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It's been a bit of a rollercoaster year for the family, with my dad being ill and then me getting cancer again. It's not quite been an annus horribilis but it's not be the loveliest annus I've ever encountered. And I've encountered a few.
Today we had to rush home early because our lovely dog and Stone Clearing podcast co-host Wolfie is now in hospital. Catie's mum and dad have been looking after her whilst I've been recovering and while we were away, but noticed that she was lethargic and things got worse over the weekend.
Wolfie is my favourite person in the world and definitely the one who loves me the most, so it's gutting to know she is in danger. We had some calls from the vet as we came back and agreed for Wolfie to have a CT scan. And the initial results confirmed that she has cancer in her spleen and liver.
Having just been through my own splenetic cancer adventure (hopefully my own spleen is shrinking back to regular size) this was an unpleasant coincidence. The vet said that if he removes the spleen and Wolfie has some treatment that we she might live for a few more months.
Sadly there is no NHS for dogs and none of this is cheap, but we do have insurance which should cover most of it. But I'd have paid up regardless. As long as she isn't suffering I want her with us for as long as possible.
So it was an intense day of driving for Catie as we came back from Somerset and then more or less straight away drove for another hour to pick up her parents and go to the hospital.
Wolfie had been sedated recently and so was a bit groggy. We haven't seen her very much over the last month or so, so who knows where she thought we'd gone. She was feeling sorry for herself and though glad to see us, whimpered and complained and let us know how confused and upset she was. It's horrible that we can't explain to her what's going on and let her know that she hasn't been abandoned. But we fussed over her and let her rest up and by the end of our time there she was more herself.
It's also very tough on the kids, especially Ernie who veers from being distraught to wondering what pet he can get next if Wolfie dies. I am trying to be stoic about it and it looks like things should be OK for a little while at least. I've been sad when cats have died (especially my first cat Oscar and little Liono- even dummy Smithers finally got to me), but this is my first dog and it's a different kind of relationship and I am just trying to pretend Wolfie will live forever, just like I am pretending that my parents will live forever and I will live forever. So far so good.
Anyway, cancer continues to be a fucking bastard, but we will make sure that Wolfie has the best possible life for however long she has left.
Please pray for Wolfie, because although God doesn't seem to be doing too much about all the people being killed by war and disease at the moment, if enough people ask Him then I think He will probably look after a dog. Because He's a fucking weirdo and God is dog backwards.
