Today was an amazing day...there are no words to describe today except...well, amazing and truly a blessing.
Today was Scarlett's big day going to the Vet School. (NC State for those of you not familiar with this facility...and if you have animals and have never been there, then you need to be thankful...but, if you have a sick pet, there is no other place you need to be...).
Our day didn't start out so great. It was raining, I was beyond stressed and emotionally raw. I threw the kids in the car for school. We raced down 64 so I could get them in their rooms by 9am and be at the vet school by 10am. Pushing it...yes. I looked at my phone as I got in the car and had 4 messages. Who was looking for me? Well, it would be my babysitter who was sick. A huge wrench in my day. After going through my arsenal of sitters, my dear friend agreed to take both kids for the afternoon (bless her). Whew...
Got to the vet school at 10...sharp. Got Scarlett inside and my bottom barely hit the waiting room seat before Scarlett's name was called. My heartbeat tripled. She was shaking. I was shaking. We were both scared for different reasons. Or, maybe we were both scared for the same reason...the unknown.
The Dentistry resident and two Class of '09 students swiftly took Scarlett and I into exam room 5. They carefully placed the tissue box at my feet as I tearfully recalled the events that got us to this moment. They took her pulse and wrote some notes and said they would be right back. Then they left. Scarlett "sat" on my lap the best a 55 pound dog can. We waited.
The panel of vets came back with Dr. G. He flipped on the xray viewing light and slid the film into the clip. "It looks like we most likely have a dentigerous cyst". All I heard was, it looks like its not a tumor. It's not a tumor. It's not. It's not..."It's not a tumor?" I asked just to be clear. He said he couldn't say 100% but all signs were pointing to a very large cyst. A cyst that had been growing since puppyhood due to some teeth not erupting in her mouth properly. "What are our options?" Due to the size, Dr. G. highly recommended removal. "And if we did nothing?" The cyst would continue to grow and eventually take over her jaw fracturing it along the way and our problems would escalate. My next question was "when" and "how much". Amazingly, he could perform the surgery today, and Miss Scarlett could go home late afternoon.
I called Jason and he agreed that we needed to do this for our beloved pet. I signed some forms and gave her a kiss before they took her away. Dr. G explained the procedure and what to expect. "We'll call you" he said and I turned and walked out.
Several hours later after an afternoon in Raleigh, I got a call that Scarlett had done well and was ready to go home. I was sitting in the vet school parking lot when I got the call...waiting. I went inside and was taken back to Exam Room 4 this time. Dr. G. came in and explained what was found. She had the majority of her teeth including three front teeth, her canine, and several pre-molars removed from the left side of her mouth. Also removed was the cyst. He went over the discharge instructions and which pills to give when. I asked more questions which are all a blur now. It was time to go home...The entourage of vets helped Scarlett to the car aiding her hind end with a towel looped through her legs. She slept all the way home.
She seems to be doing well. I think she's glad to be home. She ate some canned food for dinner and then retreated back to her spot on her blanket where she currently sleeps as I write. We love you, Miss Scarlett and hope you get well soon.
So, as I write this, my heart is filled with absolute gratitude. I am so thankful to God and Bandit for watching over my dear little Scarlett and granting our family more time with her. I am thankful for the warnings they sent me to slow down and appreciate things like taking a walk on a beautiful day. Let the dishes sit in the sink, let the laundry lay on the floor, and let the chores of daily life sit for awhile...they will always be there still tomorrow...but some of the most beautiful, precious lives in this world, may not. So, my lessons for today...be thankful. Enjoy what you have. Take time out. Put "walking the dog" before #1 on today's to-do list...and then do it. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. Clearly...God heard every one of you. Thank you.
Today was Scarlett's big day going to the Vet School. (NC State for those of you not familiar with this facility...and if you have animals and have never been there, then you need to be thankful...but, if you have a sick pet, there is no other place you need to be...).
Our day didn't start out so great. It was raining, I was beyond stressed and emotionally raw. I threw the kids in the car for school. We raced down 64 so I could get them in their rooms by 9am and be at the vet school by 10am. Pushing it...yes. I looked at my phone as I got in the car and had 4 messages. Who was looking for me? Well, it would be my babysitter who was sick. A huge wrench in my day. After going through my arsenal of sitters, my dear friend agreed to take both kids for the afternoon (bless her). Whew...
Got to the vet school at 10...sharp. Got Scarlett inside and my bottom barely hit the waiting room seat before Scarlett's name was called. My heartbeat tripled. She was shaking. I was shaking. We were both scared for different reasons. Or, maybe we were both scared for the same reason...the unknown.
The Dentistry resident and two Class of '09 students swiftly took Scarlett and I into exam room 5. They carefully placed the tissue box at my feet as I tearfully recalled the events that got us to this moment. They took her pulse and wrote some notes and said they would be right back. Then they left. Scarlett "sat" on my lap the best a 55 pound dog can. We waited.
The panel of vets came back with Dr. G. He flipped on the xray viewing light and slid the film into the clip. "It looks like we most likely have a dentigerous cyst". All I heard was, it looks like its not a tumor. It's not a tumor. It's not. It's not..."It's not a tumor?" I asked just to be clear. He said he couldn't say 100% but all signs were pointing to a very large cyst. A cyst that had been growing since puppyhood due to some teeth not erupting in her mouth properly. "What are our options?" Due to the size, Dr. G. highly recommended removal. "And if we did nothing?" The cyst would continue to grow and eventually take over her jaw fracturing it along the way and our problems would escalate. My next question was "when" and "how much". Amazingly, he could perform the surgery today, and Miss Scarlett could go home late afternoon.
I called Jason and he agreed that we needed to do this for our beloved pet. I signed some forms and gave her a kiss before they took her away. Dr. G explained the procedure and what to expect. "We'll call you" he said and I turned and walked out.
Several hours later after an afternoon in Raleigh, I got a call that Scarlett had done well and was ready to go home. I was sitting in the vet school parking lot when I got the call...waiting. I went inside and was taken back to Exam Room 4 this time. Dr. G. came in and explained what was found. She had the majority of her teeth including three front teeth, her canine, and several pre-molars removed from the left side of her mouth. Also removed was the cyst. He went over the discharge instructions and which pills to give when. I asked more questions which are all a blur now. It was time to go home...The entourage of vets helped Scarlett to the car aiding her hind end with a towel looped through her legs. She slept all the way home.
She seems to be doing well. I think she's glad to be home. She ate some canned food for dinner and then retreated back to her spot on her blanket where she currently sleeps as I write. We love you, Miss Scarlett and hope you get well soon.
So, as I write this, my heart is filled with absolute gratitude. I am so thankful to God and Bandit for watching over my dear little Scarlett and granting our family more time with her. I am thankful for the warnings they sent me to slow down and appreciate things like taking a walk on a beautiful day. Let the dishes sit in the sink, let the laundry lay on the floor, and let the chores of daily life sit for awhile...they will always be there still tomorrow...but some of the most beautiful, precious lives in this world, may not. So, my lessons for today...be thankful. Enjoy what you have. Take time out. Put "walking the dog" before #1 on today's to-do list...and then do it. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. Clearly...God heard every one of you. Thank you.
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