As we wait on more news about Lily, I keep going back to all the love and support you guys showed when Bailey passed suddenly – this morning especially as we retraced her final walk with Bixby for the first time. Just your kind thoughts made that time easier.
John was especially supportive during that time. I want to do something to make sure John only has to focus on Lily and getting her well. So…
I have not cleared this with John. He may well disapprove. But I suspect Lily’s treatment is going to be very expensive. And while he’s busy at the hospital, I’m hoping I can sneak this through…
Maybe it’s time to throw some pennies at the PayPal donation link if you can. If John doesn’t need it, I’m sure the money raised can go to blog improvements and/or an animal charity. But it does look like Immune-Mediated Thrombocytopenia can be expensive to treat.
Anyway, let’s show our host some love.
Sending good thoughts to Lily and John.
(and if you don’t hear from me again, you know I’ve been permanently banned for overstepping, just know it was worth it)
Sarah in Kingston
Done
Marcelo Teson
I mainly lurk here, but I actually met John at a BJ meetup in Austin and he was as kind and wonderful a guy as I’ve ever met (and I’m fairly obnoxious so I know his patience is incredible). This is the easiest donation ask ever. Done.
satby
Good thinking! Thanks TaMara!
Chris in Denver
I’m also a lurker, but like Marcelo said, easiest donation ask ever. We have two cats and one went through a pretty serious surgery recently, so I can relate to what John’s going through with Lily.
Mary G
I was just thinking of hitting the PayPal link, so I did. Thanks for suggesting it.
ETA: O/T, but the dream is alive!
Zoey2020
Thank you for doing this. Love this place! I have the Balloon Juice calendar on my wall to remind me that we are more than people. Far more.
erlking
Done.
LAO
Done.
Rand Careaga
I”m in.
Percysowner
Done. Thanks for doing this. I hope this helps Lily get through this.
Zelma
Done. This is my home on the internet. You should remind us to support it more often.
The Red Pen
I cried when Tunch died.I’m going to cry if something bad happens to Lily.
I don’t even know these critters. It’s remarkable how endearing John’s pets are.
Geeno
Done. John’s only concern right now should be Lily.
rikyrah
@Mary G:
In Texas….
TEXAS!!!
Thad
I’m in. Considering all the years of enjoyment
I’ve gotten from this blog, it’s the least I can
do.
rikyrah
@The Red Pen:
I did too, and Tunch terrified me.
Tearing up at the possibility.
I know. Never had a pet other than fish. But, I think I know Cole’s pets.
HeleninEire
Fucking PayPal is kicking my butt.
It may be my internet connection. I’ll do it tonight from my home internet.
CarolDuhart2
You were so generous with my GoFundMe for my cat and my retirement, I had to give. Not a lot, but every nickle helps.
Even routine vet care costs these days, and emergencies doubtless cost way more. Even if John never mentions it, he could use the extra money-and I don’t care what for-Lily’s boarding, his hotel room, whatever.
Phylllis
I don’t think I’ve commented in awhile, but I’m here lurking daily. Happy to chip in my mite, as John, Lilly, and the whole Hee Haw gang here are family.
Cckids
In, just for a pittance for now, but there are lots of us, it will add up.
I’m with everyone remarking on how engaged we are with John’s pets (all the front pagers, really). In the past 14 months, I’ve lost my sweet Pixie (a Pom), and my kitty marmalade bros, Olivander & Gryff. Too much loss.
Lily needs to get better, if at all possible.
Kevin the Hen
Done, didn’t have to think twice. Long overdue anyway.
stinger
Done. Thanks for the reminder.
JPL
Thanks Tamara, and I’ll break my don’t use paypal rule.
TaMara (HFG)
@Cckids: Oh, I’m so sorry. That’s too much in such a short amount of time. [[hugs]]
pnwjmk
Done. Sending good thoughts to Lily and John
MisterForkbeard
I’m in. It’s WAY past time for me to donate anyway, considering all the time I spend here.
Ocean dude
Done. Ditto what MisterForkbeard said.
Paul W.
Ugh, this is not a good week for beloved pets.
My partner just had to put down her beloved cat who has stood by her through a ton of very overwhelming changes in her life (including multiple moves from state to state and job changes), and he never showed a moment of pain but was rapidly losing weight the last few months. His xrays came back with some very scary stuff and when we took him home to have what we hoped were a few days with him his breathing became very difficult and we had to get a service to come to her apt. in New York and put the little guy to sleep.
