So, to sum up my mother's experience over the last two years:

- Her dog spontaneously goes blind in the space of about a week.

- Her cat dies of kidney failure.

- Her blind dog goes deaf.

- Her husband is suddenly diagnosed with severe brain cancer, and loses a subsequent year-long battle with it.

- And in the space of about a week, her blind, deaf dog succumbs to kidney failure.

She had to put the poor mutt down last night.

Hokay, blind forces of chance, I think she's had enough now. Feel like easing up a bit?