[Gpdd] Announcement: Onyx Sullina's story 12th March 2009 - 22nd May 2014

[Glynis Robson]

Hi Piggies and Everyone,

Up until now i've not been able to sit and write Onyx's story, it's been
way too hard :-(
Here goes......... I could write so much more..........

March 12th 2009 four beautiful sisters (Piper, Miley, Velvet and Onyx) were
born to Lady and Rhys. They were nearly identical except for one having a
stripe around her tummy. Two weeks later I went to our vets to visit and
see these adorable little furballs. I got to cuddle two of them, boy oh boy
were they like lightning!  Their mummy called for them whilst I was
cuddling :-) She knew I was being gentle, but it was her babies!

At six weeks old Onyx Sullina (named cause she was black - Onyx and Sullina
in honour of Sully and my mum Valerie Christina eventually she had little
tan splodges of fur on her back) and Velvet Duchess (named cause she was
still black but had softer fur and in honour of Duke, eventually her fur
was lilac/grey) came to live with me.

They used to snuggle almost on top of each other and hide under their
corner box. Every day I would spend a long time chatting and stroking them
whenever I could.
As time went on they showed me their individual pigsonalities.
Miss Onyx Sullina was the bold forward piggie, first to the food, and
usually the leader of the 'train' :-)  Many of you may remember I posted
about what to do with her a few years ago as she was erm 'humping' her
sister (rolls eyes) I did take her to the vets but thankfully nothing was
wrong, she of course was the dominant one!

Onyx had a few scares in her life, hay pokes (ouchies) and had to have
baytril a few times for ailments. She too had one cataract and lost the
sight in her eye, and then eventually this was the case in her other eye.
 This did not stop her from knowing exactly where everything was and could
smell green spaghetti and fave veggies from miles away!!  Her worst ailment
was gut stasis, I thought I would loose my baby. I was so fortunate to save
her but from this she got IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) so her poops were
never really formed. I had to change her diet and keep strict eye on her
weight several times a day to make sure her gut was working properly.

I taught her from a very early age about syringe feeding so nothing was
ever a bother with her :-) This was my saving grace so many times when she
would just stop eating.
In her last week she stopped eating, but was happy for me to feed her, she
would do UP UP (climb onto my hand) for me to get her out for a feed. This
was our special time together. I also had been feeding her through the
night for the past two years, as she was likely to mess herself and it was
the only way I could keep a strict eye on her. I didn't mind getting up, it
was quiet and it was our time, she would often lick my fingers when I was
feeding her. And always would tell me when she needed to go to the
bathroom, a lady like her did not wee on her mummy :-)

On the wednesday night she choked and could not breathe, I totally
panicked, but then blew into her mouth to try to get her to breathe (did
this once with one of my children and it worked) I rushed her to the local
vets as mine was not open. He was wonderful, there was nothing he could do,
but by then Onyx was breathing a little better, though raspy which she had
been doing for the past week. He said to take her back to see Brendan the
next day and get some tests done etc.. We'd already been to Brendan's a
week ago when I first noticed her lack of appetite, she showed no signs of
any of the usual piggie ailments SIGH
That night things went to rock bottom :-( she could not eat or drink via
syringe or hand without choking, coughing and heaving :-(  I spent hours
with her trying just the teeniest feeds at a time, not even a mil at a
time. I knew then that I had to make the hardest decision of my life..... I
had been fortunate that with Sully, Duke and Velvet that they made their
decision to leave for the bridge. I called the next morning and made the
appointment but made them promise that I would be there right to the very
end.
I spent all morning before going snuggling her and telling her stories of
her life and how much I loved her. She lay very very quietly on me, she was
listening i'm sure.
When she was on the table I went in and held her paw kissed her sweet
little face and nose and head and stroked her then ........ she was gone. I
have belted myself up over this decision so many times. I think we will
always say 'what if?' but I know there was no 'what if' :-(

RIP Onyx Sullina my beautiful black and tan baby. Now reunited with your
sister and your huspig Friday. Have fun popcorning thru the lush green
meadows, and now finally get to enjoy all the fruits and veggies you can
munch on my darling Nexie girl.
The house is empty my heart is empty :-(  Till we meet again, you have fun,
I can't wait to snuggle you again one day.

Love your mummy,
Glynis
5 years 2 months and 10 days I was the honored piggie slave