He was so brave and hopped right up on the couch as the woman walked in, like he was ready. All in all it has been very trying for me who just met him and love him but she is just heartbroken and utterly devastated.
All of which is a long story for why I can’t chip in at this moment, our own pet woes are a little much but I will look to do something down the line for this blog and it’s host (where I stop by multiple times a day).
satby
@Cckids: oh so sorry to hear that! Deepest condolences, you really have had so much loss over these last few years, first with your son and now with the fur kids. No words can express how sorry I am.
coredump
Lurker since 2006. In for a little.
Jane2
Done…only wish it could be more.
TaMara (HFG)
@Paul W.: [[hugs]] – I’m so sorry you didn’t get as much time with him as you both hoped. It’s always tough.
Death Panel Truck
Pet hospital bills can be pretty high. It cost us $1,400 to have a chicken drumstick removed from our older cocker spaniel’s stomach. We took him in at 7:30 p.m., and by 11 he was outside the hospital peeing and trying to bolt out into the sagebrush. That was 10 years ago, and he’s still with us and as rambunctious as ever. I’m glad Cole’s found a good hospital. Lily will be okay.
low-tech cyclist
I’ve been hanging around this loony-bin for a decade or so, and I’ve derived more than a few shekels of enjoyment from it. Happy to give back. With thoughts and prayers for Lily.
Kristine
Deepest sympathies to all who’ve had to say goodbye to beloved pets. This place is special because you all understand that ache. Not everyone does.
Also threw some in the hat for Lily.
satby
@Paul W.: Condolences to you and your partner Paul. Letting them go gently after a lifetime of love is the best gift we can give them.
Jane2
@Paul W.: Condolences to you both….such sadness when a furry family member goes to the Bridge.
CTVoter
Lurker. Been following here for 10 years or more. Easiest donation, ever.
Jane2
@Cckids: Condolences on multiple losses – such a hole in your heart.
Paul W.
@Paul W.: Oh god, I forgot to share his name. It was Fronk.
Or puff puff, or poopsicle, or orange monster, or puppah, or … you get the idea. He was very fond of nicknames.
dexwood
I’m in.
debit
You did the right thing, TaMara. I know John isn’t shy about asking for help when it’s needed (he had to twist my arm about it for Walter’s transport) but he has other things to think of right now.
zhena gogolia
I don’t do PayPal, but I’ll send a check. Thanks to the great calendar enterprise, I have the address.
JPL
Hopefully John will let us know if he needs more.
Wolvesvalley
Thanks, Tamara! I’m in, too.
WaterGirl
Can we get a thermometer or something that will show us how much we’ve raised?
MisterForkbeard
I’m taking my cat Thule (Well, Cthulhu, actually) that I’ve had for 15 years or so into the vet today for blood work. Her thyroid has been acting up again, and today’s when we do the test to see if the medication if working. Crossing fingers, but I don’t expect to see anything bad – she’s been an active and loud kitty for the last few weeks.
Ann Marie
Good idea, Tamara. I’m in. If more is needed, please let us know. Lily is a treasure.
WaterGirl
@JPL: I broke my don’t use PayPal rule, too. Only for John! And Lily.
I couldn’t find a place to add a note to my donation, darn it!
WaterGirl
@Cckids: Oh my gosh, I would be rocking in the corner. I’m so sorry.
A few years ago I lost 3 beloved dogs, one was mine and two had lived with me for awhile. Too much loss. I feel for you.
Felanius Kootea
Done. I hope Lily gets better soon.
notoriousJRT
I’m in. Get well soon, Lily!
shirk
Another mainly-lurker here, giving back just a little relative to how much BJ, John, and Lily have become part of my life over the years… Thanks for the encouragement.
Nicole
You’re a good egg, Tamara.
I posted last week I had to have my elderly horse put down- this morning I got word that the gelding my friend rescued from the same stable where I took my boy had to be put down, due to colic (colic; mostly annoying for human babies, often fatal in horses). So I think the pet gods have collected enough good souls recently and Lily will be just fine.
(My friend’s horse was also up in years, and had had an excellent retirement, surrounded by mares and pretending he was still a stallion, so while we grieve, we also celebrate).
Another Scott
Done.
Hang in there, everyone.
Cheers,
Scott.
ixnay
Mr. Ixnay braved paypal to kick in (I am on a kindle and the task was beyond me). Lily, please keep on keepin’ on!
BarbaraG
I’m in. Lurker here — my 8 kitties and I are all rooting for John and Lily.
