Got some sad news today.  I'd been hopeful, but I was just told by my vet
that my Patches is slowly dying on me.  Perhaps this is a better way to tell
the story.
 
FOR PATCHES
You haven't been feeling well lately so finally today
I called up the vet thinking, surely she'd say
That all would be fine, it's not a big deal
With a little love and some care, you'd quickly heal.
Sadly, though, this was not the case
And soon there were tears falling down my face.
She said, "your little guy isn't doing so well
And there's not much we can do as far as I can tell.
There are treatment options, but the cost is quite high
And even if you go that road, he still surely will die.
The cancers are spreading at much too fast a rate
And to try to stop it, well I feel it's just too late.
I know you have had him only such a short time..."
All the while, I'm thinking, can the tumors be benign?
But no, she said, "there's even more going on;
Too many diseases and he's not going to live long."
But what can I do, I pleaded with her
I can't just let him go, I've got to be sure
If there's anything to be done, just say the word!
But "I'm sorry" are the only words from her that I heard.
So with tears on my face and the hole in my heart
I began to realize that of my grief, this is only the start.
For you see, he's still here and him I can still hold
But I won't get to love him or watch him grow old.
I have to just wait until I see that he's in pain
Then the next thing to do, it will drive me insane.
I'll have to decide when to say, enough is enough
Oh God, how can you make me go through something so tough!
I'll have to be the one to say "it's time to put him to sleep,
His life is ending and he's becoming so weak."
I'm not strong enough, how could I be
The one to say, "now sweetie, listen to me
Your health is failing and before it gets too much
I'm taking you today to die, come on, sweetie don't fuss
You see, you're going to a real special place..."
He'll be looking up, innocently, into my anguished face...
"It's the Rainbow Bridge, no sweetie, I won't be there
But it's a place where you'll be happy and in good care."
Then I'll bundle him up, and down the road we will go
But when I come back, this time I will be alone.
No, there has to be some much better way,
So if there is, why can't anyone say?
I'd do anything to save him, my sweet darling boy
Who since he came to me has brought nothing buy joy.
All I can do now is trust in above
That I can give my sweetie lots of care and love
And when the time comes, somehow I'll just know
That he is ready, and in some way he'll tell me so.
For the uncertainty, the "what-ifs", I surely cannot take
As this is the life of my baby at stake.
For now I'll have to savor his life, I suppose
For how long I'll have him to love, well only God knows.
I have to be strong, and when I look into those dark eyes
I can't think about the sadness that will come when we say our goodbyes.
I'll give him the love of a lifetime, each and every day
So when it's all over and he's at the Bridge in play
I'll know I did all I could during the time he was with me
That he'll look down at me and say, "Mommy, sad please don't be
You gave me more in my short life than most ever had
And for that, my Mommy, I'll eternally be glad."
 
That is all I can write now, it hurts too much.  If anyone wants to know
more about his illnesses, feel free to e-mail me and I'll talk then.  Thanks
to you all for allowing me to write this here, I needed some support.
 
To see a picture of patches, go to my web site, to "my page." Url is at the
end of the message.
 
Kymberlie Becker
Director, Pennsylvania Ferret Rescue Association
"Forget Puppy Love...There's nothing Greater than Ferret Love!" TM
http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/ferretlady
[Posted in FML issue 1995]