A very rainy Tuesday. Miami’s hurricane-ravaged roofs (and their tell-tale blue tarps) are finding their way onto tile floors across the county. Life sucks sometimes.

Today I saw one of my longest-standing patients, Polar, with his new mom. Polar was in need of a new one after the original passed away a few months ago. Ever since his loss, Polar has been clingy and depressed. Last month he began skimping on his meals. Polar looks skinny and unthrifty.

It took two X-rays and one abdominal ultrasound to confirm what I felt with my hands: Polar has a huge mass in his abdomen. Likely a malignant cancer based on lots of circumstantial evidence.

Polaris new mom saw his last mom die of cancer. She’s sure Polaris cancer is of the sympathetic variety. Psychosomatic suicide.

I don’t doubt it. Polar adored her.

Life sucks sometimes.