[Gpdd] Rainbow Bridge

[Ricthecollector at aol.com]

Date: Tuesday, 27 Feb 2007 
From: "Ric Sabatini"  _ricthecollector at aol.com_ 
(mailto:ricthecollector at aol.com) 
Subject:  [Gpdd] RAINBOW BRIDGE - HUEY
To: _gpdd at gpdd.org_ (mailto:gpdd at gpdd.org) 

It took me so long to write this note -- I  guess I just didn't want to 
accept that our little Huey had gone over the  bridge.
       Huey, the amallest of three triplets,  died Feb. 13, after a brief 
illness.  The runt of the trio, with him size  didn't matter -- though the 
smallest, he ruled the roost till about 10 days  before he passed away.  Watch out 
Dewey & Louie, his brothers.  Whenever we fed the boys, Huey would take his 
first  And whenever there was  a rumpus in the cage, it was generally Huey who 
was in the middle of it --  putting his bigger brothers in their place ! 
       The Scavelli Brothers, as we called  the trio, were among our 8 
piggies, all of whom help "teach" reading in my  wife's kindergarten class at the 
Walt Disney Elementary School in Levittown, PA  -- the reason for the triplets' 
names.  Huey taught his last  class on Feb. 6 -- Wednesday being the triplets 
day to go  to school. He got the pats and kisses that day from the kids as 
they  left for home, unaware that it would be the last time they would see  him.  
       My wife, Denise, was going to  break the news on Huey's passing to the 
class today. We composed a note for the  parents too, in case the children 
react at home. 
       It's so hard losing the little  guy!  I know we have 7 more .. among 
them Midnight, our first who won  the Petstar Contest in the Bucks County 
Courier Times, last year, but every  one of them is so special and unique.  But 
then I don't have to  tell any of you that. 
       I've got tears in my eyes as I'm  writing this --  The triplets would 
be three on April 4.  We  had them given to us by a petshop owner who was 
closing up. His son was in my  wife's class at the time and he asked if she wanted 
a classroom pet.  She  sent me to pick one out and you know I couldn't split 
up the trio.  I  brought them all home.   The past 2 April 4ths have been 
party time in  her classroom as the triplets and their piggie friends (last year 
there were 13  piggies in all) celebrated.  I guess we should carry on the 
tradition  thid year -- I think Huey would have wanted that.   Any feelings  to 
the contrary -- feel free to let me know. 
       Now to Huey's quick demise.  
It was the 8th of February when I  weighed Huey after he stopped taking 
carrots and greens.  I discovered that  he had lost 6 ounces.  He was down to 2 
lbs. 2 oz.  I took him to the  vet, a GP specialist, and she put him on Beytril  
(sp?) and  Probiacin.  She also rehydrated him.  But he continued down  hill.  
I took him back on the 10th for re-hydration but no  improvement.  I began 
feeding him baby food using a syringe. 
The morning of the 13th he appeared weak so I loaded him into his  carrier 
and rushed him to the vet. They sent me to a specialist  who determined that his 
blood - glucose level was 1/5 of what it should  be.  Though the doctor 
worked over an hour trying to get glucose into  him, by them his little veins were 
shut down and he died in my arms at 1:25  p.m.  I looked at him and the only 
consolation was he appeared to have a  smile on his face.  I knew he was in a 
better place.
      My wife was inconsolable.  We are still  semi-basket cases.  We cry 
everytime was hold his brothers.
      Please keep Huey & us in your  prayers.  And if anybody knows what 
could have caused he low blood sugar, I  would appreciate a note since I want to 
keep it from happening to his six  brothers and one sister. 
      
      Ric  
       
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