Emmett update

I realized today that after weeks of writing about nothing other than the cancer situation with Emmett, I failed to post the results. The surgery to remove the lump on his leg was successful. The oncologist called us an excruciating week after the surgery to let us know that all went well. The margins came back clear, though shallow. Our next step is to have a monthly check of his leg – if they left any malignant cells, they will grow back with a vengeance they say – starting around September 19. In addition to the monthly checks, we will have lung x-rays done every three months for the next year to track those suspicious nodes. The radiologist told us he’d be surprised if those nodes were the cancer, that they looked more like normal mineralization of lung tissue or a fungus, both totally benign diagnoses.

While this is all very positive, we have a giant black cancer-cloud following us around, trailing behind and over Emmett. This next year is going to be fraught with the constant fear of recurrence. But, for now, I am eternally grateful for the most supportive friends and family, for the specialist who was confident enough to save his leg, and mostly for Emmett’s wonderful, charming spirit that just pours out of his little soul every single day.

Oh, and I’ve gotten all crazy about their food, mixing up all sorts of belabored concoctions (think steamed carrots and broccoli, canned pumpkin, canned grain-free beef and liver, green beans, etc.) to strengthen his immune system and stuff him full of antioxidants.  An added bonus? He’s actually dropped those few extra pesky pounds our vet pointed out during our last dozen couple of visits.