Tinare
As some upstream noted I am far overdue for a donation to the blog, so if John gets peeved, tough.
retr2327
I’m in. I say goodbye to my two pups every morning before I go to work, and they sleep curled up against me every night. Can’t imagine losing them. (thankfully, they’re Chihuahuas, so a long life, relatively speaking, is a reasonable expectation).
beckya57
FYI I had to switch from mobile to desktop version to find the Paypal link. Hope Lily gets better very soon.
Skepticat
Having pets is worth the agony of losing them, but that pain is indeed excruciating. Let’s hope sweet Lily spares us that for a long while..
beckya57
@The Red Pen: I cried my eyes out when Tbogg’s Satchmo (basset) died.
nelson
Done. Thanks for the suggestion TaMara.
get well Lilly!
Tom Levenson
Done.
This is an easy one.
Joe Miller
Done. Get better, Lily!
Aleta
Done, and thanks. Hope you can explain that it’s for us.
raven
This is fun because we don’t get a running count like gofundme.
Jill
Done. With love.
retr2327
For what it’s worth, my PayPal receipt has a notation under “Instructions to merchant” stating “You haven’t entered any instructions.” So that suggests that there was some place where an appropriate “instruction” (e.g., hug Lily for me) could have been entered, though I didn’t notice it.
DarbysMom
I’m in on the puppy-love fund. Been lurking for over a year and can’t get through a day without checking in here at least once, so I’m overdue. Positive vibes to John and Lily.
eclare
Done.
Mingobat (f/k/a Karen in GA)
Iggy and Muppet are healthy and only 6 and 4 years old, and Mr. Mingobat and I are already dreading the day when we’ll have to make the decision to let them go. Kicking in so John can focus on delaying that day for Lily.
Chris
Lurker from NC since 08…but this is my online home. Its so weird how all these people I have never met loom so large in my cyber life…..I wont mention any regulars’ names so as not to creep them out..but I’ve assigned all you guys a “persona”. I’m sure I’m not alone. Thanks John G Cole…this is the least I can do. If you dont need it..give it to another pet owner…or to Alain…or for some of that high end italian tuna in oil for Steve…
Ida Slapter
Mission Accomplished. I should have done this years ago for all the time I have spent here.
This place is my blog home. I enjoy the diverse writings of all the front pagers. I’m genuinely interested in their lives, and in yours, fellow Juicers. Until this very moment, I have been a lurker extraordinaire, having never commented on any blog, let alone BJ. Don’t know how much I will continue to comment, but poor Lily’s crisis has drawn me out of the shadows at last so I’ll also use this chance to tell you how much I value all of you.
Sending peace, love and good vibes to John and Lily, and to all Juicers and their pets everywhere from me and my cat Zeus.
locagirl
On it!
Seanly
Done. I wished Lily well on twitter. I didn’t say it there but I had a beloved dog that went through several autoimmune issues with her liver & some other organs. The bills weren’t the issue (though not something I like) but just that we found we were playing whack a mole with all these issues. One would get seemingly taken care of and then a week later another organ seemed to be failing. We made the very tough decision to put her down. It still gets me teary eyed thinking about my sweet queen Ginnie and her boy Duncan. While I have two other dogs now I still miss those 2 so much.
Cckids
@satby: Thank you! It was such a blizzard of loss & change, with the vile election in the middle. I feel like I just put my head down & endured, and am only now starting to engage again. Holding on to my last fur baby Hermione, long may she reign. So bad news about “our” virtual pets gets to me.
Matt Smith
Done. Thanks for doing this, TaMara. Like many others have said already: I mostly lurk, never contribute, rarely even express appreciation. But BJ is among the 3 pages I like well enough to read every post, every day. Happy to get a chance to show some love.
mvr
Good idea. Thanks for doing this!
Cckids
@Jane2: @WaterGirl:
Thank you ☺️
Libraryguy
I’m in. You are some of the most giving and pet-wise people I know, especially John.
James Powell
Done. John’s a mensch.
Ruckus
@Phylllis:
Family
A simple idea, I wonder how many of us are like me, family is gone, one cousin lives in the same state, this place really is family.
efgoldman
Pay Pal and I don’t play well in the sandbox. Alternate method of contributing?
TaMara (HFG)
@efgoldman: Maybe one of the calendar recipients can give you the PO Box they used?
satby
@Ruckus: I am, and I expect many more of us are too.
Garbo
Done.
cleek
i’m in
jl
I’ve made a few contributions before, but this is the first time I noticed that the ‘G’ in Cole’s name stands for ‘Griffin’.
