Ripple's Legacy-Your Donation Lets Her Live On

  

Why This Year’s Give For Good Is Extra Special- Ripple’s Story

This year, I’m going all out to raise more than ever—because I’m doing it for Ripple.

In early April, Ripple’s health suddenly took a turn. Over the next two months, she was in and out of emergency clinics, specialists, and Purdue University, where she was diagnosed with a rare but benign kidney mass that required surgery to remove her kidney and ureter. During testing, a nodule was found on her mediastinum, with possible involvement in her right middle lobe—an area where cancer loves to hide.   That nodule was definitively diagnosed as Histiocytic Sarcoma (Histio)—the cancer that has taken four of my other Berners…the cancer that takes far too many beautiful Berners at an incredibly young age.  I have had two now that Histio has struck at just barely six…in fact Ripple wasn’t even six when I received that fateful news.  For now, Ripple is doing incredibly well, but after losing four of my beloved Berners to the same kind of cancer, I know how precious this time is.  There is no cure for this cancer...there isn't even any type of remission.

Ripple is more than just my dog—she’s the heart of our program at Mary & Elizabeth Hospital where she comforts staff, patients and families in their hardest moments.  She is the one who makes students and staff smile at Iroquois High School, and brings light wherever she goes. I want her to go out on top—with Give for Good 2025 being her biggest celebration yet!

WAGS isn't just an organization I’m involved with - it's a vital part of my life and support system. It is a family with the bonds that have been formed and the impact it has had on my life. It provided an invaluable support network whose members stood by me during the darkest days of Ripple’s illnesses and equally important they shared in my happiness and celebrated when they learned Ripple was doing better.

Please won’t you consider making a donation to WAGS through Give For Good? Even the smallest donation will help us help many.  The funds we raise go to training our members, readying our Ambassador Teams for evaluation and onto visiting in the community.   We do not charge any facility when we provide WAGS Teams for Special Events or to visit on a regular basis.  Our goal is to reach additional people and their animals who might not have the financial means to go from joining, through training, evaluating and out serving the needs of our community.    It would mean the world to me to know that Ripple’s legacy will live on through the amount of donations we can receive.   WAGS receives so many requests for visiting teams who visit facilities regularly as well as Special Events which occur out into the community and shows the power of pet therapy.

Where Your Support Goes

Every dollar raised helps us:

• Train and equip new therapy teams
• Support hospital, school, senior care, and airport visits
• Expand to meet the growing demand for comfort and care

Ripple won't be with us long enough to complete her work here on earth. However, your donation will allow for the training of new WAGS Ambassador Teams to pick up her mantle and bring love, comfort and joy to those who desperately need it.

https://youtu.be/otn6oCLdQR4

Thank you,

Patti & Ripple

#RippleStrong, #GiveForGood2025, #RippleLegacy

Ripple with Lacey Bradley Buchanan at Mary & Elizabeth Hospital