I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. With Brandon being a veteran, Memorial Day always reminds me just how lucky I am that my soldier came home. That perspective doesn’t get lost on me.
The weekend itself was seemingly normal. Dior has still been acting like his usual self—curious, happy, and full of life. He’s hopping a little more here and there, but if you didn’t know he had a diagnosis, you honestly wouldn’t be able to tell. That’s just how stoic and strong he is.
That said, I can tell the pain is becoming more intense for him. It’s subtle, but it’s there. And it’s frustrating knowing we’re still in a holding pattern without a scheduled surgery date.
Main Street Vet was supposed to get back to us on Tuesday with an itemized quote for surgery, chemo, and immunotherapy. I didn’t hear anything, so I waited until this morning to follow up—trying not to be annoying while also feeling the pressure of time. They responded and said they’re still working on putting it together, so… still waiting.
On Friday, a dear friend of mine reached out after visiting with some church friends who work at a cancer research center in Dallas that specializes in both human and canine cancers. She noticed a pamphlet on their counter about canine cancer and immediately thought of Dior. She sent it to me, and I reached out right away.
That led me to the Veterinary Research and Oncology Clinic (VROC) at UT Southwestern Medical Center. They offer clinical trials focused on cancer in dogs, which could be a option for us—potentially reducing treatment costs. The catch? The clinic is 3.5 hours away. We do have a consult scheduled with them tomorrow at 11:00 AM (road trip 🚗💨) to learn more and see if any of their trials might be a good fit.
This weekend was one of the most positive I’ve had since the diagnosis. I actually don’t think I cried at all—which is saying a lot. Maybe it’s the deep connection Dior and I have, or maybe it’s the fact that he’s still so full of life that it’s helping carry me through. I’m holding on to that energy with everything I’ve got.
We’ve been trying to limit his activity, but that’s easier said than done. Every time I grab my shoes or keys, both dogs immediately perk up ready to go—and it breaks my heart to leave Dior behind. We’re just trying to be as cautious as we can with his leg right now.
If I let my thoughts run too far ahead, the anxiety creeps in. I feel like this surgery is taking longer than it should, and I worry we’re wasting precious time. But I keep reminding myself—everything is happening in its perfect timing. I truly believe that.
Because I work from home, I’ll be able to care for Dior post-op while still running Dymond’s Co. So yes, we are still selling jammies in the shop, and every order helps more than you know.
We also started an Instagram group chat for everyone who’s purchased a “Help Dior Fight Cancer” tee. If you ordered one and didn’t get an email, please check your spam or message me and I’ll get you added in. It’s been such a sweet way to stay connected and share encouragement and photos.
If all goes according to plan, chemotherapy will start the day after surgery. The immunotherapy vaccine (made from Dior’s own tumor cells) is overnighted to the lab the same day as his surgery. So everything is upfront—and we’re estimating it’ll be about $8,500 to $9,000 total.
That will likely be our final major expense in this journey, and it’s the next big mountain we’re climbing.
Thank you again—truly—for every prayer, message, gift, shirt purchase, and share. Your support has carried me through more than you know. I couldn’t be more grateful to have this kind of love surrounding us.
Evening Update
We received the itemized estimates from Main Street Vet.
The surgery alone is estimated between $2,800–$4,000, and the additional cost for chemotherapy and immunotherapy brings the total to just over $9,000. That includes all pre- and post-op care, six rounds of chemo, and the Ardent cancer vaccine made from Dior’s tumor.
And as much as I want to say this feels like a relief after hearing $21,000 just a few weeks ago… it still feels impossibly heavy. Main Street doesn’t offer payment plans, and the full amount is due up front.
Right now, we’ve got less than half of what we need to make this happen.
I know in my heart this is the right path. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t overwhelmed. We’re so close—but we still have a long way to go. Every share, every message, every donation truly matters more than I can explain.
We have one last appointment in Dallas, TX tomorrow morning and by the evening, we will have to make our final decision and schedule the surgery.
Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart,
— Haley, Dior & Family 🐾
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