Leaking

Leo has sprung a leak. He had some pressure sores on his elbows from laying down (especially on hard floors), and apparently the one on his right elbow became inflamed. It abscessed, and I noticed it leaking on the night of the 4th (of course). Back to VERG we go...


I had to wait until well after the fireworks to head out. Parking was a nightmare everywhere within hiking distance of the river until well after the show was over, and then everyone was out and about doing their 4th of July thing. I waited until midnight, then headed over. The front desk and the doctor knew us, which was nice - I guess it's good to be a regular - and we the whole thing didn't take too long.
However, his elbow is raw. The area that abscessed was pretty big, the pocket was pretty deep, and it burst on its own, meaning the entrance is large. They cleaned it up and shaved around it, but it's still draining. It's supposed to be left to drain, so we can't really wrap it, meaning he can gnaw on it unless he has a collar on. Sigh. I didn't want him to wear a collar in his final days, but if this goes septic, he doesn't have a chance. And I'm afraid this might be that "event" - so silly, an abscess...

Sunday was a trip to the store for medical supplies - gauze, surgical pads, tape, wrap... I walked out loaded like an army medic, and actually got to play one for a second when I handed a bleeding bicycle crash victim some pads and gauze for her shoulder and elbow (she had friends helping, but they were using napkins).

So, his elbow has been wrapped and draining, and I have to encourage him to not lay on the floor. Which would be easy, if he were able to get up on his own consistently, but he's needing help now.

It's breaking down, and it's sad - he doesn't want to walk because it hurts, his ankle is swollen and he's limping, and he lays down so much he has gotten some sores. The gallows humor is that the cancer isn't what's killing him. But I'm afraid all of it is.