The same with Titan, if I had not rescued him, he was headed to a high-kill shelter. Once I made the decision to take him, I then did research. I was asking myself, "what are you doing?" But I couldn't let him go to the shelter because it was not socialized or trained, they would have euthanized him.
Good to hear that you have help at home if you have to have the 2nd surgery.
Keep us posted on yourself and Xerxes.