Q: Grieving is an unpleasant but important part of getting past the thoughts of someone you've lost. In fact, most counselors stress the importance of healthy grieving, which allows you to "free up" difficult emotions and feelings you have invested in this person. Give yourself time to think, to pine, and, if necessary, to cry. This is a normal reaction to losing someone. Be prepared to not be feeling your best for a while. You may want to avoid difficult social or career commitments for a short time. There's no set deadline for getting over someone you cared about. As a general rule, the longer you knew someone and the closer you were to this person, the more time you'll need to spend grieving. However, you shouldn't put any arbitrary expectations on yourself. Take as long as you need to mourn; no more, no less. You'll know you're ready to start moving on the first time you forget to be unhappy. You do not have to go through a difficult loss alone. Trusted friends and members of your family will usually be more than willing to talk to you about the way you feel. If you're comfortable with the idea, try sitting down with these people and mentioning that you've been having painful thoughts about the person you lost lately. This conversation is easier for some people to have than others, but if you can manage to talk about such a sensitive topic, you may find it to be a huge relief. Don't be afraid to talk to a professional if you don't want to talk to your friends and family or you think you need more help. Therapists and counselors aren't just for "clinical" mental health issues; they're great for when ordinary, healthy people are suffering too. In fact, in 2004, over a quarter of American adults had gotten some sort of mental health treatment within the past two years. Can't seem to say exactly why you're thinking about someone so much? Try writing. Keeping a journal is a common tactic used by counselors and therapists to unpack the complicated emotions that come with losing someone. The open-ended structure of journal writing allows you to let your inner thoughts run on to the paper. Not only does it feel good to let it all out onto the page; it can also be enlightening. You may find that your writing surprises you and clues you in to deep-seated feelings. You don't just have to keep a journal; writing poems, stories, and song lyrics can be helpful as well. Any sort of writing that helps you understand why you feel the way you do is fair game. This may seem like cheesy, obvious advice, but it's all too easy to forget about your own happiness when you're pining for someone who's no longer with you. Reflect on the fact that, no matter what has happened, it's important for you to be happy. As you work to get over your difficult thoughts, remember your goal and spend time with people and things you like to keep your spirits high. Can't focus on the goal of making yourself happy right now? Fake it. Research suggests that token gestures like holding your mouth in a smile can help lift your spirits when you're feeling bad. Staying busy can be a helpful strategy when it comes to getting over thoughts of loss. Time spent working, pursuing your hobbies, and improving yourself can help keep you from dwelling on lingering regrets about this person. Physical exercise is particularly useful; there's good evidence that it can fight clinical depression. However, staying busy becomes a problem if it becomes a way to avoid thoughts about this person, rather than accepting them and moving on. Keeping yourself in a constant whirlwind of activity may make it hard to think about the person who's been bothering you, but it will also leave you worn out and emotionally depleted. You may even feel worse than before if you never give yourself a chance to express your feelings. Many people are consumed with torturous "what if" thoughts after they lose someone important. These are thoughts like "What if I had acted in a different way towards this person?" and "What if I had known the right things to say at the right time?"; painful regrets and hypotheticals. It can be very difficult to avoid these thoughts, but it's important to try your best. Wondering "what if" again and again can only make you feel worse. On top of this, it's pointless. There's no way to change the past, so try to concentrate on the present and the future. "What if" questions tend to overestimate your own role in causing the situation that led to the loss. Most losses are out of your control. There's usually very little that you could have done to change things. Sympathetic friends and family should be happy to remind you of this.
A: Give yourself a chance to let it out. Talk to people close to you about this person. Express your thoughts in writing. Remind yourself that you want to eventually feel happy. Keep active, but don't use activities to hide from unpleasant thoughts. Don't play the "what if" game.

Q: Unlike other larger pets, hamsters can have free access to food and water up until surgery. Prior to surgery, continue to feed your hamster as usual and provide it with plenty of fresh water. On the day of surgery, prepare a package of your hamster's normal amount of food. Bring this food with you to the vet, along with your hamster's water bottle. Because of your hamster's small size, your veterinary team will be extra careful to monitor your hamster during surgery. After anesthetizing your hamster, they will monitor its body temperature, breathing rate, and heart rate. They will also give your hamster fluids so it remains well hydrated during surgery. Your vet will make an incision and carefully remove the tumor. After the surgery, either your vet or a member of the veterinary team will call you to let you know how the surgery went and how your hamster is doing after surgery. They will also let you know when you can come pick up your hamster. When you pick up your hamster, your vet will give you a set of instructions on how to care for your hamster at home. Make sure to follow these instructions carefully to help your hamster recover after surgery. Before heading home, ask your vet any questions you may have about at-home care, including: How long will it make my hamster to recover? What if my hamster looks sick? Will my hamster need medications?
A:
Feed your hamster food and water. Have your vet perform surgery. Pick up your hamster.