[Gpdd] RAINBOW BRIDGE: Baby Hamlet

[texg at cavyinfo.com]

It is with deep sorrow that I report the passing of Baby Hamlet, this  
evening at about 10 PM EDT.

Baby Hamlet came to us as a rescue some years back, along with his  
brother Snuffles (who passed last February). What a sad pair of  
piggies they were: a severe mite infestation left them with almost no  
hair. After a long series of ivermectin treatments, the boys beat the  
mites. During the course of his life, Baby Hamlet developed an inner  
ear infection in *both* ears, with the results that he displayed no  
symptoms until the infection had become well advanced. With a really  
good vet and a lot of care, he beat the infections, although it left  
him with a slight head tilt and one eye constantly looking up. Over  
the past year, the tilt finally straightened out, but the eye never did.

Baby Hamlet was our "miracle stone" piggie: diagnosed with  
bladderstones, he surprised everyone by not requiring surgery.

This morning he appeared totally normal, up begging for breakfast. He  
was a bit quiet today (I am very lucky to be able to work from home,  
surrounded by my loved ones!), but I didn't think much of it because  
he pretty much naps all day. Dinner was late - we needed to go to the  
farmers market to replenish our piggie food (lettuce, carrots,  
tomatoes, cukes, peppers). When we got home and I started handing out  
dinner, he wasn't interested. I picked him up, and holding him to my  
ear I heard that his heart rate had slowed to about 1/3 normal and he  
was  barely breathing. We held him, and he crossed to the Bridge a  
short time later.

I'm so happy we were here to hold him. He was an elder piggie; it was  
his time - but that doesn't make losing him any easier. We can take a  
bit of comfort knowing we gave him a good life - and considering he  
was six or seven, a long one.

We wish him God's speed, and told him to tell everyone at the Bridge  
we think of them always. I know Peter (Gurney) will keep a gentle,  
watchful eye on him until we are all called home.

I'm off now to toast the life and times of a silly, wonderful piggie  
with a bottle of vintage Cabernet.

Tex & Donna