Two things:

My friend has a horse that has been ill for a while, and he has large lumps on his neck. He finds it difficult to breathe/eat/dink, and as a result is losing weight. He was going to the vet's today, and he might not have come back. He has, however, bu they're run more tests than was planned, because they're not sure what the lumps are. They think it could be cancer though. If it is, the next time he goes to the vet's will be the last.

Also, I have a friend on livejournal who has three illnesses, the combined result of which is crippling. She has been in hospital for the past two weeks, and the second week she spent in a drug induced coma, in an effort to get her body to rest properly and recouperate. Now that she's come out of the coma, she' on pills to try and counteract the fact that her body is failing, and she's slowly dying. She's fought off these diseases for longer than expected, but now the doctors, and I think herself, believe that the time has come for her to end the fight, and that she won't last much longer.

Excuse me if I'm not around for a while, or if I am about, if I'm snappy and mean. It's nothing against you.

I am sorry to here about your dying friend. I know how it is to lose a good friend like that. At first I didn’t know how to cope with it. Just that fact that I was never going to see him again was enough to bring tears to my eyes. I was in a constant state of misery. I guess the most comforting thought I had during those times was that I knew that I knew that I knew that he had made it to a better place.
I turned to God and he comforted me, just like my friend always did. You might not be able to help her body, but you can help save her soul, if it is not already saved, and let her leave this world in peace and serenity.
I am sorry if this is too preachy. I just give you any advice if I tried to distort the Lord into the political correctness that seems to so necessary lately.

Oh no don't know what to say... my thoughts are with you and all you can do is be there for them

The test results have come back, and it is cancer. He's going to the vet's on Friday for the last time.

I know that people who don't have horses won't understand this, but a horse is like your child, possibly even more precious. When you're friends with someone that has a horse, that horse becomes your niece/nephew, and so a part of your extended family. It's like a member of my family is dying, and you have no idea how useless I feel, because there is nothing I can do. There is nothing anyone can do to help him. I can't even comfort my friend properly, because I end up in tears as well.

But on the upside, Joey is feeling a little bit better, and I was talking to her online the other night.

I feel I may be getting depressed because of this, so, yaknow... Don't hate me if I'm mean to you. I don't mean it. Mostly.

I remember when one of the sheep at school had to be shot. I was devestated and just felt so helpless because there was nothing I could do to help her. From watching people with their horses I can guess how it is equivalent to losing a person. Just being there for your friend, even if it is you both just crying, will help both of you.

Both her, her horse and your friend in hospital will be in my prayers.

Well, Sonny's still hanging in there, which is fabulous.

However, Joey isn't. She posted on livejournal the other day stating what was wrong with her, and basically she's got maybe a month to live unless the NHS pull their fingers out and actually start treating her properly. She's constantly on oxygen so that she can feel her extremities, and she can barely get out of bed.

Two days later, and she's been admitted to hospital with respitory failure. The only reason she got there was because she had a friend over with her in case the ambulance was needed to be called. There have been no updates at all, either on her or on general life from her friend, and I'm beginning to worry that she's not going to come home from the hospital this time.

By the way, I'm not crying, I just have lots of dust in my eye. Yes, thats it. Dust.

I won't offer my sympathy because I know how hollow that is if you never knew the person. I will say that you are one of the strongest, bravest, smartest people I know and I love you. I am here if you ever have dust in your eyes or even if you just want to talk/sit in silence/ have a drink.

all my love.