Frankie’s Friends Joshua Louis Animal Cancer Fund helped Chanel receive radiation.
“I am a third-year medical student at the University of Missouri School of Medicine. I am writing to share a little about my cat, Chanel, and how much she means to me as we navigate her recent cancer diagnosis.
Chanel is a four-year-old Cornish Rex and truly the sweetest cat I could ever ask for. We often call her “Nell” for short. She is incredibly affectionate and loves to be held like a baby, usually falling asleep in my arms while I study. She is very vocal and not afraid to let you know when she wants food or when she wants attention. She loves laying in the sun, making biscuits wrapped up in her heated blanket, and watching the birds through the window. She follows me from room to room, insists on sitting beside me while I study, and curls up in my arms every night when I go to sleep. She is playful, curious, a little bit sassy, and endlessly loving. She has a way of making even the hardest days feel a little lighter.
Chanel has been by my side since the end of college, and she has been present through some of the most important and difficult moments of my life. She was there during the long months studying for the MCAT, through my gap year working as an emergency department technician, and now through the demanding years of medical school. She has curled up next to me through countless late nights studying for exams, including my Step 1 board exams, and she has been there through the long and often exhausting days of clinical rotations. Even now, as I prepare to study for Step 2, she is still right beside me while I work. Medical training can be incredibly demanding and emotionally draining, and there have been many nights when I came home overwhelmed or discouraged. Chanel has always been there waiting for me, ready to curl up beside me, make me laugh, and remind me to take a breath.
My husband is also a medical student, and Chanel has truly been our little source of comfort throughout this entire journey. During long nights of studying, stressful exams, and the uncertainty that comes with training in medicine, she has been a constant source of joy and stability in our home.
Recently, Chanel was diagnosed with nasal lymphoma. We are currently pursuing radiation therapy because this type of cancer can respond well to treatment and offers the best chance of giving her more time, especially given how young she is at only four years old. Unfortunately, the cost of radiation therapy is expected to be around $10,000 or more. As medical students living primarily on loans, this is a very difficult financial burden for us to manage.
Chanel is not just a pet to me, she is family. I often think of her as my little cat daughter. She has been my companion, my comfort, and a constant source of support through some of the most challenging years of my life. The thought of losing her so young is incredibly difficult, and I am doing everything I can to give her the chance to stay with us longer.
Any support that would help us move forward with her radiation treatment would mean more to me than I can adequately express. It would give this sweet little cat the chance to continue bringing joy to our lives and more time with the people who love her.
Thank you sincerely for taking the time to read about Chanel and for considering support for her care. It means so much to know that there are people willing to help give her that chance.”
