Little Bit passed to the bridge at 9:30 a.m. this morning, Tuesday 16
July 2003.
 
Several years ago a sweet little baby was born at Marshall farms.  She
was all white with beautiful black eyes.  She went to live with a sweet
old gentleman who happened to be on the launch crew of the Apollo II.
He told her lots of stories about space shuttles and walks on the moon.
He held her and gave her lots of love.  When he was unable to care for
her anymore some people came and took her away to a strange place.
That's when she came into my life.  A dirty little piece of fuzz that
loved to snuggle and nip feet.  Stubborn and smart, always the first to
try something new.  She was the boss of the bunch.  The tiniest, but the
bravest.  Quick to come running to be picked up and loved, and first in
line for treats.  Loved to swim in the bath tub.  Last December she
developed a bad case of "rat tail" that was treated but never really
cleared up.  In June she started loosing hair all over her body.  In July
I took her to the vet, unable to deny any longer that something was very
wrong.  She was scheduled for surgery the following Tuesday, and came
through it with flying colors.  I took her home yesterday afternoon,
about 4-5 hours after surgery.  She did ok until I went to bed at 5 a.m.
this morning.  She was having trouble keeping warm, but she seemed to be
ok at that time and I was pooped.  I got up at 8 a.m.  to check her and
she was so cold I thought she's passed.  I picked her up and she was
putting her legs and tail out straight, like she was trying to push
something away, and she would bend her head way back like she was trying
to reach an itch on her back.  I held her for about 15 minutes trying
to warm her up, but it wasn't working.  I got dressed and drove like a
maniac to meet the vet at the door when he opened at 9.  Our regular vet,
the one who did the surgery, was running late, but his back up vet was
there.  She gave Little Bit some sub-Q fluids and some more by mouth.
she seemed to perk up a bit, and unlocked her jaw, then she started sort
of gasping for air.  She had been making these soft sort of crying noises
since the surgery too.  Anyway, that lasted about 5 minutes and then she
just stopped breathing.  The vet took her away and did CPR and gave her
some epinephrine and oxygen to try to revive her.  She passes to the
bridge at about 9:30 this morning.  I wrapped her in her favorite blankie
after letting everyone else say goodbye.  (Milly, her cagemate, gave her
a bit of a grooming around the ears to help her on her way and keep her
pretty at the bridge).  I put her back into the earth from whence she
came and cried with my daughter.  I've cried most of the day.  I pray
she's happy and healthy now.  I know she has a beautiful full coat of
shiny white fur and is waiting for me.  Little Bit, know you are missed.
You were only with me for 9 short months, but I loved so much.  Look for
Fifi and Damien, tell them I'm coming and to have fun while you all wait
for me.  I'm so glad I brought you home last night instead of leaving you
alone at the vets.  At least I got to be with you and you didn't have to
be alone while you passed.
 
Thanks to all for your prayers for her recovery.  She's safe and healthy
now, even though she had to leave this world.
 
Shelley
 
I'm done with fuzzies.  I'll keep my three remaining babies, but I won't
get anymore, ever.  This hurts too much.
[Posted in FML issue 4212]