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Gregor Is Ill

5K views 20 replies 6 participants last post by  Holly 
#1 ·
:(

Gregor Samsa, my beautiful little baby boy, is ill.

He will probably die.

He's having an ultrasound right now. There is either fluid or tumors all around his lung area, obscuring his heart. If it's fluid, it can maybe be drained off, and he might live a little bit longer.

If it's tumors, everyone recommends that I "put him to sleep" because he can't breathe, and it's a horrible way to die. (He's on oxygen right now.)

He seemed fine two days ago.

I am sitting here, typing next to his empty cage.

He's my best friend. He's alive right now. Please, please, send your good thoughts and prayers, and hopes that he lives. He's my everything.

 
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Discussion starter · #3 ·
Thank you, twitch.

It's tumors. We're down to the option of "medical management," say the docs, to try to buy him a little extra good time.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Thank you for the good wishes.

Some vets are recommending euthanasia, and one vet seems willing to work with him to keep him alive, giving him fluids and Baytril.

This actually turns out to be "mycoplasma" bacteria, and the reason we can't remove the tumors is, in part, because some of the tumors are not ~near~ his lungs; they ~are~ his lungs, "which have consolodated into masses."

Consequently, he can't breathe very well and is on oxygen right now.

He's supposed to go to a specialist in a few hours, but I have my doubts about taking him off oxygen right now. Will he even survive the stress of the drive?

I dearly love my little boy. I'm worried about the trouble we would both get into if we didn't have each other to keep an eye on.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
Incidentally, what does "Pink Eeper" next to my name mean? Baby rat?
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
Today, February 14, 2007, was definitely the hardest day of my life.

On the advice of three vets, (and two "emergency vets,") I had to euthanize Gregor this morning.

I stayed with him the whole time, stroking him when I could, and talking to him without pause. His passing seemed...peaceful.

I don't know the words to express how much he has meant to me.
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
Thank you. I do have to say that he seemed sort of...relieved, or relaxed...when they gave him the anasthetic gas. I was there to pet him and talk to him, and I can say that his passing did appear to be easy on him.
 
Discussion starter · #12 ·
Special thanks to Pocket, for being there to meet Gregor, and mommy him!

At a time like this, there's not much to say, but I feel pretty crummy. It means a lot to me that my friends here are supportive and understanding. I need people like you, who don't say things like, "Well, he was just a rat, you can get another one."

Thank you for valildatlng Gregor's short but meaningful life.

Incidentally, he is being preserved by freeze-dry taxidermy. I sent him off, and in five months, he should come back to me in a form that will last forever. I would be happy to pass along a photo when he comes home.
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
Thank you very much. Love to Daisy in heaven, and all of your "kids" here.
 
Discussion starter · #17 ·
Thank you.
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
Thank you, fallinstar.
 
Discussion starter · #21 ·
Thank you, Kubo_Kita. I would be lying if I didn't admit to having a good cry every now and again over Gregor, who was a wonderful friend.

I do love my new baby, Augustus, though, and sometimes he helps me to feel better.

You have my deepest sympathies for little Kurenai; it's sad when they die so young! But I hope that Gregor and Kurenai find each other in Ratly Heaven, and become good friends.
 
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