In the spring of 2024, Collin’s life changed forever when her beloved Am Staff mix, Nemo, was diagnosed with lymphoma. She and her partner, Scott, did everything they could—exploring every option, including chemotherapy—but the cancer was simply too aggressive.
That summer, Nemo passed away, leaving behind not just heartbreak, but a love that will never fade.
“I’m truly grateful that God allowed me to adopt and raise him,” Collin reflects. “He was a shelter dog, but also the greatest gift. I will never forget him or the joy he brought into my life.”
It was through this heartbreak that Collin discovered Czar’s Promise, and with it, a purpose: to ensure no pet family walks that road alone. In Nemo’s memory, she joined the board and vowed to turn her grief into action—helping raise awareness, support, and hope for others before a diagnosis.
A lifelong animal lover, Collin lives just outside of Madison with her family and their “foster fail,” Abby—a spirited rescue who reminds her daily that healing is possible, that love always finds a way back, and that there is so much left to be grateful for.