On April the 11th I brought Loki and Marley in for a check up with the vet because I thought I felt masses in their abdomens. Loki's spleen was removed on the 13th with a mass inside it that stretched out 6 inches. He is fine now and back to his bad self. Marley also had two masses inside his abdomen but we could not operate because his back was hurt during the x-ray process. He had feeling in his back legs but his back could not support him. For three weeks we tried steroid injections and steroids by mouth. I was fine with a handicapped ferret as long as Marley was not in pain. I rearranged my bedroom for him and for awhile he was ok. The medicine started really hurting his stomach and the vet prescribed medicine for the pain, but Marley hated it. Marley slowly started to resist me hand feeding him because of the pain in his stomach. Marley came to me in February of 2003 from a post I read on the FML about a very wonderful ferret mom of four that had to give up her ferrets due to allergies. This wonderful mom drove five hours to interview me and my husband before I met her babies. Lindsey and her parent's drove two SUV's the following week end to my house and delivered Marley Bug, Loki, Lexi and little Jill to me. It was very emotional for Lindsey and her family to give up her babies, but that were very comfortable with the placement. From day one there was something different about Marley. He would snuggle up with you for hours, and really preferred to spend time with me sleeping instead of playing with the other ferrets. He was and eye and ear kisser!!! And was the one I would bring out to show everyone who had not been around ferrets before. He never bit not even when he was playing. Lindsey for the past two years has been back to see her babies and still sends gifts to them. On Monday May the 2nd I knew Marley was in pain and he let me know it was alright to say good bye for now. My husband and I had discussed how we wanted Marley to be put to sleep with my vet the Friday before. When we arrived at Dr. Smith's office his staff brought us into the operating room, but before we took him to the garden of flowers outside and let him play in the dirt for a few minutes. He loved the outside! I held Marley and told him how much he was loved by so many people and if more ferrets were like him there would not be so many in shelters. (I have 18 abused, neglected and unwanted ferrets) I ask Marley to say hello to the other ferrets that have passed away and that I would see him again. We slipped the mask over his face and put him to sleep like he was going to surgery. He did not struggle and yawned a lot while I talked to him. When he was completely out Dr. Smith gave him the heart stick while I still held him. I kissed him good bye and had him cremated. I will forever be touched by this little angel and I will miss him for the rest of my life. Carol and Marc Rager Missing: Marley Bug, Oscar ferret, Sweet Lilly, Bailey Boy, Elle Mae, Duckie, Farrah, Jack and Jeffrey Ferrets: Loki, Lexi, Little Jill, Big Jill, Pacey, Newman, Stewart, Sherman, Dinks, Fritz, Callie, Ricki, Vincent, Samson, Spencer, Logan, Baxter and Scottie Sammy the dog And the wanna be ferrets the cats Menew and Ruby Tues [Posted in FML issue 4877]