I wanted to share this "celebration of life" from one of my foster
moms, and a good friend, about one of her foster kids, Maggie. If I
could only clone this foster mom out, I could use about a dozen more
like her. Wonderful, isn't it?! Enjoy....

Maren Doshier
Raisins From Heaven Ferret Rescue & Sanctuary
Hernando, MS

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it's about dancing in
the rain." My tiny dancer, Maggie... dances on.

Maggie passed away this morning, January 12, 2010 at around 7:30 am. We
expected Maggie to make the trip to the Rainbow Bridge late last week,
but ever the fighter she rallied her strength for one last weekend. She
was unusually active and ate with gusto for a couple of days. Sunday
she didn't seem to want her food, and then she refused to eat at all
yesterday. At only a little over one pound, we knew that she would
not last long. We took turns holding her in a cuddle pouch the last
two days. We snuggled, and rocked her to sleep. She would curl up and
listen to our hearts beat. I wanted to share a bit of her life with
you.

Maggie came to us for foster care in May 2008. She was so very tiny,
barely over 1/2 a pound. She bravely underwent surgery for adrenal
disease despite her tiny size and weak condition. During that surgery
she also lost one kidney. We spent many long hours hand feeding her 10
ccs every hour or so until her little belly expanded and she could take
more. We celebrated her first meal of over 35 ccs, and never failed to
tickle her tummy when it was full and slightly rounded. She eventually
tripled her body weight and began eating out of a bowl.

Maggie never really seemed to fully recover her balance after surgery
and would stumble, and sometimes fall over. Oliver Twist joined her
group last summer. He took it upon himself to see that Maggie grew
stronger. He began her physical therapy slowly. When they would be out
to play, he would gently nudge her forward and keep pace with her as
she made her way around the room. When she stumbled he would stand next
to her while she found her balance. When she was too tired to go on and
had to rest, he would curl up and wait for her. When he felt she ready,
he would nudge her forward again. Eventually she was making laps around
the room in a sort of stumbled run. Right up until the end, she would
run several laps around the room before going off to play.

Maggie is survived by her cage mates... Meredith, and Oliver Twist.
Maggie came to us after the unexpected death of her primary care giver.
Maggie is preceded in death by her bonded cage mate, Molly. We never
had the joy of knowing Molly personally, as she made the trip to the
Bridge shortly after her owner died. Trish loved her ferrets dearly
and I am confident that she, and Molly awaited Maggie's arrival at the
Rainbow Bridge. Every day Maggie was our little miracle. Despite the
odds she fought on. Every day for her was a gift to us. Maggie had a
strong spirit. Perhaps it was said best by D. H. Lawrence. "I never
saw a wild thing sorry for itself."

Audrey

[Posted in FML 6576]