Sunshine

[cam767]

I hope this ok to post here. And sorry that it will probably be long.

My little girl, Sunshine, crossed the Rainbow Bridge yesterday. She lost her battle to Insulinoma. She was not just a ferret, but I believe the most loving ferret ever. I've had her since she was a kit. She was 6 1/2. Every morning she would hear my alarm clock and be at the cage doors waiting when I got up. She was the first face I would see each morning. When I let her out she would run around a bit and then would start following me around as I got ready for work. She would put her little paws on my leg (barely above my ankles) and look up at me until I picked her up. Then she would proceed to groom me. Nothing like a ferret bath to wake a person up in the morning. I would let her groom me and then I would kiss her and tell her I loved her and sing the "Sunshine Song" to her and put her back down so she could play with her cage mates and I could go to work. Hubby would later put them back in the cage after they had their run around time. Each night like clock work she would be looking at me again so I would take her out for special play-time with me. She LOVED to jump on the broom and have me drag it around. She would jump off, do her little happy dance and jump back on for more. After she was done playing and hiding our socks (she was the official "sock thief") she would climb up on my lap or next to me to go to sleep on her favorite blanket. She liked playing and rough housing with our other 2, Honey & Lily, but she liked playing with people best of all.

She was diagnosed with Insulimona about a month ago. I noticed she wasn't as active and lost a little weight. I took her to the vet where we got the bad news. Because of her age the vet thought it best not to do surgery and to try meds instead. I agreed because I've been down that road before and it was hard on the ferret and me. She was doing good and gaining some weight back until last weekend. I took her to the emergency vet at 4am because she had labored breathing. They did xrays and bloodwork showed she was low on her sugar. After a night at the vets we brought her home. With increased meds she seemed to be doing better. She was back to hiding the socks and investigating although her full activity level did not return. Saturday (a week later) she took another turn for the worst. I stayed with her all day Saturday and even stayed up all night and all of Sunday with her. I spoon fed her every 2 hours. My husband stayed up with her all night Sunday night to spoon feed her. I had to work Monday so I would call him every 2 hours during the day to wake him up so he could feed her. By Monday afternoon she was not eating at all. Her labored breathing was back and worse. We told the kids and then we all said our goodbye's. We took her to the vets Monday evening.

Sunshine is now buried in our back yard. My husband even put a pair of socks between her front paws and buried his dirty socks (she liked dirty ones best) with her so she could take them to heaven with her. My oldest son is going to plant a little flower garden in the spring where she rests.

I've always told my kids that they get freckles from the angels. The angels come down while they are sleeping and give them kisses. My youngest son woke up this morning (he's 10) and asked if he had any new freckles. Knowing where this was going I searched all over and in fact did find a new freckle. His face lit up and he said that was where Sunshine had kissed him during the night. I cried like a baby.

Good-bye my sweet Sunny Girl. We will love you always and miss you forever.

You are my Sunshine,
my only Sunshine,
you make me happy,
when skies are gray,
You'll never know just
how much I love you,
Please don't take my Sunshine away...

[skinnypigs]

RIP Sunshine!
She had an amazing 6.5 years with you!
Feel good knowing you had such an amazing Ferret and that she loved you!

[Deb's4Pigs]

I'm sorry about your Sunshine!!

[Shurrim]

I'm sorry. Your story made me cry.
RIP Sunshine
*hugs*

[Evangela]

Sorry for your loss. You made me cry. I hope you will be feeling better soon.

[Cinpepmeg]

RIP Sunshine I'm so sorry to hear about your loss! Your story also brought tears to my eyes. She had a great 6 1/2 years with you

[Domino & Bedhead]

So very sorry to hear, it is always so hard to lose a little friend.

[Sirene]

I am so sorry. I lost my little buddy Squeaksalot yesterday. I know exactly what you're going through. Hugs to you and your family.

[gimmepigs]

That was the sweetest/saddest story! I literally have tears in my eyes! I would have a good cry but I'm around little kids and don't want to scare them. We love our pets but there are certain ones that are so dear to our hearts and just stand out, it sounds like Sunshine was one of those! Bless her little soul. I am so sorry for your loss.

[Cogni]

I am very sorry you lost your best little ferret friend. What a poignant memory to have, that you would always sing her the Sunshine Song. The dirty socks part of the story also made me cry. She sounds like the sweetest little ray of sunshine. I am sure she will always illuminate your heart.

[mtm88781]

Awww, I am very sad to hear of your recent loss. It sounds like she had an amazing, fun, interactive life with you. You story, too, brought tears to my eyes.

RIP, Sunshine. You will be missed by all, expecially those dirty socks

[louie_joey]

I'm so sorry for your loss, RIP Sunshine! :'(

*hugs*

[cam767]

Thanks everyone. It's been a hard week but it's getting a little easier. Mornings are the roughest and I still can't make it through without crying. I was looking through some pictures with my son for a school project last night and we were both laughing and crying over her pics. I'm glad I took so many pics of her now.

She was definitely my special girl. We've had a lot of pets over the years and I have loved them all dearly but there was just something about my Sunny Girl that was extra special. She will definitely always hold a special place in my heart.