Steve, Riley is a very lucky boy to have you. It is clear how much you love him. As others have written, I hope you can keep Riley because the affection of a Yorkie is good for you.

You are in no way a failure to him. This weather has made it impossible for many able-body Yorkie families across the country to carry on with a normal life. I feel guilty that my boys are cooped up inside, but we make up for it with lots of loving. They are fulfilled with togetherness.

Praying for you and your little guy for the best for both of you.

hi steve,
I'm in NYC(upper east side)
If there's anything I can help, please let me know.
I don't know exactly how far you are from my location, but i can try to visit you to give him once a day long walk & play time or I can foster him couple of day a week, so he can have some play time with my guys.
I'm here for you, so let me know.
Be strong for yourself & riley
xoxo

Pawever, it's great to see someone closer offer to lend a hand. I offered also and am about 50 miles south.
Steve, your outlook can mean a world of difference, you have to believe you are going to beat this, for yourself and Riley. I'm a nurse and have looked at the statistics for the 5 yr survivor rates. The chemo maybe getting you down, at present, but even these rates, which are not bad, are at least 5yrs old.
My niece, in her 30s, was diagnosed with abdominal cancer, she has the best attitude in the world-is a single mother to a 9 yr old. She lost her hair during chemo, had some really, really bad days and some bad blood work which delayed some of her chemo treatments and she brought a bright blue wig to wear. She finished chemo and is now testing negative.
So, Steve, you've gotta have high hopes. We wish you the best and are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.

Bless you for offering to help them

You guys are all amazing, offering so much support to Steve. I hope he is able to take up some of you on the babysitting etc. Has anybody given him any info on fosters in the area? Would fosters take a healthy pup while it's owner was in treatment or do they usually just take the sick ones? It would be a good thing because then if Steve decides he isn't up to it after treatment, the foster would be in a position to help him get Riley adopted. I don't know if he needs any $ to help offset what he paid for Riley to use for his own treatment. (I doubt the breeder would return any funds.)

Best wishes to Steve. Keep a good thought Steve, it will get better when your treatments end and spring is around the corner. This winter is getting all of us down and is probably making your problems seem even worse. There is light at the end of the tunnel....really!

I think riley was put with you for a reason. He is to be your support system and then when you are better you will be his. Dogs don't care if you are sick or well, they just love you. He is your light. Let others help with Riley, but most importantly. let Riley help you. That's why he is there..

What a great person you are, I wish I were closer.

I truly think you found Riley or he found you, when it happened for a reason. I do believe in fate, because I believe that is how Gizmo came to me.
One of my doctors had been after me forever to get a service dog, as I was just depressed and not very motivated to help myself. Then one day I heard about this little yorkie puppy who was being starved to try and make him a tiny or micro, so this backyard breeder could sell it for more money. Well I reacted out of my love of animals and rushed to go rescue him as fast as I could, by the time I got to the vets within 20 mins. He had went into a hypoglycemic coma from absolutely no blood sugar in his body. The vet told me he would have died within an hour had I not reacted so quickly. Everything looked very bleak for Gizmo and the vet said not to expect him to live through the night. Well I stayed up for around 36 hours straight, giving him glucose treatments every hour. Well that vet was wrong :-) he woke up after about 24 hours but it still took another 12 hours for him to sit, wobbly as it was lol, but now he is 8 months old and weighs a healthy 5 lbs., he's come a long way from his former tiny starved self that was 1 lb 4 Ozs at 9 wks :-)

I guess my point was to show, we get what we need when we need it, and since I was refusing to get a service dog, fate knew my heart and how to get me what I needed XOXO.

I believe you found your Riley when you did, because fate knew you were getting ready to face a battle, and you would need someone to fight tat battle with, that is where Riley came to you, to help you.

As a paraplegic, I see many doctors every month, and Gizmo has to stay in his pen while I'm gone. He's well adjusted to it now, and he's actually at times made it easier for me to play, when he knows I have bad pain. It's like he's adjusted to my disability and is the love of my life :-) right now I am laying on the couch with heat on my back, and Gizmo is right beside me trying to lick my iPad lol. My Dr was right, even though I didn't know it then, Gizmo has rescued me :-) and at first to think, I thought I had rescued him hahaha.

Our walks are not to long but he enjoys them just the same. I try to let him take his time so they seem longer to him :-) and I can still do them. It's really amazing how smart these little yorkies are as they adjust to your needs and work things all out. I can't even tell you the change he's made to me mentally, and I'm not sure if its because of Gizmo, but since I've had him, I have not been hospitalized or had not one infection since he's been here, where before he came I had at least one or two infections per month, and often would go septic ending up in the hospital from them. I'm sure my infectious disease Dr is wondering what happened to me, as he used to see me constantly lol. It is truly a miracle how healing it has been for me. Like I said before, I'm still. Paraplegic and always will be, but I guess you could say I'm just a much happier, and weirdly a much healthier one now :-)

I'm keeping you and Riley in my prayers Steve xoxo, I truly believe you, Riley and all of us here can help you fight this most difficult battle you are going through. Just think of us as your war room, and all these yorkies as your warriors with Riley leading the fight !!!!!

Thank you, but we're all here to support OP.:)
I just happened to be close to him.
Whatever OP decides to do, hope it will work out for both him & little guy.

I knew there'd be a fellow yorkie lover in NYC that could help Steve out!!

The level of generosity and support here never ceases to amaze me!! I am so glad to see that Steve at least has some options now.

Steve, I don't know if anyone has mentioned Care Credit to you, but it's pretty much a credit card for health services. People here have used it for their pets when they were having trouble paying for their vet bills, but it's also good for humans. I don't know much about it, but it may be another avenue to check into to see if it can help you with any medical expenses you may have trouble covering.

Keeping you and Riley in my prayers!!

Just a little bump up to say good morning, Steve.

Ditto...just checking in on you Steve...and your buddy Riley! :)

Sending prayers and warm thoughts to Steve and Riley today.

does anyone know how they are doing?
I'm worried...

Steve just checking in to see how you and Riley are doing. I hope you are doing as well as can be expected, with going through your treatments. Just wanted you to know I have been keeping you as Riley in my thoughts and prayers. XOXO