Tails’ Blography

This morning I was woken up by M who told me Iso was making a funny noise. I got to the cage and her breathing was very laboured. Her nose was snotty so its almost like her nose was too blocked for her to breathe so I steamed some Prep in a mug (I didnt have any Vicks) and it seemed to help but I phoned the vet and he said to bring her in so we can put her on oxygen.

I got to the vet, mom drove, and in the car Iso was cuddled on my lap, Macro (came along cos she was clearly stressing over her Iso, and we made the decision to say goodbye after an analysis by the vet.

Iso was very listless, her eyes were dull (which was my main indication) and she just gave me an energy of saying its was ok. I spoke to her, told her I loved her, cuddled her, explained that she mustnt feel bad about leaving me and if she sees a light. That she must go and join her Wormy and her sister, Figgy.

She went peacefully and I felt we all did the right thing. But I’m going to miss that Hamsterrat. My Isovice, Iso1000 (cos she was noisy when she chewed the bars), my tube earred rat. Esp since we’d grown so close over the past month what with me feeding her every day on my lap and her cuddling with me on the couch.

I got an extra month with her I never thought I’d have. She handled her PT better than most of the rats I’ve had in the past who’ve succumbed to that in their lives. I was, and still am, so proud of the rat she was.

RIP my Iso

Over December my Orly was ill with headtilt but with the grace of God, pulled through before Christmas. I medicated her on Baytril right up until I left for JHB for training.
When I returned, she was ill again and last Saturday she had a seizure, which I think could have been brought on by the Doxy/Baytril combo. I stopped using the Baytril, but expected to have to take her to the vet on Monday to say goodbye.

But by Monday, she was fine! Her head tilt had cleared up, there was no porperhin to be seen, and although she sneezed occasionally, her appetite was good, she was eating healthily and zooming around the couch at the best speed she could muster. My heart soared for her! Every time I looked into the Settitube, hammock or box she was sleeping in, my heart swelled to see her bright eyes looking back at me. She had made it through a second illness. My girl is strong!

Yesterday morning I sat by the cage, thinking how blessed I am to be working from home that I can see them all day and cuddle them when I feel lonely. I played with my two girls yesterday morning and took a few videos of them on my phone. I picked Orly up and cuddled her to my chest and she bruxed. She had started bruxing every time I cuddled her, so I was unsure whether she was happy or annoyed I gave them left over OatsoEasy and Orly ate heartily alongside Wormy.

I left for yoga that evening, at 17:50 and returned at 18:20. I walked through the lounge, put down my yoga things and turned the oven on for dinner. Immediately after that I went straight to the cage and found Orly on the floor of the cage. She had an unnaturally flat look to her and first thing I thought (from V’s descriptions of her boy’s seizure) that she was recovering from a seizure. Then I noticed her back legs stretched out behind her and her little back feet were blue.

I’m ashamed to say I couldnt reach in and check for myself, so I ran to get the bf who reached in and felt she was very cool. I sobbed so hard because this was so unexpected after the week we had had. Eventually I reached in and picked her up. Her belly was still warm but there was no heartbeat and she was blue. I cuddle her lifeless body for a long time and eventually wrapped her in toilet paper, put her in a box, and put her in the deepfreeze. I will send her for cremation today.

I dont know what happened. She seemed fine, there hadnt been any sign of returning headtilt and I hadnt seen another seizure. I didnt notice any breathing problems like gasping or anything to point towards a collapsed lung, so I can only presume she had a heart attack. She looked peaceful, so I pray it wasnt a painful death. I pray it was quick and that she didnt suffer.

My Orlith. You fought through two illnesses, you bullied Wormy and Ramoth in your prime, you melted Daddy’s heart to rats. You were my Ball-y, my Orlywhip, my Fatbelly Girl. I remember in your prime you were the hussy who vibrated every few days like clockwork. You will forever be in my heart, and you will be sorely missed. I love you my Ball. Thank you for fighting so hard for me, especially over Christmas. Finally you can rest in Peace. You deserve it.

Elena Ratilovski: May 3 1987 – Feb 29 2008

Its hard to believe its already been a year. I’ve mentioned it briefly in my blog before, but to explain, a year ago my friend’s sister was involved in a car accident. Her car rolled and she was flung approx 20m where she almost landed in the river running parallel to the road. She was blessed enough to have a paramedic driving by at the time (who actually left work 10min early and took a different route home for the first time that night!), and he managed to get her breathing again and got her to the hospital.

It was only 6 days later when we knew she was leaving us. There were four of us by her bedside when she passed, and that experience has changed my life. Its a whole new world when you have to comfort someone when her own sister, her best friend throughout her life, passes away. You wonder if you’re saying the right words, holding her for the proper amount of time, or just simply being what she needs to get through the one of the most difficult times she’ll ever have to go through.

Elena passed away on Feb 29 2008, a Leap Year. She was only 20 years old. Elena was a fun, outrageous yet kind individual, who’s time came too soon, and she is sorely missed by many, many people.

Elena, wherever you are, thank you for lighting up my life in the short time I knew you. Its been a year, so much has changed, but your memory lives on just as strong. Until we meet again…we miss you.

Viia and Elena at Kirstenbosch

Viia and Elena at Kirstenbosch

Her memorial table at her memorial service

A table of photos that people chose from, framed, and took home.

Elena Ratilovski: May 3 1987 – Feb 29 2008