Pretty Baby’s sneezes, coughs and runny noses for the past couple of years weren’t all caused by allergies.

The vet worked her in Thursday, then called that afternoon and said, “The news isn’t good.”

I didn’t understand.

We played 20 questions before I learned the news wasn’t good.

“How old is she?”

“Eight, maybe nine,” I said.

“It shows on her chart she was born in 2010.”

“Then she turned 10 this month.”

“Has she been eating well?”

“Not for the past few days.”

“She has lost a lot of weight since she was here. Does she cough and sneeze?” “Yes. And her nose runs,

“Yes. And her nose runs, but she won’t let me touch it.”

“We’ve had that trouble, too, and she won’t let us open her mouth, so I need your permission to sedate her so we can do some tests.”

“Sure. Is it her teeth? She’s had a funny smell from her mouth.”

“No. She had food in her mouth, and she has a mass in her sinuses.”

“Mass?” Tears came before I choked, then asked, “So can you remove it?” “It’s in a difficult place to reach, and I wouldn’t chance it.” More tears and unsure what I said then, but the vet said they’d do more tests in the morning.

That night I missed my gray kitty with pretty green eyes sitting with me on the couch. I didn’t sleep much because she wasn’t at her usual bodyguard post above my head.

“The mass is above her palate,” the doc said Friday. “It’s pretty bad and is probably lymphoma. Her body is actively trying to fight off an infection, and I can send some liquid antibiotics home with her.”

“So can I bring her home today?” I asked, but didn’t tell her it was my birthday, and I really needed to see my Baby.

“Yes. You might want to consider chemotherapy, but for now try to get her to eat, and keep giving her the steroids she’s been on for several months.”

“What should I feed her?”

“Anything yummy to get her to eat.”

“But what do you think should be done?”

“I’m giving her a two-week antibiotic shot, and I want to see her in two weeks. ...I’m not ready to recommend euthanasia yet.”

I was relieved but my eyes watered again.

Pretty Baby rubbed and rubbed on me when I got her home. Then she headed for her hiding spot under the bed, but I’d closed the bedroom door so she couldn’t get in there.

I finally gave in to her meows, then was surprised when she came out in about 10 minutes, and climbed up on the couch next to me.

She purred in response to my baby talk while I rubbed her head, neck, back and tummy.

While she slept I thanked God for giving me more time with her.

Later I Googled lymphoma in cats.

I wish I hadn’t, but I’m so glad to have Pretty Baby home so I can love on her while she’s sick. I know she’d do the same for me.