Oh, Sally, that is so sweet! I have high hopes for Susie. No matter how tough this recovery period is, I have no regrets about my decision. (Truthfully, she was in so much pain from the cancer, that I was just counting the days over the holiday season until her surgery--amputation day couldn't come quickly enough!) Now she can have a much better quality of life than she did when she was suffering so much during those three months before the devastating diagnosis. She couldn't have kept on going much longer, the way she was suffering. And no matter how short or long the time she has left, I get the chance to fill her days with as much joy as possible. Dogs live so much in the moment, and I think that's what I should be doing, too, instead of worrying about the possibility of metastasis somewhere down the road. Susie only cares about what's happening right now, and if I can just get both of us through this rough patch, then there will be some really good times ahead!

Thanks so much again, Sally! I think I'm going to call my vet here in town tomorrow and see what she thinks, since she's Susie's primary care doctor, even though she didn't perform the surgery.