A couple of years ago we were hit with a very nasty bug here. It was
a gi bug that came and went and came and went and just went around
and around never completely leaving our shelter. Some of our kids got
it once and it was done, some were never able to shake it and they
survived for months, some times a couple of years with almost constant
diarrhea. When they came to the end of their lives, some old, some
young, and we necropsied these kids we would find astounding things.
Things that would make you stare in horror and wonder how they managed
to live as long and as well as they had. I could share those with you,
but why?

Our vet and I discussed the situation and decided the only safe thing
to do for ferrets in our community was for us to close to intakes. That
was really hard. Unless there was room in one of our foster houses we
couldn't take anyone in. Unless the ferret was certain to die without
the critical care we can provide here, they couldn't come. We had no
way to tell what exposure to the virus living at our house would do.
Most of our kids got by okay, but not all. So coming here was
potentially a great risk counter balanced only by certain death if
turned away. Only other shelter folks faced with turning away those
in need can know how heartbreaking this can be.

I searched every new, current, and even old papers written on ferret
gi problems I could find. Many people in our community helped me find
information, referrals, studies, the works. It has always amazed me how
close we ferret folks are and how far we'll go to help each other. I
found an article written by a vet listing symptoms similar to what we
were seeing and wrote to her. The next day there three were emails in
my in box not just from her, but two other doctors who she thought
might be able to help. In addition there was a great big arrow pointing
to Dr. Matti Kiupel at MSU and a notation to get samples into him.

I contacted Dr. Matti, told him what we had going on. Of course he
wanted biopsies and other samples, but I was not willing to risk
surgery on folks already teetering on the edge. Up stepped my sweet,
brave, courageous, Geeber. "Mom, I know you need to do this thing.
Let me help." and he chose to die during business hours at the vet's
office. Off went Dr. Matti's biopsies and samples because a brave soul
at my house included the lives of others in his Plan.

Dr. Matti and his staff ran and re-ran and re-re-ran tests on Geeber's
donation. When they were not comfortable with what they saw, they ran
things over. They were very thorough, very respectful of my baby's gift
and sacrifice and very patient with me. Bless them.

They finally put a name to the demon who haunts us to this day - a
mutated corona virus. We all call the original ECE.

So I have made a small donation. I wish it were larger, but like so
many others, the hours at my job have been cut by 2/3s and we are
struggling to stay afloat, caring for the medical needs of the kids
here.

So please Sharon, we sent a paypal to the cause. Please record it in
Geeber's name for research into the various corona viruses that are
claiming our children in honor of his sacrifice. A week ago today it
took our youngest, 4 year old Beathovan.

Respectfully,
Brenda, Momma to the FurpeopleWeyr
FurpeopleWeyr.com

[Posted in FML 7041]