Surgery Day

Waiting is a difficult thing for me, especially when the thing I'm waiting for involves a loved one. In this case, it's my beloved Shelly.
She's in surgery right at this moment, and we're anxiously awaiting the outcome for several reasons.

She is having her right eye enucleated, which means removed. If the reason for enucleating was for one of the norms then I'd be much more comfortable, but in Shelly's case, it could be opening a large bag of worms that I'd rather leave closed. I'm praying literally that the inflammation is contained to the eyeball itself. If it's outside of the eye, then who knows what our options maybe. 
Shelly also has TCC (bladder cancer) which further compounds risks and problems with the surgical process itself.

Right now I'm feeling like she's my own flesh and blood in that OR room. I've never gone through something of this magnitude with any other pet, or human for that matter. It is all in God's hands, and it's truly knowing that which I find some comfort.

We've been on a major roller coaster this past week or two with determining what is best for Shelly.
I believe she made the decision for us yesterday, as she was absolutely miserable. I just couldn't put her through another day of that.

We met with a new oncologist this past week that has provided us with a great deal of hope. Up until this point, her TCC hasn't changed much since diagnosis. We've tried three different chemo protocols and it seems the past one we just took her off of, has somehow caused more issues with her joints and arthritis. She's really struggling with walking. Some days are worse than others.

We took her off chemo on Wednesday, as we were planning on having her begin her new protocol this coming Monday. With her surgery today, this will be pushed back to Friday of this upcoming week. Dr. Drazner who we met with, has had some recent success's with other bladder cancer pets. His goal is to get her into full remission, if not eradicate the tumor completely. That would be awesome!! We have no way of knowing what to expect at this time, but we do have hope and a new found goal.

God is truly an amazing God. My prayer this week has been for hope. I've cried out to him for hope with Shelly, and it looks like he delivered it through Dr. Drazer. Without having met him, I honestly don't know where we'd be at today with Shelly. It's very difficult moving forward without hope.

All I can see is today. God delivered a morning full of sunshine today, and I'm taking that as a literal picture of better days ahead.
Regardless, God's promise is for better days ahead...

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
1 Peter 1:3