Holding Oliver in my heart

Today is Oliver's surgery day, and I greet it with some trepidation. He has a strong heart and clear lungs and his blood tests show no problems but he is, after all, thirteen years old with some unknown back end problems.

The vet has reserved six hours just for him. The goal is to remove the loose and abscessed teeth, to remove the anal glands, to remove or at least closely examine some other possible perianal tumours, to neuter him, and if he is still doing okay under anesthetic and those procedures haven't taken too long, to clean whatever teeth remain. The priority will be the back end, especially urgent since the discovery of one very enlarged testicle which will be sent to pathology for examination.

I have just taken him for his early morning walk around the yard. It is barely above freezing, with a heavy frost and a beautiful starlit sky. I took him by myself while the other dogs slept and I told him about the upcoming day. And I assured him that every person who reads this blog today will think healing, happy thoughts for him.

May the spirit that guides my life guide my vet's hand today, may Oli's guardian angels watch over him, and may my boy soon be back home recuperating in his favourite spot by my feet.

Oliver, I will hold you in my heart until I can once again hold you in my arms.