ABOUT

24 years ago dogs and veterinarians saved my life... 

Me, Children's Hospital Colorado 1997

After being diagnosed with osteosarcoma of the spine and ribs at the age of 11 years old, I underwent all traditional treatments, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. However, the odds were never in my favor. With little hope of successful treatment, I was offered the opportunity to enroll in a clinical trial for a drug called MTPPE, an immunologic designed to teach my body to fight any metastases that may occur. Beyond this information we knew nothing about MTPPE.

3 months to live...

Fast forward 10 months into treatment and three chemotherapies away from completing my protocol, a routine scan was completed. When the phone rang, we knew it wasn't good news. The scan showed new tumors in my lungs and the possibility of a tumor growing where my original tumor was. I decided to not finish my chemotherapy and live out those 3 months as much as a wheelchair bound 11-year old can. 

And then, 3 months passed. While the end of this story is clear since you are reading this, I lived. But how was that possible? It comes back to the MTPPE.

In another hospital 66 miles north of the hospital I received treatment at, doctors were working to treat their own patients, but instead of a people hospital, it was the Colorado State University Animal Cancer Center now known as the Flint Animal Cancer Center or CSU FACC. The patients were animals from dogs to cats and even a bear, and the doctors were veterinary oncologists. But the differences between the two hospitals isn't as big as you would assume.

It was at the CSU FACC that my miracle started; the experimental treatment MTTPE was created and used in clinical trials to increase the survival of dogs diagnosed with osteosarcoma. Thanks to the brilliant and forward thinking of veterinary oncologist Dr. Steven Withrow, translational medicine also known as comparative medicine, the belief and idea about treating cancer (in this case) in both animals and humans, was born.

It wasn't until years later at a camp for kids with cancer that I learned that I owed my life to Dr. Withrow and the dogs enrolled in the original veterinary trials for MTPPE along with my oncologists, Dr. Lia Gore and Dr. Brian Greffe. Because the original trials showed the drug increased survival rates in dogs vs just the traditional therapies, Dr. Withrow and others were able to put together a clinical trial for human testing. In my case, it was a success. 

Continued Hope

Gertie, after surgery 2017

Today, the CSU Flint Animal Cancer gives thousands of pet owners every year more time with their beloved pets. I know personally how much it means to have access to cutting-edge veterinary care when your pet is suspected of having cancer. In 2017, my golden retriever Gertie was diagnosed with a soft-tissue sarcoma in her hind leg. There was only one place I trusted to treat her, the CSU FACC. 

Gertie, 2021

Now 4 years later, Gertie continues to survive despite showing her age. 

Additionally, in the past 10 years the CSU FACC has:

• Helped launch another human trial for people with osteosarcoma enrolling it's first patients in 2019 and estimated to be completed in 2025
• One of the largest studies of it's kind called the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, led by CSU FACC Director Rod Page, ; learn more here
• Continued to offer free consultations to veterinarians and pet owners
• Offered ever changing clinical trials for pets with limited treatment options

This is is my "why".

I am hoping to raise $2,000 towards the $10,000 total goal in honor of the 10th anniversary of the One Cure Initiative. Please join me in honoring those who continue to work towards hope for both animals and people and giving the gift of hope to people and pets with cancer.

To learn more about One Cure, please visit: https://www.onecure.com