Beau’s cancer journey began in 2025 when I noticed a mass growing near his left hind knee. As it became larger, he started having difficulty walking and showed signs of pain and exhaustion.
On October 9, 2025, Beau underwent surgery to remove the mass. The pathology results came back as low grade soft tissue sarcoma. I also received the devastating news that cancer cells extended to the edge of the tissue that had been removed. This meant clean margins were not achieved and cancer cells could still remain. I was warned that this type of tumor can be locally invasive and return when it is not completely removed.
For a while, I hoped that first surgery had bought Beau more time. Sadly, the cancer came back.
Although the original tumor was considered low grade, it returned aggressively and grew much larger than before. Over the past several months, the mass continued growing on the same leg until it ulcerated, ruptured, and began actively bleeding.
I took Beau to multiple veterinarians and another surgery center because I desperately wanted to save his leg. I explored every reasonable limb sparing option and hoped the mass could be removed without amputation. Unfortunately, because the cancer returned so aggressively, grew much larger, ruptured, and damaged the surrounding tissue, amputation offered the clearest surgical margins. It became Beau’s best chance to remove all of the cancer from that area and reduce the risk of it returning again.
The first surgery center did not feel like the right place for Beau, and I could not ignore my instincts. Because of his age and heart murmur, I needed to find a board certified surgeon and specialty hospital that I trusted to monitor him closely throughout surgery and recovery.
Today, August 24, 2026, Beau is at Central Texas Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital for a complete amputation of his left hind leg. The estimated cost of his surgery, anesthesia, hospitalization, pathology testing, and medications is between $6,111 and $7,117. I had to place $6,983 on CareCredit so he could receive treatment immediately. I am raising $7,000 to help cover that bill, his follow up visits, wound care, medications, recovery supplies, and any unexpected complications.
Making the decision to amputate Beau’s leg has broken my heart, but euthanasia was not the choice I could make while he is still mentally sharp, alert, engaged, and full of life. His personality is still completely there. He still watches everything, responds to me, and wants to be part of life. His spirit is strong. Everything about Beau is still Beau, except for this damn leg.
Cancer sucks, but Beau is not fighting alone. I will keep fighting for him.
Any donation, whether small or large, means more than I can possibly express. If you are unable to donate, sharing Beau’s story would also help tremendously.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping Beau fight sarcoma, heal from this amputation, and enjoy more happy, comfortable days.
