Dear FMLers, Thanks to SOS, MSU has been able to determine that there is ECE in our ferrets. I want to thank everyone who helped support us through this crisis with an open mind and without judgment. If you would like to see the results of the ECE and coccidia tests, the PDF documents from MSU and the summary in MS Word of the coccidia screenings at 400x magnification done at our vet's office can be downloaded from our website. The good thing about the ECE fecal test shows shedding virus, which only occurs in a ferret who would have experienced ECE sometime recently (not like some virus tests which can give you positives based on years-old antibodies). In the meantime, any other donations received have been used to keep us in supplies and tend to the other vet needs of our ferrets. We are not able to use the raffle items we have on hand in fear of spreading the ECE virus. The good news is that Holly's blood work showed a UTI and a very drained body, not kidney failure, so our DMK will see her eighth birthday, adrenal and insulinoma besides. No heart problems for Bug. I am moving. I suppose the timing is good overall -- the rescue has to be on quarantine for almost the rest of the year, and Mom needs me there anyway (even if we didn't expect me to "have to" be there). The ferrets will be split between my mother's and father's residences, which are only a quick few miles apart. Because of the unfortunate need to split up the rescue, we need to take on extra supplies -- tunnels, baby gates, play pens, water bottles, etc. If you have extras and can ship to NC or OH within the next six weeks, please email me. I don't expect to be writing much as I sort through the minutiae of legal separation and pack up my belongings. With Mom's cancer in her lung, ribs, and adrenal gland now, I've got to get there for the new round of radiation and chemo. So much to do and quickly. Well, I've seen plenty of "I lost my job" raffles. I'd do a "I lost my husband" raffle or a "I've got to move the ferrets and me 600 miles" raffle, but, again, all my "goodies" are occupying an ECE-contaminated home. If you just didn't think that was at all humorous, not even in the slightest, just blame it on my mindset lately. If you see enough things go wrong in a short period of time, you find yourself laughing at the oddest things. So, if the ECE debate doesn't blow up again, I'm probably going to be keeping to just email for awhile. Anyone is welcome to write, and you can imagine how desperate donations are needed right now (If you've even got a spare gas gift card lying around I can use for the moving truck...). Bless you all for your thoughts and prayers. Lori of Ferrets at Heart Huron, Ohio (419) 433-6016 http://ferretsatheart.com/ [Posted in FML 7478]