I wasn't sure if there are/is a bridge greeter or reporter anymore. But, I would like to post that Data, my first personal boy to pass away, ventured to the Rainbow Bridge earlier this month. He had lymphoma. It is incredible how much lymphoma I have dealt with in the last two years. So much so I asked the vets to take pictures at necropsy. I just could not believe it, one after another. But, such is life. Data was a Marshall Farms (all mine are) that was starved after being bought at Petco, and returned by the owner. He recuperated at the vet with Grey, a ferret of the same age who was starved and hit (often). They were returned to the store in good health from the vet, and I bought them both. This was right before I officially did rescue. I hadn't planned on getting him; I'd had my eye on Grey, who had behavioural issues (heavy biting, sucking, and odd latching). But Data was his best friend, so they both came home with me. Data always was a sweetheart. He was the one who would do tricks for treats. I said dance, and he would turn around in a circle, and stand up for a treat. But if I just gave him a treat, he didn't want it; he wanted to do the dance first. Then he would eat the treat. He was so smart. He'd claw at my foot for attention, something I miss and when someone accidently runs over my foot now, I think it's him. But no one is really scratching my foot; only he did that. And it hurt. He'd also "comb" my hair with his front paws. Just digging, really....I think. He loved to curl up in the sheet when I played the sheet game with all of them. He'd march right in the middle, with everyone else playing, and make a little "nest" in the middle of the room and curl up to sleep, but the others would wake him. He had adrenal surgery in February. Two or three weeks later, lymphoma hit him overnight. The vet said he saw slightly enlarged lymph nodes during the adrenal surgery, but nothing to be alarmed about. We kept him alive for five days; it became clear he would not get strong enough to do chemotherapy. We had to put him to sleep. I just couldn't post this sooner. Yes I love all my ferrets the same. But some of them just make a deeper hole in my heart when they go. Data was a people ferret. Most of mine are just absorbed in each other, and seek me out for a little playtime and then go, run back to the group. Data hung out with us; he'd curl up on us, and look into our eyes, listen, look, and express himself. I guess you could say he was more mature. The others, some of them barely look at me (Fisher!!) and try to scamper away quickly to go play if I hold them. Data was just.... special to us in that he really did want to connect to us on a deeper level. I miss you Data, and I hope you are having fun across the Rainbow Bridge with all of your friends. He was only three and a half. Laryssa [Posted in FML 5909]