I am so sorry to hear about your illness and upcoming surgery. I know you must be feeling worried about what is in the future for you and your family. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you that everything will perfectly.
I'd like to share with you that I've recently been diagnosed with an illness called mitochondrial myopathy and have been confined to bed for over a year. In the very beginning I was completely helpless and the pain was unbearable. What I remember most was being able to feel my little Molly cuddled right next to me. It was so comforting and took away the loneliness. There were times I just wanted to feel sorry for myself or give up
and somehow Molly knew those moments and she would curl up onto my lap or give me kisses and it always took away some of the fear or bitterness I felt at the time. She was at my side constantly and never left...someone literally had to drag her away to go outside for potty time.
It seems perhaps illness takes us (or at least it did me) through stages - denial/sadness, anger/bitterness, why me?, and then acceptance. Molly and my family have been with me through all of them. I hope circumstances can be arranged so that Buttercup can be with you for all or at least some of your journey through this illness. I know it would mean a great deal to you, as having Molly did to me.
All the best for a speedy recovery,
SuziQ