This Silken Windhound’s Mom Is Hoping To Get Her The Help She Needs So She Can Beat Cancer
Escondido, California. Cancer is definitely still one of the most fearful words to everyone, when you hear the word, your whole world is suddenly filled with uncertainty, and the clock starts ticking.
That was how Hillary Dakin felt when her best friend, a now three-year-old silken Windhound named Pip, was diagnosed with lymphoma in November 2021.
According to Hillary, Pip was also the youngest dog of her breed on record to be diagnosed with this kind of cancer.
Before her diagnosis, Pip and Hillary were inseparable. “She (Pip) was my do-everything dog,” Hillary stated.
“She loved to train in all manner of things, from running sports to agility. She was always up for anything, whether an adventure to the beach or a day on the couch.”
Hillary has been active in searching for ways to treat Pip’s lymphoma. In the beginning, they were going under the “gold standard” of treatment for lymphoma called CHOP, which is a chemotherapy protocol affordable by Pip’s insurance.
However, CHOP could only buy them some time as the treatment is rarely fully curative in dogs. Pip could be given another year, but cancer’s comeback was inevitable, and the medications would no longer be effective on Pip. So the two would eventually have to say goodbye.
That was not the situation Hillary wanted to be in, and she wanted to see Pip have a long and happy life.
GoFundMe; pictured above is Pip
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As she dived into more research, she came across a bone marrow transplant (BMT), which is currently the only possible cure for canine lymphoma.
Excited to discover the new hope, Hillary quickly got in touch with the BMT team at North Carolina State University, one of only two clinics in the U.S. that can perform canine BMT surgery.
Fate has not given up Pip as Hillary received another exciting news: one of Pip’s biological brothers, Makani, is a match for her surgery. The more important thing is that the brother and his owners were happy to help Pip out with her journey.
“Makani and his people offered to be a hero for Pip and donate the cells that will vastly increase her chances of beating cancer once and for all,” Hillary said.
Since it is rare for dog siblings to find the perfect match for bone marrow, Pip’s case would benefit the canine cancer research at NCSU. After her surgery, Pip will also contribute to making this treatment more accessible in the future.
However, knowing those types of surgery would never be easily affordable, Hillary had to turn to her friends and community for financial help. She has set up a GoFundMe page to raise for Pip’s surgery and the aftercare treatments.
The fundraising goal was set to be $15,000 and is currently at $7,501 with 137 donors, which has created the possibility for Pip to receive her initial surgery.
As of May 20, Pip has received her stem cells and two doses of full-body radiation. She had been moved into isolation to protect herself from infection while her new immune system grew. Pip is now on her journey to recovery.
Please visit Hillary’s page here if you’d like to follow up with Pip’s journey.
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