We hit the road early this morning for our appointment at UT Southwestern in Dallas. Bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and out the door by 7:30 AM for our 11:00 AM consult.
We have to pass a Buc-ee’s along the way so naturally, we had to stop. Blue sodas, brisket breakfast tacos, and a last-minute bag of nuggets (delicious, by the way) made the start to our day a little sweeter.
A work convoy and a GPS mishap made us 15 minutes late — a personal nightmare as someone who considers 10 minutes early “on time.” But everything worked out. We found the oncology clinic, checked in smoothly, and the staff could not have been kinder. Even Dolce, who now gets “anxious booty” (panting, uncontrollable gas, etc) at vet offices, felt comfortable once she realized she wasn’t the patient and could still collect her usual pets and attention.
What We Learned from UT Southwestern
UTSW does offer an immunotherapy clinical trial, but it comes with some major considerations. The vaccine protocol includes 1–2 injections per week for four weeks before surgery, injected into the bone and followed by radiation. This means multiple rounds of sedation — something we’re hesitant about, given Dior’s atrial fibrillation. Each anesthesia is a risk, and any alterations to his bone could potentially lead to extreme pain to the leg and unwanted fractures.
They don’t perform surgery on-site, so they’d refer us elsewhere for the amputation. Grants and subsidies are sometimes available, but all costs ultimately fall to the family. The vet was incredibly honest — they weren’t pushing us to enroll. In fact, they gently advised against it due to Dior’s heart condition. Less anesthesia, less risk. We appreciated that level of transparency more than we can say.
The consult was $75 (already added to the Expense & Donation Tracker), and we’ll be including UT Southwestern in our upcoming OSA Treatment Guide for anyone researching their options — especially if you’re in the Dallas area and curious about innovative care.
Back on Track with Main Street
Main Street remains the only clinic that can perform surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy all under one roof. Yesterday, we received the full quote — $8,000–$9,200 total. I asked if we had to pay the full amount up front or if we could pay as the treatment is received. Good news: they said yes 🙌
We also found out they offer a 10% military discount with Brandon’s ID and confirmed that CPR would be performed if needed while Dior is under anesthesia. The only thing left before surgery is our final consult with their team.
Depending on what the surgery deposit comes out to, we expect our up-front cost to be about $5,000. I’ve taken out a loan to help get things moving, but every prayer, share, donation, and t-shirt purchase still helps us more than you know.
The Signs We Needed
This weekend, we went to see Little Shop of Horrors, and before the show, we met a woman named Angie who runs a dog rescue. She was holding a puppy missing part of his leg — possibly chewed off by littermates. The rescue had already amputated the paw but was considering a full hind-leg amputation because, in her words, “he doesn’t miss a beat and hops around just fine.”
Then on Sunday, we came home, flipped on a random YouTube video — and it just happened to be a breakdancing competition where one of the dancers had a full leg amputation. He crushed it on the floor.
I don’t believe in coincidences. These moments — unprompted, unsearched, and deeply personal — felt like signs. Whether it’s from God, Dior’s guardian angels, or the universe, I’m holding onto that feeling that we’re going to be okay.
The Not-So-Great Part
We fasted Dior just in case for the consult, so Dolce skipped breakfast too. Don’t worry — they were both rewarded with Chick-fil-A grilled nuggets on the way home and homemade pup cups for dinner. 😁
That said… I still feel like too much time is passing without surgery. The waiting is hard. I had a full-on panic attack in the car on the way home. The unknowns are overwhelming. But we’re trying to stay grounded in the fact that we’re doing everything we can.
Final Reminder
📦 Shirts are being delivered!!
If you ordered one and didn’t get the email to join our Instagram group chat, please check your spam folder or message me directly — we’re planning something special!
Thank you — truly — for being part of this with us.
Haley, Dior & fam
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