Imagine this.  Stumbled out of bed at 3am, warmed Ben's soup and water
syringes in a glass of hot water.  Picked Ben up, laid him on my lap ready
to insert the syringe and THERE'S NO FEEDING TUBE.  The little stinker had
pulled it out since his last feeding.  He's knocked it, banged it and
scratched it so many times, the stitches have been long gone.
 
Bundled Ben up and off we went to Gainesville and the University Vet
Hospital.  I waited to call until we got there since I'd already awakened
one of the vets with an emergency at 3am Sunday morning.  Fortunately, Dr.
Pye was on call and I didn't have to wake Dr. Locke again.
 
Dr. Pye said since Dr. Bennett was in town for a couple of days he felt
sure they could do Ben's surgery tomorrow, Wednesday.  He also said the
hole is about 20% smaller than before the first surgery.
 
I have to think Ben knew all this and deliberately pulled the feeding tube
out!  He's been such a wild man wanting out and down all the time, playing,
jumping, leaping and attacking me.  AND wanting to eat!!  He has me so well
trained.  He assumes a stance with his feet planted firmly and spread out
then stares at me until I take him out of his cage.  Getting the surgery
earlier than scheduled will, hopefully, be that much sooner that he can eat
again.
 
Ben's surgery is at 9:30am.  It will be more complicated than the first
one but basically the same except they plan to make a double flap by also
taking tissue from inside Ben's lips.  Poor baby.  It has to work this
time.  He'll be back home Thursday as long as he does well from surgery.
With his determination and the excellent skills of Dr. Bennett and Dr. Pye
at the University of Florida Veterinary Medical College, I know he'll be
fine.
 
I've uploaded various picots of Ben.  Before and after surgery and many
of him at play.  They aren't in order but some are very cute.  You need
Netscape 4.5 or greater or IE 4.0 or greater.  For AOL, copy the link
into your web address field.
http://www.photoaccess.com/share/guest.jsp?ID=A39E32350D
 
We'll let you know how things are with Ben tomorrow night if possible and
certainly after he's home.  Thanks for the cards and offers of help that
still come in for Ben!
 
Hug those fuzzies,
Jackie
 
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/ben.htm
[Posted in FML issue 2969]