At 10:16 Friday morning, my own little furry companion passed on. Thursday morning, I'd noticed she was lethargic, sprawled out on the floor of her cage(she's ALWAYS hiding) and with her eyes only have open. I noticed also that she was breathing rather heavily, using her whole body. I cleaned out her cage with bleach, but then had to go to my driver's ed lesson. I quickly hurried back after, and she was the same.
Muffin and I kept a close eye(s) on her the whole afternoon, and when she didn't get any better by nightfall I put her cage on my floor (where the temperature is more regulated), wrapped myself in a blanket and prepared for an all-night vigil. Pumpkin was always, always there for me to cuddle and hold and tell all my problems to. I'd be damned if i wasn't going to sit with her when she needed me! Around 4 or 5 I collapsed, but with her cage right close by my head so she'd know I was there.
Unfortunately again the next morning driver's ed pulled me away, but I explained to her that I wasn't abandoning her, I had to go and I'd be back as soon as I could be.
When I did get back, I noticed she was only worse. I gently pulled her out and held her on her side in my hand, stroking her fur softly until her breathing slowed and then finally stopped. For a few minutes after, all I could do was cry. It was totally expected, and I didn't believe that she'd make it through the day, but when it actually happened it was such a shock that my stoicism couldn't handle it. A few minutes later I called Mum and the small ones up, because I knew they should probably say goodbye.
After, I held her for a while more until I finally realized that she was gone, and wasn't coming back. I cleaned her up and wrapped her in paper towel, then put her back in her strawberry bed until we could bury her on Saturday morning.
I think what I'll miss most is the things I didn't realize I was so accustomed to- like closing my drawers gently so I won't wake her up, or the sound of her wheel at night (Friday and Saturday night I couldn't fall asleep without it). Or her nibbling on treats when she rode around in my pockets during the day (Mum doesn't realize how frequently she'd be in there- but we did all kinds of stuff together, like taking out the garbage, vacuuming- although she was scared of the vacuum) or letting her crawl around and explore my bed at night before I went to sleep.
Or, actually, when I smuggled fruit or vegetables up to my room, I'd always give her a piece or chunk. I'd love to watch her reactions to new foods! And then sit on her haunches and stuff her pouches full(once she tried to fit a whole baby carrot in there. She got about half in her pouch, sticking straight out, and the other half hanging out her her mouth. It was adorable)
Love you, my little Spider-Hamster. Hope you have lots of blueberries and exploring space where you are now.
Muffin and I kept a close eye(s) on her the whole afternoon, and when she didn't get any better by nightfall I put her cage on my floor (where the temperature is more regulated), wrapped myself in a blanket and prepared for an all-night vigil. Pumpkin was always, always there for me to cuddle and hold and tell all my problems to. I'd be damned if i wasn't going to sit with her when she needed me! Around 4 or 5 I collapsed, but with her cage right close by my head so she'd know I was there.
Unfortunately again the next morning driver's ed pulled me away, but I explained to her that I wasn't abandoning her, I had to go and I'd be back as soon as I could be.
When I did get back, I noticed she was only worse. I gently pulled her out and held her on her side in my hand, stroking her fur softly until her breathing slowed and then finally stopped. For a few minutes after, all I could do was cry. It was totally expected, and I didn't believe that she'd make it through the day, but when it actually happened it was such a shock that my stoicism couldn't handle it. A few minutes later I called Mum and the small ones up, because I knew they should probably say goodbye.
After, I held her for a while more until I finally realized that she was gone, and wasn't coming back. I cleaned her up and wrapped her in paper towel, then put her back in her strawberry bed until we could bury her on Saturday morning.
I think what I'll miss most is the things I didn't realize I was so accustomed to- like closing my drawers gently so I won't wake her up, or the sound of her wheel at night (Friday and Saturday night I couldn't fall asleep without it). Or her nibbling on treats when she rode around in my pockets during the day (Mum doesn't realize how frequently she'd be in there- but we did all kinds of stuff together, like taking out the garbage, vacuuming- although she was scared of the vacuum) or letting her crawl around and explore my bed at night before I went to sleep.
Or, actually, when I smuggled fruit or vegetables up to my room, I'd always give her a piece or chunk. I'd love to watch her reactions to new foods! And then sit on her haunches and stuff her pouches full(once she tried to fit a whole baby carrot in there. She got about half in her pouch, sticking straight out, and the other half hanging out her her mouth. It was adorable)
Love you, my little Spider-Hamster. Hope you have lots of blueberries and exploring space where you are now.
1 comment:
I'm so sorry for you. I'm glad that you got to be with her when she died. You really did give her a great life.
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