A taste of caregiving

I've had a small, very small, experience with what it's like to be a caregiver. I am house sitting for a family in Ashland, OR, taking care of their 10-month-old “doodle” puppy. “Lucy” had occasionally thrown up prior to my arrival. After I settled in, it became apparent that the situation was getting worse. She was simply unable to keep food in her stomach. It would come back up soon after eating. A few trips to the vet brought a potential diagnosis of a large mass, swallowed object, or stomach lining thickening. Surgery was scheduled. There was a very slight possibility it was a tumor. So, I became a caregiver of sorts. Trips back and forth to the animal hospital. Maintaining communication with the owners vacationing in New Zealand. Cleaning up accidents around the house and trying to keep carpets stain free. I dropped her off in the early morning for surgery. I didn't know what they would find. Turns out “Lucy” had snacked on an ornamental bamboo basket. The mass of pulp, ribbons, and other things sat in her stomach, blocking the pathway for food to be digested. The vet opened up her stomach and retrieved the mess. “Lucy” is fine, currently staying at the animal hospital, fed by IV. She comes home in a few days. This experience has brought an even higher level of appreciation, if that is possible, for those of you in the cancer community that are caregivers. I can't imagine the stress, the anxiety, the sheer feeling of exhaustion, the constant attempts to keep control on chaos. All while your loved one deals with this evil disease in their own way. Thank you for doing what you do.