That’s worth all the contributions right there.
Who says this is not a full service blog?
WaterGirl
@efgoldman: When I clicked clicked the PayPal link it is give me an option to pay by credit card instead. Maybe try that?
Zippity
Done. Sending positive thoughts for dear Lily and John.
MazeDancer
Hope John assumes everything sent today is for Lily. May she have swift and full healing.
@efgoldman: If you bought a pet calendar, and emailed John at his final count, the return email he sent you had his full address. (Not sure if he wants that posted on site)
Auntie Anne
Long-time lurker, seldom commenter, but frequent reader. I had to chip in. Thanks for thinking of this. Good thoughts being sent John and Lily’s way!
JPL
@WaterGirl: That’s what I did. I didn’t have to set up an account.
woodrowfan
DONE!!!! I’m going to go hug my 3 dogs now….
Chris
Done. So very happy to be able to help. I’m a looong time daily reader of this blog (I remember when John adopted Lily). Although I rarely comment, I still feel like a part of this community. Sending all kinds of good thoughts for sweet Lily.
middlelee
Done. Thanks TaMara.
J R in WV
“high end italian tuna in oil for Steve…”
Say WHAT?!!! for the cat STEVE????
I kicked in for Lily, but don’t you spend a nickel on Italian tuna… well, at least not way much. Oh, Hell, spend all you want, Steve deserves a treat.
I’m in for more later on, too, but I’ve been donating to politicians for the last several months. I donated to Tammy Duckworth the very first time she ran, years ago, and now look at her!!! A Senatorial Mother!!!
Best of luck, John!!!
stinger
@JPL: That’s how I did it, too. Used the PayPal link but actually paid via debit card.
Dog Mom
Put a tiny bit into the pot – got three doggies of my own to medicate.
Stardus614
Done, for sweet Lily and soft-hearted Cole.
eclare
@satby: We need to start a Golden Girls club (also open to men), no family to speak of, parents deceased, only child here. Dogs and cats welcome!
Di
Long time mostly lurker, but I come out for the animals.
Today is the twelfth anniversary of the day I brought my little cat home from the shelter. She was six and the best girl ever. She died almost two years ago. I still miss her like crazy. Here’s to many, many more years for John and Lily.
rikyrah
Missouri’s Governor files restraining order against Attorney General ??
https://twitter.com/ZavalaA/status/986713550541369349?s=19
Haroldo
Pretty much a lurker here, too.
Thanks, TaMara, for arranging all this – it was just the encouragement I needed. Mz Lily deserves the best.
arrieve
Thanks for doing this TaMara. What everyone said. I remember when John brought Lily home from the shelter and I’ve loved all his pictures and stories ever since. Glad to contribute.
baquist
Thanks Tamara. John, Lily and the menagerie are family. Even my non-blog reading family know about ‘awisi Tunch’ (Tunch’s dad in my husband’s language). Late to the party, but I put my 5 cents in with a heartfelt prayer for them all.
satby
The best part of threads like this? Meeting the quieter members of the jackal clan, the ones who lurk but never comment. You all are family too.
Anotherlurker
Mazeltov!
My pup Buddy and I are happy to help, in our own small way.
I hope Lilly heals quickly and completely.
The Very Reverend Crimson Fire of Compassion
Cole, you and your babies are a gift to us all. Here’s some love. God knows you’ve given us plenty of yours.
smedley the uncertain
Done. For all John and his pals have given me…
DianeB
Done.
Steeplejack (phone)
@satby:
Well said.
Jon Gallagher
Done
EzraRulz
Wishing Lily and you healing thoughts! I gave in memory of Ezra, who made an early calendar appearance. Many thanks for being a respite in the maelstrom, so needed.
Tazj
For keeping me somewhat sane in these crazy times and added thanks for the animal and travel pictures. Like everyone else here I know how expensive vet bills are.
sukabi
@rikyrah: IANAL, but pretty sure you can’t stop an investigation of criminal activity with a restraining order.
TaMara (HFG)
THANK YOU everyone!
RedDirtGirl
I don’t have paypal yet, but I’m getting it soon and will be able to chip in a little. This post really pulled a lot of lurkers out of the woodwork! So happy to be here.
YetAnotherLurker
Long time lurker chipping in, too. This is one of the few blogs I still bother to read – great contributors all around, and there’s nothing quite like a Cole rant. And when the politics gets depressing, there are always the awesome pet stories and photos.
Don’t hesitate to put up another post if more is needed!
Johannes
We’rein, on behalf of la Caterina and myself