I just spoke with Dr. Paul. The wonderful, glorious, bestest news is that my Cody girl is out of sirjury and resting comfortably. Having worked for so many years in recovery, anesthesia complications are always my greatest fear!

The not so good news is that it is inoperable, as least realistically speaking. It is directly attached to the kidney and a couple of major vessels. He was hoping it would be on a stalk and easily dissected, but that's not the case; the risk of hemorrage is just too great. He was so disappointed that, in his words, "he couldn't help her."

But, the encouraging news is that there's a 50% chance that she was born with it and in such cases, many dogs live out long and happy lives with no untoward effects.

He also said that from visual inspection, he's almost 100% certain that it's not malignant. He even hesitated to take a biopsy or aspirate it for fear of bleeding. Her blood work was all within normal limits, her lungs and heart look fine, she's been eating, drinking, playing, etc. so that's further evidence that there's no disease process going on.

My options are....

Take her to Angell Memorial or Tufts U. Medical Center in Boston for a 2nd opinion and repeat ultrasound. I asked what they might see on a repeat ultra s. that 2 surgeons couldn't see on visual exam and he said, "nothing really." I think he just wanted to assure me that should I feel at all hesitant, I should not feel badly about getting a 2nd opinion. He said they would not open her up to do exploratory surgery and, under the best of circumstances, in the hands of the most skilled surgeon, the surgery is risky at best.

With his encouragement, I've opted to leave it be for now and we will do a repeat ultrasound at Paul's in one month's time to see if there are any changes. If so, we'll have to consider surgery at Tufts et al and weigh the risks.

Her chest cyst was removed! Gee, I almost forgot about that! That was how the day started, checking out her chest cyst! The day's such a blur and so much happened so fast...my head's spinning. When I was talking to Paul, I thought for a second, "I wonder if he remembered to remove that!!!" lol! He did

She may come home tomorrow, but in all liklihood he said she'll be there until Monday. He said the incision is extensive and she's going to be in some pain but they'll be giving her pain medication.

Thank you all for your prayers and positive thoughts. I know Cody appreciates them too! She's my angel (as opposed to her evil sister, Star you know) On a lighter note, speaking of Star, spazzy also came to the office this morning for a labicure, the most dreaded of ordeals! As usual, she was ment-o and it took me, Paul and gargantchuan woman to hold her down to do the dirty deed! Lord, you'd think she was dying!!! I wish I had a video of the procedure...legs and arms flying, eyes bugging out, panting. It's enough to make a mama cry. She looks at me as if to say, "SAAAAAAAAAAAAAVE ME!!!" lol! Funny thing is, she's fine with the back legs but "Oh no, don't touch my front paws!!!" It was the only laugh I had all day. We brought back to the office a big box of cookies and brownies and a personally pawed card from Star to say thanks and all Paul said was, "Oh, Star, you know I love you!" Isn't he sweet?

I don't know how I'd get throgh times like these without friends like you and wonderfully caring, compassionate docs like Paul. Please say a little prayer that Cody has a swift and complete recovery Thanks! Sandra