First off let me introduce myself, I am Kimberly and I am the owner of my sweet pit/lab mix Jackson. My family consists of me, my fiance, our 3 boys (age 11,8 and 2), and out kitty. We got Jackson when he was just 4 months old from our local animal shelter. He has always been the most fun loving, goofball of a dog that loves his family and life. Just a few months ago he started having problems with his knee to where he would not walk on it anymore and kept holding it up. At first I thought he may have torn his ACL, so we tried many different braces but none of them seemed to work and he was getting worse as the days went on. I ended up bringing him to the vet that my best friend recommended, The Ridge Animal Hospital in Sanford, ME. 

Well when I brought him to the vet I was told that the xray showed that he either had really bad arthritis or bone cancer. This news was devestating to me because my sweet pup that I have loved for almost 6 years was not doing good and I was not sure what was going to end up happening in the long run. They sent us home with antiinflammatory medications and a 1 month follow up visit. The antiinflammatorys seemed to help with the pain, but there was no way he was ever going to walk on all four legs again. 

Then a week before he had his follow up appointment his pain started to get really bad to the point where I would have to hand feed and water him. I knew something horribly wrong was up, so I called the vet and they told me to take him in. So the next day, I ended up bringing him back to the vet and the vet said I am afraid to tell you, that this most likely 95% is cancer of his bone and he needs to have it amputated in the next few days or he will need to be euthinized. Hearing those words broke my heart, because financially I was not able to afford this by any means all of it alone especially after the vet visits that we have made and having 3 children. The vet saw how upset I was about not wanting to put my poor baby down and said that she would help work it all out. 

Those words made my heart skip a beat. I could not beleive that there were such amazing people in this world! So that day I ended up talking with my best friend and she turned around and said to me that she was going to pay for his surgery! I was so blessed to have her and still am now! She is the best friend anyone could ask for and of course I am going to pay her back, but I am allowed to do it in payments instead of being so far behind! 

So the next few days I brought Jackson back to the vet bright and early to have his leg amputated. That whole day I was anxiously awaiting the phonecall to hear from the vet, that every phone call that came on my phone my heart skipped a beat. Until about 2pm that is when I got the call! I was told that Jackson made it through and he had no complications and he was doing very well and that I could pick him up around 5pm! I was so happy that I cried like a baby. 

Around 5pm I picked him up from the vets and the surgeon told me that everything went great and that he does not belive that he has bone cancer! I was like waht? Are you serious? He said yes because his knee joint was fused together. We can send off a peice of his bone to have it tested for sure to see if it is cancer or not or we can wait to see. I am thinking of having this done but can not afford this right now. 

Then a few minutes later I was brought into an exam room and they brought me my baby! I was so happy to see him and he even wagged his tail for me even through the drugged up feeling that he had from anethesia. At that moment, I realized that my pup was going to make it! That I was now going to have an even more special dog! 

I can not thank everyone enough for helping me get this surgery for my dog! It is so sureal. He is already improving and it is only the first day after surgery. He is still needing help eating and drinking but anything I can do to nurse him back to help I am going to do. He is my baby and I love him so much! I can't help but to keep crying over the joy I have of being able to give him a better life yet again.