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tessa

@theelifeofso

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bags packed and off to adventures!
🐶: @raidenrolypoly

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Quick Raiden update ❤️

After four months of chemo, countless oncology visits, and one of the scariest chapters of our lives…

Raiden is officially in remission. 🥹❤️🐾

When he was diagnosed with suspected late-stage T-cell lymphoma in April, we chose to move forward with the CHOP chemotherapy protocol. I knew I wanted to give him every chance I could. So incredibly grateful for his medical team @mspca.angell for all their attentive care, love, and spoiling of this big baby during this time. And everyone who kept Raiden in their thoughts —this little nugget was raised by a village.

A bit of personal experience: thank goodness we had pet insurance.

I’ve had Raiden insured since he was 3 months old. It started as a $24/month policy that I paid for year after year, hoping I’d never really need it.

Since 2020, I’ve paid roughly $3,500 in insurance premiums.

Between his CCL surgery, cancer treatment and other major medical care, his bills have now totaled over $25,000.

$3,500 vs. $25,000+.

This isn’t an ad, and every pet and policy is different. It’s simply our experience—and a reminder to consider insurance while your babies are young and healthy.

For years, I wondered if I was paying for something we’d never need. Looking back now, I’m so grateful I never canceled it.

Because when I heard the word cancer, I already had enough to worry about. How I was going to afford giving him a chance to fight it didn’t have to be one of them.

And now, four months later, that little puppy I insured all those years ago is almost 8…

and officially in remission. ❤️

(last video was when he was first admitted into the ER before he was diagnosed)

#raidenrolypoly #remission #cancer #lymphoma #explorepage

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Here’s an ok pic of me performing at the August Moon Festival in Chinatown, and if you scroll over to the next slide, an insane pic of my Big Sistah @theelifeofso flying in to dispense divine justice like a frikkin’ Wuxia heroine!
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I was first inspired to do practice Kung Fu after seeing a demo like this, so participating in @wahlumboston performances is a special honor and a privilege for me.

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@wahlumboston Demo Team from 6/27/26.
I’m the tall hairy kid in the back row.
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#kungfu #wahlumkungfu #boston #chinatownboston #liondance

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Happy Gotcha Day, my little nugget! 🥺❤️ 7 years since the day you hopped into my lap and never left. 7 years of boundless adventures, the first “child” of our friend group, countless tears you’ve soaked up in your fur, hugs you’ve given, and always my baby forever ❤️

#raidenrolypoly #lymphoma #explorepage

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Week 2 of chemo is underway 🥺 Raiden is in good spirits, colitis is managed and his gut is healing. Very hungry boy at the moment, but energy is returning and his demands are more pointed now 😅

#raidenrolypoly #dogsofinstagram #dogs #explorepage #lymphoma

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Long caption and a vulnerable moment, but here we go…

I honestly never thought I’d be writing something like this.

About two weeks ago, Raiden just stopped eating. At first it was subtle—picky, walking away from food—but then it turned into nothing at all. I tried everything. Cooking his meals, buying different foods, hand feeding him, treats he’s always loved… nothing worked. In a week and a half he lost 10 pounds. My house hippo turned into skin and bones so fast it didn’t even feel real.

We thought it was just stomach stuff. GI upset, nausea. We got meds, appetite stimulants… still nothing. Then came the colitis, more vet visits, more stress, more begging him to just eat. But he just kept getting smaller. Eventually I had to take him to the ER because something wasn’t right.

They kept him overnight. The next morning I got a call saying they found a lot of fluid in his chest. Drained 1.5L of it. And then yesterday… the diagnosis came back for what you never want to hear: Lymphoma.

I don’t really have the right words for that moment. It just kind of knocks the air out of you. Raiden is my baby, my soul dog, my whole heart. It feels so unfair—he is only 7.

Right now, we’ve decided to move forward with chemo. He’s actually responding really well to steroids. He’s eating again (honestly, more than before), his gut is starting to settle after the colitis, and seeing him excited about food again has been such a huge relief I can’t even explain it.

If anyone has gone through this with their dog, I’d really appreciate hearing anything—what to expect, how you handled it, anything at all.

I’m feeling a lot of emotions, if I’m being honest. But I’m also really, really grateful for right now. For him eating. For him being himself again, demanding attention, demanding park time, demanding me move from his spot on the couch.

We’re taking this one day at a time. And we’re going to fight.. But also, take this moment to give your pets an extra hug and kiss 🥺❤️ #raidenrolypoly #dogsofinstagram #explorepage #chemo #lymphoma

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In 2019 I started practicing Wah Lum Tam Tui, Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu, which in addition to martial arts, preserves Chinese cultural traditions like Lion Dance to celebrate the New Year, drive out bad vibes, and bring good luck and fortune.
I can hardly express how much I love and appreciate my @wahlumboston family and how much this art form and these amazing people ( such as these two baddies @sifuleiann and @theelifeofso ) have enriched my life.
In Chinatown on Sunday March 1st, starting around 11am and going all day come on out and celebrate the Year of the Fire horse.
🧧🧧🧧
The last slide is from last year - I’m in the blue robe and the Monk Mask ( Big Head Buddha)
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#chinesenewyear2026🐉🐲🏮🧨🧧🇨🇳🎎🏯㊙️ #wahlumkungfu #liondance #bostonchinatown #kungfu

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The Lion Dance is a part of traditional Kung Fu and Chinese Culture part of the celebration, particularly the Lunar New Year 🧧.
It also makes a pretty cool idea for a tattoo.
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#liondance #lunarnewyear #kungfu #chineseculture #🧧 #tattoo #tattoos #blackrabbitofwatertown #illustration #wahlumkungfu

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Back in Boston today, but yesterday I was in Orlando at the Wah Lum Temple.
Here’s a pic of my Kung Fu family that attended the Tournament.
The folks in the red shirts are my awesome Sifus’, the ones in the black shirts are my fellow students.
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I sometimes forget how tall I am til I see a pic like this 😂
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#kungfu #wahlumkungfu #wahlumtemple

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Won’t do it twice 🔮

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Project Glow year 3- Fam edition

Almost a year ago exactly I was introduced to some of my favorite people, and this year we got to run around glow together 🥹

Only 13 more days until we’re reunited at DEADROCKS 😭
This fest seasons about to be amazing 🥰

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♡ festie friends of day two🦋🛼✨
@projectglowfest
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FIT DETAILS:
🧡 SET: @shop.psicodelico
💛 CROP SLEEVES: @figiesfits
💚 JEWELRY: @kandiedpixie
💙 PERLER: @kitty_kandi_creations
🩷 BAG: @lunchboxpacks • 10% OFF W/ LINK IN BIO
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#ProjectGlow #ProjectGlowFestival #ClubGlow
#ProjectGlow2025 #EDMFestival #FestivalSeason #RaveCulture #EDMFamily #DaniiRaves #WashingtonDC #DCFestival #EastCoastRave #PulseStage #EternalStage #SecretGarden #GlowHouse #GlowVibes #RaveFam #FestivalFit #EDMLifestyle #Raver

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