Three weeks ago my husband had a heart attack while volunteering at
the local food bank. Four days later he had open heart, triple by-pass
surgery. He had just been to the doctor, clean bill of health, no
family heart problems, robust Italian ancestors, etc, etc. In a week he
will be 80 but has never looked older than 50....until now. His life
and mine have changed dramatically. I am exhausted. I've cared for so
many older, medically fragile ferrets but this is a whole new ball
game. His and my older kids from previous marriages are grown and live
far away. Our 5 still-at-home, A students, Asian adopted teen daughters
have become nurses, cooks, homemakers. Without them I have no idea how
I would cope. Only one has her driving permit. I do not drive, never
had my license. Life has certainly changed. My husband has always been
a jet-propelled worker, fisherman, crabber, gardener, cook, handyman,
Mr. Fixit, super dad but now he just sits, in pain, ill with not only
the heart problems but with a case of gout that ended him back at the
hospital this past week-end. He is so completely different that the
ferrets don't recognize him. It's either that or he smells different
due to the MANY medications that he is on now... but the ferrets HATE
him. All of my furkids TRY to bite him, even sweet Gem. Has any one
else had this problem before? I remember when a friend of ours was
going through chemo, our normally friendly dog, growled at him and
blocked his entrance into our house. He had visited before and the dog
really liked him. Any ways as I have said....things are different.
There are days when the furkids don't get out to play. They are
becoming fewer and fewer but still happen. Maybe they blame my
husband....

One of my elderly pet rats died last week and this past weekend my
little dark sable roan, tiny sweetheart, Lady Leda left for the Rainbow
Bridge, all on her own, while curled up sleeping in a hanging cube Rose
German made. She came with Cutie Pootie not even a year ago, left here
by the distraught parents of a teen girl that had discovered boys. She
bonded with Moxie, another little girl that joined their group and
Moxie adored her. I had known that Lady Leda was planning on leaving
because her health had been deteriorating but Moxie just thought her
little friend needed longer naps. I left Lady in with Pootie and Moxie
all last night and today before burying her tonight, curled up in some
fleece hugging a toy. I miss her so much.

Thanks for listening.

Nancy and her 14 fuzzies missing a tiny Lady
    

[Posted in FML 6617]