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January 21, 2009
Poetic Justice
Last night I had the dubious "pleasure" of having an MRI. It brought back memories of an event that happened almost a decade ago.
My beloved Sidney was my very first bunny. I had had guinea pigs before him but decided I needed a larger companion animal for my new house. I bought him at a pet store in January 1992. You can see him at the bottom of this page.
Sid was amazing. Initially, he reminded me of a little man in a rabbit suit but that quickly gave way to the recognition that I was living with a truly special soul. He was a sweet bunny who saw me through countless challenging events in my life.
When he was about seven years old, I noticed Sid seemed to be struggling a bit when he went up the stairs. Dr. Herrli (then at the OSU vet hospital) recommended that he have an MRI. Sid has the dubious distinction of being the first rabbit to have an MRI through the OSU exotics department.
At the time, OSU did not have an MRI that could do rabbits so one cold evening, Dr. Herrli drove Sid, me, and a couple of vet students down to Children's Hospital where we met an OSU anesthesiologist and neurologist. Needless to say, the OSU folks were excited about the opportunity to do an MRI. I, needless to say, was scared to death about what they would find and how Sid would handle the MRi.
I remember holding him in my arms, wrapped in a blanket, during what felt like a long drive to the hospital. I also remember the anesthesiologist requesting that I not watch so I was placed in a waiting room close to the MRI. If ever there was a room that had bad karma, that room definitely was it. It wasn't difficult to imagine how many parents had waited in that room, wondering what they would learn about the medical conditions of their precious children.
I spent a couple of hours nervously reading magazines (probably including People magazine like I read last night) and listening intently for every sound I could hear. Periodic bursts of laughter were interpreted as a good thing since, obviously, people wouldn't be laughing if Sid was in distress.
After an eternity of sitting, waiting, and reading stupid articles, the MRI was done. The result? Inconclusive. Sid lived a few more years before he had to be euthanized at a the age of almost ten. But Shelby and Molly are still with me and would not be if not for Sid because they were candidate friends for him after his beloved Nora died suddenly. But Sid was a one-girl guy and chose to live the bachelor life.
Last night proved something that I had always assumed. It absolutely is much harder to be the one waiting rather than the one getting the test!
RIP, my beloved Sid.
Posted by Sue at 5:37 PM
January 11, 2009
Happy Birthday, Babies!
It was just one year ago today that Lucy delivered seven healthy babies: six girls and one boy.
Treat yourself to a trip down memory lane by going here. Scroll up to see more recent entries.
Congratulations to the six lucky families who adopted them and to Grandma Karalee!
Posted by Sue at 5:36 AM
January 10, 2009
Lucy RIP
Our beloved Lucy was euthanized on December 31st after a valiant battle with a neurological disorder that caused progressive wobbliness and loss of balance.
Lucy had been rescued by Karalee and Wendy in January 2008 after having been dumped outside. She was very thin and pregnant. A few weeks after her rescue, Lucy delivered seven healthy babies but it soon became obvious that she had some kind of neurological issue. Lucy, of course, chose not to let that get her down. Her sweet nature won the heart and home of Sara. Thankfully, the last months of her life were happy ones.
Although the complete necropsy report is not back yet, her cerebellum (the part of the brain that controls movement) was described as "mush." The likely culprit is e cunniculi.
Our sincere condolences go to Sara.
Posted by Sue at 5:33 AM
Time-Warner Cable Adoption Program
They're gonna be famous!
Who am I talking about? Our foster rabbits, that's who.
During the month of February, photos of Hannah, Nellie, Molly, Maynard, Abby, and Cricket will appear on Time Warner Cable's Adopt-A-Pet program. This program focuses on pets available for adoption in shelters and humane societies in our area.
If you are a Time Warner Cable digital cable subscriber, tune to Local On Demand Channels 1 or 1111, select the "Lifestyle" category, then click on the "Pets" tab. On Demand means you can watch the show whenever you wish.
Thank you, Kim, for making this happen!
Posted by Sue at 5:18 AM
January 1, 2009
Happy New Year!
Finally, 2009 is here!
I have to admit that I slept through it, having recently acquired a taste for early to bed and early to rise. Yep, I'm getting old.
But I have finally discovered what the early risers have always known. The early morning hours are a wonderful time to spend with our four-legged friends. Shelby is definitely a morning rabbit, greeting me with repeated thumps indicating her displeasure that it's 6 am and she STILL hasn't had her morning pellets.
Kramer greets me with a flick of his tail before magically re-appearing in the kitchen, waiting impatiently for his breakfast. Molly is like me - slow moving. But with Kramer's encouragement, she makes her way over and eats her share.
What better way to greet the New Year than happy, (reasonably) healthy bunny faces! I am so very grateful for mornings like this.
Another reason to be grateful this first day of the New Year? So many rabbits found their forever home this past year, four within the past month!
All of Lucy's babies have now been adopted. Lacey has been adopted by Megan, who also has Blackberry. I remember Lacey as a baby, climbing on top of her siblings to find just the right spot to sleep. Little Brie, gorgeous and a bit shy, won over the hearts of Anne and Albert. Hard to believe but Lucy's babies are almost a year old now!
The Lambright family have adopted Peyton, a big gorgeous guy.
Mary Beth took in Worf as a foster and decided to keep him.
So, as the New Year begins, my hope is that you and your fur balls have a very happy and healthy New Year! And thanks so much for supporting CHRS! We really are making a difference.
Posted by Sue at 3:51 PM