recovery time for the pup

[Got delayed in posting this...it was meant to be posted Friday afternoon. Added an update.]

Darwin is out of surgery and starting his recovery; we pick him up tomorrow [and then Will leaves for the airport for his business trip]. They had to completely remove his left ear canal; the cyst was further in than it first seemed, so that was the only choice. There was some worry about damaging the major facial nerve that runs by the ear canal, but they managed to avoid it. His anal glands were removed successfully; there was a little difficulty on the side that had ruptured, but they were able to get everything out cleanly and [deja vu] avoid the major nerve that runs right under the anal sacs, so no "diminished wink reflex" to deal with [after years of Bean and her own wink reflex problems, I am *extremely* relieved not to have to deal with another instance of it].

So tonight is a quiet night, while Darwin recuperates at the vet. Tomorrow is hectic and full: pick up Darwin, get any supplies needed for his after-care, Will finishes packing, and then off he goes to the airport. Fun times ahead.

-----

UPDATE [Saturday]:

Darwin is home and resting. The surgeries went well; he has a drainage tube on the right side of his bum, incision in front of his left ear [which looks *amazing*, they did an incredible job], lots of meds to be given twice a day for two weeks, follow-up visits scheduled for drain removal in a few days and suture removal a week later, have to put cold compresses on both incisions 3-4 times a day for two days, then warm compresses for the next 10 days. He needs to be contained and supervised, no free roaming for the next two weeks, limited walks and mobility allowed. Going to be a long few weeks...

it's the most wonderful time of the year

I have a love/hate relationship with this time of year. I love the cooler weather, greyer days, and autumn/winter smells...but there have been too many years with too much death, drama, and depressing crap during these colder months, so now they are tainted for me. I was hoping to break the pattern this year.

Nope.

A couple weeks ago, on what was already a rough and weird day for me, I talked with a very close friend of mine, someone who has been with me through thick and thin for double-digit years now. They've been having hard times, fighting an annoyingly unfair number of illnesses and ailments...and they were just diagnosed with cancer. Fuck. Another good friend is having to jump on a plane tonight, racing time to try to make it to their grandfather before he dies. And just recently, Will's dog Darwin ruptured an anal gland [joyfulness]; during a follow-up visit for that, the vet noticed a lump/cyst in his ear. Took him to a specialist, and boom: he goes in tomorrow for surgery on his ear and his bum...and to keep it interesting, Will has to head out for a week-long business trip the day after, so I am on solo convalescent care for the poor violated pup.

I really fucking hate this time of year.