Team USA Gymnastics Dog Battles Mysterious Illness
A USA gymnastic golden retriever, Beacon, known for his inspiring presence at gymnastic events and his comforting nature, is battling with a mysterious illness leaving countless people worldwide campaigning to cover his exorbitant veterinary bills so he can attend the 2028 Olympics.
Beacon’s owner, Tracey Callahan Molnar, shared the initial news of the dog’s health struggles on September 4th in a heartfelt Instagram post.
“This is an incredibly difficult post to make,” Molnar wrote. “I’ve decided to share this now because Beacon has 50k+ followers and I know that can mean 50k+ people sending him wishes for healing and good health.”
Molnar went on to explain that the dog had been exhibiting concerning symptoms, including stiffness, labored breathing, and fever, which did not respond to initial treatments, leading to his admission into an emergency pet hospital. A diagnosis revealed fluid in Beacon’s chest cavity and a high fever, prompting a swift transfer to another specialized emergency hospital.
“x-rays yesterday showed fluid in his chest cavity which was at least in part the reason for the labored breathing. the high fever was of great concern to his veterinarian. the recommendation was to transport him to an emergency hospital with specialists who could diagnose and begin to treat him,” Molnar explained.
As Beacon underwent a series of tests and procedures, Molnar kept supporters updated through frequent posts. The community responded with an outpouring of love, prayers, and donations to the GoFundMe campaign set up by a family friend, Jacqueline Fealy, to help cover the exorbitant veterinary bills.
Molnar expressed her gratitude for the immense support writing: “During our visits, i read messages to beacon from the autograph book that milli, a rhythmic gymnast so kindly gave beacon. it is filled with messages from many of you that have written to beacon at competitions over the past year.”
“I also read the comments from you that have been posted on instagram. please know that your comments mean so much to me and i really want beacon to hear them as well. i want him to know how loved he is by so many. thank you also for your incredible generosity in donating to beacon’s gofundme. you are helping give this special boy a fighting chance.”
However, despite numerous tests and procedures, including multiple procedures to drain fluid from his chest cavity and a biopsy of the lung tissue to investigate potential abnormalities identified on a CT scan, a definitive diagnosis has remained elusive.
It was initially suspected that Beacon had mesothelioma, a rare cancer often associated with asbestos exposure. However, after undergoing the biopsy, the results showed no signs of cancer. ” I am happy to share that the biopsy results from beacon’s lung tissue showed NO SIGNS OF CANCER,” Molnar shared.
While this news was a relief, it also presented new challenges as veterinarians continued to search for a definitive diagnosis.
“Finding out it’s not only NOT mesothelioma, but NOT cancer of any kind is reassuring on one hand but still scary because they still don’t have a definitive diagnosis,” Molnar explained.
To investigate further, his veterinarians drew more blood and collected fluid from his chest cavity for additional testing. They are also consulting with a network of veterinary specialists to get a broader perspective on his case.
Beacon is currently being treated with medication to manage his symptoms and prevent fluid buildup in his chest cavity. His owner is hopeful that the ongoing tests will provide answers and lead to a successful treatment plan.
“The results from this latest testing should take 1-3 weeks which creates a difficult waiting game,” shared Molnar. “My hope is not only to find answers but also a course of treatment that will not take a drastic toll and help return our beacon to the bright light he’s been for me and so many others.”
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