11/18/2024
50% of every session will go towards Duke!!! Please read!!!
I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported Duke with your kindness, gifts, and donations. Your generosity means more than words can express.
After much thought and countless tears, I’ve made the difficult decision to have Duke’s leg removed. I know it may sound extreme, but osteosarcoma in the leg is incredibly painful for dogs. Studies show that amputation not only eliminates this pain but can also give them a chance to live 1-2 more years. Within weeks of surgery, Duke could be running and playing again—something he hasn’t been able to do for far too long.
Right now, my sweet boy can’t run, play, or even walk without severe pain. In just one month, he’s gone from happily playing in the backyard with his sister, Dustee (dog), to spending his days lying on a bed, looking sad and defeated. This isn’t the life he deserves. I see the sadness in his eyes. I see his pain.
To help cover the costs of Duke’s surgery and recovery, 50% of all income from Brightlife Massage & Wellness through December will go toward his care. The surgery itself is $3,000, followed by chemotherapy at $400+ per session—he’ll likely need 3-4 treatments, along with additional bloodwork and medication. It’s a significant expense, but it’s worth it to see Duke experience joy again—to play with his sister, go on walks with me, and live his best life for as long as possible.
I’ve heard from some people who feel upset that I’m asking for help for Duke when others are struggling to pay their own bills. If you’ve felt this way, I truly apologize. But please understand: Duke isn’t just a dog. He’s family. I would never give up on a family member with cancer, and I won’t give up on Duke. He has been there for me in ways that words can’t fully capture.
When I was at my lowest—Duke was part of my life. When I struggled with depression and anxiety. The days I couldn't get out of bed. The days I would lay on the bathroom floor and cry and cry. The days I wanted to give up. He sat with me. Its almost as if he knew automatically before I did that depression or anxiety would consume me that day. Anxiety and depression are like a wave in the ocean. You never know when it will come rushing in and take you down. But Duke always knew.
He sat with me on my hikes and walks alone as I healed. He healed with me. He isn't just a dog. He is my best friend and a very important part of why I created coaching and support for other women in our community with depression and anxiety. I have been there. I overcame the darkness that ran my entire life. I am living proof its possible.
Duke was also a part of the journey that inspired me to create coaching and support services for women facing their own struggles with depression and anxiety. I was told in massage school not to make this my niche. I refused to listen. My life’s path is someone's else healing. I have no regrets. I would change nothing. I'm here for a reason.
I know what it’s like to feel lost in the darkness, but I also know it’s possible to overcome it. Duke has been a vital part of that transformation for me, and now it’s my turn to be there for him.
If you’ve already booked a session, thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you haven’t, I hope you’ll consider scheduling one. Your support means the world to me, and it’s helping give Duke a fighting chance at a life filled with love, joy, and comfort.
Please reach out. Make my mission possible. Help me give Duke more time here.
