Well, I've been gone away from the forum for a while. We were trying to deal with MoJoMan's illness, Theo's illness, and the rest of the drama that comes from being owned by ferrets. MoJoMan was one of the last, of the original gang. He developed Adrenal disease, about 2.5 years ago....and by the time we found out, he was too old to do surgery to remove the tumor. He did very well, for quite a long time. For alot of you, you may remember he was one of the first to get the new experimental drug, that came all the way from Australia (deslorin?). I'm sorry, but right now, my tears won't allow me to even remember the damn name of the drug. We did the melatonin implants, the lupron, and the Australia drug. None of them worked. Our last attempt was about 4.5 months ago, when we did a double melatonin implant. Some of you may smile and remember this....he grew fur back, almost immediately....on...his BUTT. No other fur ever came back. We finally gave up the bus on hoping that we could find something that would work, and concentrated on "comfort" and quality of life. Moj did his BEST and stayed up and bouncing around, even when these past 4 weeks or so, he lost most of the rest of his fur. He was lucky enough to keep his "head" fur, and never lost the new butt hair. One little patch.....one little patch....damn, you'd think that after going thru this a couple times, I could get thru it easier, but how does it EVER get easier, to give up a piece of your soul? I love my cats, and I love my dog - but NOTHING compares to the pain, of losing one of these magnificent creatures, and I cannot for the life of me, understand, why God would make such an exquisite little creature, roll so much love into their fuzzy little bodies....only to have them dies these hideous deaths. More research is needed to find a CURE for this - not a "mask" for the symptoms. The "ferret breeders" need to STOP mass producing them, and concentrate some of the billions they make in breeding them, into researching ways to KEEP THEM ALIVE. I am so tired of watching these beautiful little guys, go through such horror and pain...... MoJo retained his spirit, his bounce, and his drive - right up til today, when I came home from work, and found him. I put him to bed last night and he was fine....came home today, and he looked like he lost half of his body mass, within 24 hours of time....how the HELL can that happen? I mean - he WAS fine - he wasn't hurting that we knew yet, and he ate and drank like nothing was wrong....and then today, he was half of himself, quite literally. It looked like we starved him for months to make him look the way he did. He was still ambulating quite well, walking, running, climbing into his hammie, albeit much more slowly. When I picked him up though, I knew something was drastically changed and when I felt his skin - usually hotter than Hades, it was cool to the touch....and he was whimpering.....I noted also, that he had "potty" that was dark and tarry, and we all know what that means. I attempted to get him to try some ferrevite, and ferretone, and even water. No go. I knew then, that was time for us to say good-bye. Unfortunately, it was AFTER hours, and Doc Levenson was gone for the day. My only option? Was VCA. now, not sure how many of you remember the Helena story, and how badly they messed me up, and killed her.... but this time? I was AMAZED at these people. They were compassionate, kind, caring, considerate, and did everything they could to make him, and myself - more comfortable. They put us in a little room, with a nice sofa, kleenex, and a warm ambiance. They were going to insert an IV and allow me to hold him after they administered his "sleeping" medicine. They took MoJo in the back, to insert a iv. Unfortunately, it was too difficult for them to find a vein, due to dehydration. What really broke my heart was that I was unable to hold my Little Man, in his last moments. They did bring him to me though, prior to the final moment and explained they tried as hard as they could, but they couldn't do this the "conventional" way. They stated that they couldn't allow me to witness the alternative. Hell, I couldn'ta done that if they'da asked me to. I did that with Zeus, and I couldn't ever see that way of euthanasia again. So, I held my little man......I kissed his little nose...and cried. You know what hurt the most? He looked up at me, with his trusting little eyes, and then he attempted to comfort ME....he gave me a little kiss.....and laid his head back on my heart. I held him, stroked him, kissed him - and told him to look for Ricky, Artie, Lena, and Zeuser. I told him all about The Bridge, and how when he got there, there was a very special Ferret Angel, who would give him his fur back, take away all his pain, and give him his WINGS. Now MoJo preferred the color green, to all others. And screw any idiots out there that say that animals are color blind. He loved green, of all shades....so I am hoping that our blessed little Ferret Angel will give him green ones. My heart is breaking, and I am so going to miss this little man....he was one of the BEST ferrets I have had the honor of sharing my life with, and while I am going to miss him so much, I know he isn't hurting anymore, he WILL get his fur back, and I pray to God he will be waiting for me at The Bridge. My apologies this is so long. My condolences to those of you who are going through your own heartbreak due to your loss's, and my prayers for all the sick fuzzlets out there, who are comforting their own Hoomans right now. May God watch over all of you, and your fuzzies and may you all be healed, in your own ways, in your own times, for any and all illnesses and heartbreak. A large piece of my soul left my body today. I'm not sure how much more soul or heart for that matter, that I have left. It rips me apart, every time one of these magnificent, kind, loving, intelligent, beautiful, warm and sensitive animals leaves my life....but I know, they'll be no more..... tears in Heaven.....I know that has to be true, because I am crying them all right now, here on Earth....I feel like my heart was ripped out of my body, and right now, if someone gave me the choice, I'd gladly go with him - to see him to The Bridge.. Sarah Ferret, please watch out for my Little Man....and if he gives you any lip, just say to him: MoJoMan, please listen......please make sure that Ricky, Helena, Zeus and Artie know he is on his way. He will be scared up there, and lost and I think, missing me, as much as I am missing him. Please tell him I am sorry I couldn't make his life better, and take away his disease. Please let him pick out the BIGGEST, BADDEST Green Wings that were ever made, and let him fly......his body may have left me, but his spirit, and memory - will live with me forever. Please, please - remember my MoJoMan - as I will remember your kids, in my/your prayers tonite. Love to All The Fuzzies, Healthy or sick, and their Hoomans that they own....hug and kiss them all, one more time...........For The MoJoMan! Thank you all... Kim and Her HeartBroken Army Of Idiots From The Land of Enchantment... [Posted in FML 6731]