hospital hospitality

I have no clever opening. This is simply an update on the condition of my soul mate: Professor Jiggs.


Saturday was supposed to be the day I would finally get rid of Jiggs's Oregon haircut (as Felipe so colorfully calls it) and get him a nice sleek Mexico coast cut. That meant going to Manzanillo for the reasons I have discussed in this blog. There was just no getting the job done in Melaque.


New Beginnings in Manzanillo was good enough to find a veterinarian and a groomer for this short-notice cut. And her assistance was timely.


About two days ago, Jiggs seemed to be getting more and more distant from me. Last night, I discovered a bad infection on the inside of his upper lip. Something was obviously going very wrong.


The veterinarian initially told us that he would prefer if I left Jiggs for a couple of days to ensure that his coat was dry before he went out into the humidity. He said he would look at Jiggs's other issues.


But one thing he made clear was that the cortisone injections should stop because they were playing havoc with his system.


That gave me pause. Jiggs's veterinarians in Salem knew the risks of cortisone, but his lab tests showed that his system was easily dealing with the effects.


I was going to do a bit of shopping in Manzanillo before heading north to Melaque. Just as I was ready to stop at the first store, I received a call from the veterinarian's office that they wanted to talk with me.


New Beginnings in Manzanillo happily volunteered to join me -- and I am glad she did.


The veterinarian was very concerned about the lip infection. But he was even more concerned about a hard lump he found on Jiggs's abdomen. Jiggs has had fatty tumors for years. A hard tumor was a big change.


The veterinarian asked for permission to x-ray the area -- after the groomer was done.


It reminded me that I have worked out this scenario in my mind before. Jiggs is old. Most operations are painful and will only allow a few months of life.


That bargain seemed to be designed to please me by keeping Jiggs alive while paying him with pain. Justice is not that deal's name.


Even so, I approved the x-ray.


He also informed me that Jiggs had a dangerously high fever. His plan was to groom Jiggs, reduce the fever, and then have the x-ray taken.


That means Jiggs will be staying in Manzanillo until, at least, Monday. I need to return on Tuesday morning to pick up my FM3. I will then meet with the veterinarian -- unless I talk with him then.


All of that makes me sound as if I am taking this like a Spartan.


I am not. Even knowing that Jiggs had a very short time to live down here did not prepare me for the reality.


I have been carrying on like an Italian widow. To the point that I am a road hazard. I went through one red light and nearly went through a second in Manzanillo – simply because I was distracted.


A few days before Darrel left and when Jiggs was starting to decline, I started having what I would call a “heavy chest.” I had not had that type of anxiety for a long time. After Darrel left, it increased. At the same time, Jiggs took his nose dive, and the feelings almost turned into physical pain.


Today, it hurt so much, I thought I was suffering heart attack symptoms: difficulty in breathing, pain in my left arm, pain in my neck. But it passed.


I had not eaten anything for the past 24 hours. Nor was I really interested in eating.


But all this is not about me. It is about Jiggs.


I need to do what is best for him.


For the rest of the weekend, I will try to put the issue out of my mind. He is in professional hands, who will give him good care.