Ben is asleep in my lap right now after "fleaing" both of us, cleaning his
face and looks up once in a while to make sure I'm still here.  What a
spoiled ferret he became very quickly.  He sure deserve it!  He's done
really great the last few days, playing in the bathroom and bathtub a few
times a day.  If he's not in the bathroom, he wants to be held all the
time!  If I think he's asleep and go to put him to bed, he wakes right up,
then will settle down again when I rock him.  Of course, he usually gets
his way or he'll start trying to get under the mat in his cage and knows
I'll take him out to stop him.  He's also very itchy and it could be from
having heat on here in sunny Florida.  A few times, he's made the area
around his tube bleed from scratching so I *have* to pick him up to stop
the scratching too.
 
Got another good look in his mouth with some big yawning yesterday and it's
very scary to see so much of the graft gone.  I'd guess almost half.  I
have no idea yet if there's going to be enough of the flap left to do
another graft.
 
Ben's personality has really come out now that he's adjusted to the feeding
tube and no longer has any infection.  He seems to feel very good, is a big
charmer, funny and truly seems like a happy little guy.  If he didn't have
the tube in his neck, you'd never know there's a thing wrong with him.  He
didn't know what to do with the first toys I put out for him but he's
slowly playing with some ping pong balls & plastic eggs.  I don't take my
eyes off him for a second when he's out, so I've given him some things to
try to interest him that I wouldn't normally give the fuzz kids but he
likes to play with me best.  He jumps, bounces and "attacks" me.  :) He
jumps in the bathtub if I don't catch him first and put him in.  He works
very hard at getting the stopper out.  :) Have a towel in there so he won't
slide but he'll dance and seems to know to hold the side of his head up
that has the tube.  Feedings have gone really well and he's gained 1/4 lb.
so have to watch he doesn't gain too much.
 
I'm really afraid of what's going to happen on his check-up, probably late
next week.  And what can be done for him if another graft isn't possible.
Dr. Bennett feels the graft should not break down any more than it has and
said he still has some tricks up his sleeve.  At least that's encouraging!
 
Please keep Ben in your thoughts still.  He has a long way to go yet but
thought you'd like to know he's feeling so good and having some fun.
 
Best to all,
Jackie
[Posted in FML issue 2953]