Farewell little Missy....
I'd originally hoped to write a very different weekend update, something to remind folks that I am still alive and about and reading... but the weekend ended up overshadowed. (I know I wrote about this on Facebook, but not everyone here is on FB and vice versa.) If you're new to my LJ, you can click on the "Guinea Pigs" tag on the left (or click here) for more on our pigs.
As many of you know, little Missy has been ill and steadily losing weight since the early summer. When we went to wake her Sunday morning to be handfed, she was so lethargic we thought she'd slipped away in the night. Though she rallied a bit after feeding, so soon slipped back into lethargy.
After breakfast and coffee and a long conversation, Brenda and I realized that it was time and we could no longer avoid making that final terrible decision. We've worked so hard for months now, and tried to say goodbye many times, but then Missy would rally for a day or two and we'd back away. But now we were ready, and little Missy was telling us she was ready too. Further poking and prodding and the indignity and stress of handfeeding would serve no one any further good. We made an appointment, took her down to our vets and said our goodbyes... and she passed laying quietly in Brenda's lap.
The rest of the day was pretty much a loss... we napped because we needed to, washed dishes because we had to, and broke down and put away her cage because that was less painful than habitually checking it to see how she was doing.
All our other girls got some snuggle time and treats so they knew we weren't forgetting them.
It's amazing how the little fuzzy ones can work their way into your heart...