Yesterday was an even longer day than usual, since I was up at 5:30 AM to take Clarice for her evaluation at the Animal Diagnostic Clinic. Of course I had to drop her off to get on with my workday so I didn’t get to meet the illustrious Dr R (internal medicine specialist) but she sounded, shall we say “young” on the phone… The full scans have yet to be interpreted (they go to a radiologist, one of the benefits of dealing with the specialty center), but there does appear to be a nodule in Clarice‘s pancreas - I can pat myself on the back that my diagnostic sense still seems to be functional. Understandably, Dr R is concerned with Clarice‘s long-term heart condition and probable pulmonary hypertension, so she suggests medical management & possibly chemotherapy to slow things down - but I intend to talk to one of the surgeons today. They should know I would have no hard feelings if they attempt surgery and Clarice dies before, during, or in the aftermath of this procedure. I know she has discomfort because she has these restless spells in the middle of the night - neither of us are sleeping well.
I may put her on my own surgery table if no one is feeling bold - better that she die while I am attempting to do something than for me to watch her struggle. She was stressed out by our separation yesterday - we went to a cafe across the road to celebrate, the very nice waitress let me smuggle her in in her little dog bed (at 100° at 7 o’clock in the evening, it was still way too hot for her to wait in the car). Needless to say she earned herself a generous tip!
Next week I have to go pick up the mobile unit, which might be the perfect opportunity to have Clarice hospitalized for surgery? I have booked the movers the week of September 19, ordered a shipping container which I will use for temporary storage, and I am first on the list with the x-ray service company so they can pack up my unit and put it in temporary storage…
I mailed the nice young man a check for the “tiny home” trailer which will be our employee lounge/restroom so I will probably go pick that up this weekend. He is quite the entrepreneur building these tiny trailer homes from the ground up - I’ll post some pictures when I can transfer from my phone, the never-ending challenge!
Of course I’ve written this entire post without a Star Trek reference, but that’s not counting the soundtrack running in my head!
Whatever your decision is for Clarice it will be the right one as you are her mommy and know her best. We went to extraordinary means to keep all of our chinchillas alive. For us it was nonnegotiable. They were our family. We didn't intend to put them down because they were too much work or too expensive. If they had been in pain which could not be relieved we would have thought differently but they had pain meds which worked. The pharmacy made them special suspensions on their personal preferences. Blocker was our little Pina Colada girl which the pharmacy techs found amusing. She was a favorite patient. Of her 3 doctors too. We syringe fed them 4 times a day when they could no longer eat on their own. Our vets applauded us for it and one of our exotic vets said he would like to clone us as parents for all of his exotic pets. Clarice is in good hands. She picked the right mommy.
ReplyDeleteBless the waitress for being kind. Let's clone her.
I am so excited to see your plans coming to fruition!! You are so considerate of your employees. Love the tiny home lounge/restroom. Exciting. To boldly go where no man/woman has gone before. Make it so.
Watching my poor girl struggle today (yesterday was very stressful to her), I may have no choice but to "do it myself" - I have left a message for a surgeon, any surgeon, to please call me but here it is lunchtime & nothing has happened...
DeleteGreat ideas about the addition of the home-like trailer.
ReplyDeleteYou know best what Clarice needs. I hope you have support at home for post-op recovery.
Dontcha wish you had the scanner Bones had?