5.7.2014: A big sigh of relief

We took Misty in for her routine annual checkup last Friday.  As well as needing her vaccinations renewed, we also wanted to check on a lump on her leg we found recently. When the doctor took a look, she raised immediate concerns and wanted to do a biopsy to rule out a malignant cancer. The other possible suspects were either a weird skin infection gone awry, or a benign tumor. We left the vet's office heavy-hearted, with Misty's leg bandaged up and with a supply of antibiotics. Although we tried to remain positive, we spent the rest of the weekend feeding our worst fears with hours of internet search.

After we returned from her vet visit, all bandaged up but in good spirits.

Well, we finally heard back late last night and thankfully the results of the biopsy show that it is a benign mass with a possible secondary infection. Words cannot express just how relieved and elated we felt! For anyone who's had a dog go through a similar situation, I'm sure you can relate.  When a dog has been with you since it was a puppy and has been every part of your life for the past 10 years, he/she really is family, no different from a child.

Both my dogs have been healthy for the most part up to this point, and it's so ironic that right after celebrating her 10th Birthday in March that we are faced with this first real health scare. I know these "incidents" will be more frequent in the future, and maybe the next time we won't be so lucky. I'm going to try hard and not think too much about the future, but instead concentrate on cherishing the time I DO have with our dogs...and yes, Happy 10! Project will go on!

Is it possible though to ever prepare one's heart for the eventuality that awaits?

"let's stay awhile..."