mommy took in to keep me from being "put down". I don't know what that means but I know I'm part of an 'oops' litter. My mommy was a Weimaraner and my daddy was a labrador. I guess they didn't want me and the best I could have hoped for was to be sent to the pound? Well my new mommy wants me very much! That really saved my life, because around here, black dogs don't fare too well at the pound. 

About a week ago, my mommy saw that I was walking funny and couldn't run crazy like I normally do. She looked at me closer and could feel a funny lump that came up pretty fast. She then took me to the BEST doctor, but he thought the lump was really bad. They did a biopsy and found out I have chondrosarcoma, and it's so bad in my shoulder that I have to have a full leg amputation, even though I'm only 2 years old.

Mommy asked if there was chemotherapy, and for this kind of cancer, there isn't any that will work on doggies. She asked about a partial amputation and because of where it is, that can't be done either.

So, I've gotta have my whole leg amputated, but now mommy has to pay the awesome doctor. She seems pretty worried, because she says she doesn't have that much. I'm not sure what dollars are, but she says we're fifteen hundred short of them for the medication and stuff. That seems like a lot. I offered to trade my toys but she said to hold onto them. I might need them for later. You know, therapy and stuff.

So mommy is trying to save me a second time. She promised they'd send my paw ahead to doggie heaven to hold my place because she says she hopes its a long long time before I get there myself. She even promised my big brother Teddy would watch over it for me even though I never met him. All we have to do is get through this.

Do you think you could help? We set up a fundraising page, and it's listed below. It's pretty cool, you can donate as little as one of those dollars. Or more. I'd like more. 

Can you help me? Please?

**Update #1** Today's the day!  Mommy dropped me off this morning and i'll be one leg shy by noon!

**Update #2** She's down one leg, but doing fine.  The doc is worried that the cancer is much more invasive than previously thought.  He had to remove more tissue than he intended and is worried that it's entered her lymphatic system.  We've sent off the lymph node from under her shoulderblade for analysis and should know by Monday.  

 **Update #3**  Bella's doing great, we think we've got all the cancer OUT!!! She's still adjusting to only having three legs, but we just completed a gentle trail hike though High Falls State Park, so I think we're doing well! :D  Still have those pesky vet bills, though... :(

**Update #4**  Bella's not doing so great.  She's either depressed or in pain and we don't know why yet.  I'm taking her to the vet on monday to find out more.

**Update #5**  Prognosis is poor.  My little cuddlebug has been given 4 months to live at best.  We're going to try to beat that, but we're not going to perform any more surgery.  I just don't think it's fair to her.  The tumor is back, aggressively.  We're just going to keep her pain free and happy as long as she wants, now.  

Please help us with her growing vet bill.  She does not qualify for grants or gifts from anywhere because we didn't know about them until after the surgery had already happened.  Anything, a dollar, every little bit helps.  So far I have created over a dozen custom digital art pieces for a handful of wonderful people, and I'd love to do the same for you as a "thank you" for helping my Bella.  

If you knew this dog, you'd want to help her be happy.  She's so sweet, so cuddly and wonderful. 

Go ahead, please, and visit my page on deviantart to see my work.  I'm pretty varied in style, so if you have a request on your "thank you" art, let me know:  dena-gray.deviantart.com