Dear Sandee-- The Walsh Family Business has suffered another loss... Almost 6 years ago, I rescued a trio of Boys from a housing project in Rockland MA. Two of the three boys were healthy, one was as bald as could be... all three were so thin that bones were sticking out everywhere... their cage was so filthy that the wire was rotted thru, and the only bedding they had was a urine-soaked pair of !!!painters pants!!! The water in their bottle was yellow... Horrible!!! Certainly, the first order of business was a bath (NO NO NO!!!), then clean beds and good food and water. After a week of observation, settle-in time, and TLC, Baldy went for his adrenal surgery. He recovered very quickly, and fur was sprouting within a week!!! They (Baldy, Ferris II, and Twister) were terrific boys, happy to have a clean forever home, lots of out-time and a cool Mommy... Shortly after moving to a new home 3 years ago, Twister (named for the thing he did with his tail when he was playing in the tube) became ill, wasted away, couldn't keep food down (there was no blockage and no Megaesophagus either...) and finally was helped to the Bridge. THEN, Ferris also went completely bald, and developed insulinoma - he is too old now for adrenal surgery- nearly 8... AND he smells like FRITO'S corn chips... Mommy loves the way he smells!! THEN, the object of this post- Baldy who was also insulinomic, developed more adrenal tumors and balded again... He grew a large tumor on the side of his face, lost the use of his hind legs, and became blind... He was a tru fighter.. nothing seemed to stop him despite his terrible illnesses- he still insisted on coming out to make the rounds, to play in his favorite KRAKLE SAK, and to sip his Marshall soup... towards the end, his inability to use those back legs prevented him from making the litter pan, and he was terribly frustrated by this... He enjoyed those warm soothing cleansing baths to wash that nasty poop off so he could go back to bed... He went happily to the Bridge tonight held lovingly in Mommy's arms . I hope Twisty-tie will be waiting for him... Please, Sandee, Tell Twister how much Ferris and Mommy miss him, and ask him to find Baldy and cuddle with him just like Ferris and Mommy used to do with them both... All our Heartbroken love. Greatest Respects to those who have crossed, and Heartfelt gratitude to you and Sara who watch over them all for us. And finally to that very nice lady who offered Tazzy-wheels for Baldy, and to Auntie who just so happened to have a set on loan from her sister, THANK YOU ... perhaps there will be another "Baldy" out there who could use them.... [Posted in FML issue 4365]