For those of us that own pets, we know through and through that they are not just a pet.  They are our children, our family, and our companions.  So it's absolutely devastating to find out that they've been diagnosed with an aggressive cancer that leaves minimal chance of long-term survival.

I got the call the day after new years; so far, 2018 has not been a good one.  It's been only two days but they've felt like an eternity of suffering.  My cat is still alive and well; no signs of the disease that will probably take her life in the next year.  It breaks my heart to think that the companion I've come to live with for the past 13 years will die not from old age but from a rare disease in what should be her golden years.

Those of you who have read, and are reading, my story Dolls are no stranger to my writings depicting heartbreak and helplessness.  Today, I feel like I have taken one step closer to understanding just how much of a struggle my characters experience when faced with the impending death of a loved one.  It is mind-numbing yet emotionally awakening.  

Love your loved ones with no reservations.  There's truly no time for that.