I don’t think it’s any secret that we are dog people here at The Loyal Cup. Dogs have always been a huge part of our lives, and our three dogs were of course the inspiration behind our branding. After one of our dogs, Aja, began experiencing unusual symptoms, we brought her in to a specialist. The amazing team at Coastal Veterinary Oncology in Savannah, GA discovered cancer that had manifested inside Aja’s nose. Unfortunately, the size and location of the mass meant that surgery was one of the only viable options.

We elected to go through with the surgery, which involved removing the mass inside her nose and ultimately reshaping her nose. The surgery was definitely a lot for us to take on, but our sweet Aja is as strong as they come! Aja made a full recovery and was back to her pre-cancer self before we knew it, ready to run around and enjoy her walks again!

Unfortunately, cancer is unpredictable. Not long after celebrating her recovery, we learned that the cancer had spread to one of Aja’s lymph nodes. This time, the mass grew quickly and once again required surgery. In mid-January, Aja had the lymph node removed by the wonderful team at Lowcountry Vets and is, once again, making a swift recovery!

Aja after her first surgery (nasal reconstruction & tumor removal)

The next steps for Aja will involve at least one round of chemotherapy and monthly rounds of similar drugs. Given the financial strains of Aja’s journey back to health, we considered creating a crowdfunding option, such as a GoFundMe. However, we realized that this could be a great opportunity to combine our coffee story, this amazing community, and Aja’s road to recovery. Thus, Aja’s Blend came to life!

Every bag purchased directly supports Aja’s ongoing cancer treatment and recovery, while also allowing us to share a coffee that represents resilience, warmth, and love.

We are endlessly grateful for the support, kindness, and encouragement we’ve received throughout this journey. Whether you purchase a bag, share our story, or simply keep Aja in your thoughts, thank you for being part of her fight!

Authors: Michael, Katie, & Aja <3