I went to visit Helen Wojciechowski today at the hospital. She is over her pneumonia but is still having trouble w/ the swelling and thrush (sores in the mouth that make eating and drinking virtually impossible). She got several calls while I was there but only talked to her pastor, telling everyone else she'd call them back. I brought her some chemo caps I'd made, a ferret book w/ lots of pictures (she's so ferret hungry), and a cute stuffed ferret toy. There was good news. Her color is good, her blood counts are good, and they may release her next Friday! Needless to say she can't wait to get back home to see her family and her ferrets. With the price of gas her family hasn't been able to visit much and I know she's had few visitors. She's gotten lots and lots of cards and I'd bet she'd like more. I don't know her address at the hospital, but you can send them to the shelter (the address will be below) and she's sure to get them. The bad news. Since having to close the ferret shelter's doors to incoming ferrets the donations have dried up. Shelters took the healthy young ones in hopes of rehoming them. But Helen insisted the seniors or the ill ferrets stay w/ her. So she's still got 32 ferrets in her house. I think 4 are personal, but I'm not positive about that number. Many of the seniors have special needs and have to have regular vet care. I would like to ask if anyone could donate for food and litter and vet bills. She has a link to paypal on her webpage but I don't know if anyone is checking it right now. The link to the shelter is: http://www.angelfire.com/biz7/hhferretrescue/ There is a link for donations via paypal, but you can do it the old fashion way, too, through snail mail. I'm not sure what foods she feeds, but I suspect any high quality foods would be appreciated. Helping Hands Ferret Rescue c/o Helen Wojciechowski Rt. 4 Box 278 Newcastle, PA 16101 If anyone lives nearby and wants to drop in and help w/ shelter chores I know her daughter, Sue, could use the help. Call first to make sure someone is going to be home. 724-654-1596 Thanks, from the bottom of my heart. Pat and the Furry Inspirations [Posted in FML 5948]