While sitting here thinking about losing Drake and Luke I figured out we have lost a lot of babies recently.... and people... 14 total. 12 ferrets and 2 parents February 5, 2003 - Shelter baby Buster was helped to the bridge (insulinoma) February 10, 2003 - Newly adopted out Scotty escaped from his home and has not been found June 14, 2003 - Shelter baby Sophie passed away (helicobacter) August 30, 2003 - Adopted out shelter baby Stinker passed away suddenly (maybe lymphoma) September 5, 2003 - Shelter baby Zippy passed away (insulinoma and complications from surgery) October 28, 2003 - Shawns dad suddenly passed away (blood clot) October 29, 2003 - Adopted out Shelter baby Mocha passed away at our house (helicobacter) November 3, 2003 - Adopted out Shelter baby Dakota passed away (maybe heart failure) November 5, 2003 - Newly adopted out Misty escaped from her home and was killed by a car. December 21, 2003 - My mom passed away (unknown cause....) December 24, 2003 - Shelter baby Rocky was helped to the bridge (cancer in liver and other organs) February 9, 2004 - Newly adopted Jenny escaped from her home and has not been found February 13, 2004 - Shelter baby Drake was helped to the bridge (cancer in the pancreas) February 18, 2004 - Shelter baby Luke passed away (awaiting results) That is a lot to digest...... and yet I know I will because so many other people have it worse and because I was blessed to know and love the ferrets and people that have passed on.... they will forever be with me, watching over me and holding me in my time of needs... as are my friends.... With all this sadness I go on because not only must I, but because of all of the joy out of life that is still yet to live. To see the ferrets that have been adopted out from the shelter and to hear the joy in their new families voice... it makes life seem a little easier. Please keep Bugz in your prayers. He is our 11 year old albino boy that has an abscessed tooth. He also has cardiomyopathy and has to go in to have the tooth pulled. We might lose him....... But have no choice as antibiotics take it away a little but it came back... so it must come out. He goes in Thursday, February 26. Joanne Ruffner Ferret Corner Shelter "Ferrets are the Spice of Life" Shelter: www.geocities.com/ferretcorneraz There's a pot of Ferret Love at the end of the Rainbow [Posted in FML issue 4429]