GOOD-BYE, BELOVED ONE

Why you, too?
We love you so...
FEBRUARY 13, 2012

Where IS Everybody?!

I may be little
and my name may be VinnyGuinea
but I know somebody is missing 
and it too quiet so I be driving YumYum crazy.
We wee, widdle winkles live to play
and make friends and I may not count good
but something is too quiet around here...
What is it?
Will YOU play with me?
Mom does!

SUNDAY UPDATE

Dear Friends,
Tonight we are still holding on to Raj and CocoNutPie
with feedings of organic carrot juice. Tomorrow we
will add a shot of wheatgrass, hoping they will get
more nutrition since wheatgrass is their favorite food
yet they continue to refuse hard food. CocoNutPie's
breathing can still be rapid and shallow at times,
although she is enjoying her carrot juice and being held.
So does Raj. Tomorrow I will ask the vet for Baytril,
an antibiotic used to treat pneumonia. She actually did
examine them along with Taj and MacNutPie since all
four had been housed together and exposed to other animals
but Raj and Coconut did not present symptoms until
later in the day, which saved their lives, for being at the
hospital (even the vet admitted) so stressed Taj that he 
succumbed shortly after his dear CocoNutPie.
Keeping them home, warm, cozy, held often, hydrated,
and somehow well-nourished with antibiotics appears
to be the most we can do and they are in quarantine
from YumYum and VinnieGuinea, who now have their
own, super-large play pen through which to run, play
chase, eat, drink, explore tunnels, huts, pigloos, 
cuddle-cups... and since it has no top,
petting and picking them up for frequent
snuggles is easy and fun for all of us.


It remains to be seen whether or not we will lose
two more pigs. They have a fighting chance, but
guinea pigs are funny...once they take sick,
cavies are one of the most difficult species to save.
They are unspeakably sensitive: emotionally, spiritually,
and physically. With no natural defenses, when they
still lived in the wild before being entirely domesticated, 
they would hide symptoms of illness so as not to appear
vulnerable to predators...they still do that.
Which is why we often never find out they are 
ill until it is already too late.


We love you all. Your emails mean so much,
I just can't answer them right now because once I start 
crying I can't stop and know you all understand.


Fairy, your mum's marmalade is the sweetest thing!
Second only to the fact that Raj and CocoNutPie
are still alive...with YumYum and VinnyGuinea!
love,
Chana

Moment of PRAYER dedicated to all in World of Animal Rescue and Friends

That is awfully suspicious looking...not sure I'm gonna like this.

Oh, wait a minute! Nom-nom, slurp-slurp...mmmm! Me likes it!

Ooooh! More! More! I want More! Give me more! More!

Oooooh, I haven't felt this way since I was a wee, suckling piglet.

Except now that I'm big, Drippage can be an issue so need more.

Once she realized it was freshly squeezed, organic carrot juice,
CoconutPie loved her feedings...and Raj tried to suck up so
much at one time it dripped all over him and his amounts
had to be carefully dosed!

MMMM...that carrot juice sure was good.

We will do our best to live. We are not out of the woods yet by a long-shot and so ill mom will not risk stressing us more by taking
us to the vet, but will call requesting antibiotics for our pneumonia.
All we have eaten is our carrot juice, no solid food. We are very
weak and limp so still sleep with mom until right before she
falls asleep then puts us back into our large, new pen without
a top adjacent to her bed (which we hope she stops falling
out of...but that's another story.)


We had written a poem/prayer to thank you.


Then mom erased it because she is in 
shock and grief, doing strange things.
Stranger than "normal" strange 
things we are already accustomed to...
Like learning how to say "watermelon" in Hindi.
(It's "tarbooz" in case you wondered.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ernest Hemingway once wrote the shortest 
short story in six words:
"For sale: Baby shoes, never worn."


Mom replaced our poem/prayer with one for
Calvin, MacNutPie, and Taj Mahal.


"Laughing eyes:
Ashes fertilize
Apple orchard."


We cannot express how deeply grateful we are to
each and every one of you for each and every
thought, word, prayer, deed, 
shipped-overseas jar of awesome, homemade marmalade, 
and breath of love you have and continue sending us.
Which is why we wrote you the poem/prayer
mom erased for no reason.


She said the best thing we could do
to show our gratitude to you is LIVE.


"We agree.
Breathe deeply:
Stand up."


(Six words.)


"Love You.
Two words.
Mean more."

JOURNEY OF "THE ENDURANCE"

Today we ate a little, drank fresh-squeezed, organic carrot
juice from a syringe squirter, and mom even caught us walking
around our cage instead of lying on our sides breathing rapidly, 
too weak to move, unable to stand, eyes glazed over. 


YumYum and GuineaVinny get to be in the living room but
we get to sleep with mom next to her bed! We sure hope the
worst is over...


Although once we defrost from so much loss (half the herd
since January 2nd, 2012) another "worst" may commence.
But we will have those of us who have survived to console
one another and we will be in your world-wide loving embrace.


For the first time this year, we have hope we shall endure.


If we make it though the night...


love you all.

THE GOOD, THE LOVE, AND THE HEALING

Today we woke up with CocoNutPie and Raj still fighting 
for their lives. Coconut's breathing was rapid and shallow,
her entire body so weak she was still rolling over
instead of lifting herself up, capable only of looking
into my eyes, not comprehending.


Raj was slightly stronger, but neither had eaten or taken liquid.


Last night, Coconut was dying in my arms until Connie and
I got on the phone together and somehow, inexplicably, she
began moving about a little bit, giving us hope.


Today, Marifan called when, again, Coconut was in my
arms breathing heavily and also having mild seizures that
we first noticed last night...My intention was to force-feed
her freshly-squeezed, raw, organic carrot juice but with
her breathing and weakness, I wanted to hold her.


While talking with Marifan, the same thing happened as
last night! Coconut rallied, began ambulating on all fours
in her blanket, and showed interest in life, moving around
despite her breathing problems. By the time Marifan and I
got off the phone, Coconut was a different piggie!


Two nights in a row.


Taking advantage of MAGIC phone
calls coupled with 
YOUR KIND, SUPPORTIVE,
LOVING, COMPASSIONATE,
EMAILS AND COMMENTS, I decided to take
advantage of the situation to force-feed her!


She is a big girl and even finding her mouth was
difficult as her "dew lap" (double chin) is so thick
and pronounced...but, using a needle-free, narrow
syringe, one squirt found its way between her
four front beaver teeth and back molars...


She tasted and tasted and tasted, taking her time
before making the Ultimate Decision: Yes, I will ask mom for more.


After that, she would take her little squirts, savoring the taste and
enjoyment of the carrots' sweetness, before holding out her
snout for another squirt until she was full.


IS THIS THE TURN-AROUND POINT, IS THE 
WORST OVER, IS SHE OUT OF THE WOODS?


While I do not know the answer, I have one thing to share,
and you already know what it is: 
They would not be alive if not for ALL of you.
They were "dead pigs walking" yesterday...
They lived the night.
They lived the morning.
It is now 5 p.m. Pacific Time and
I am going to give Raj his carrot juice.
Both of them are snuggled together in
their large, blue snowflake hut.


Just for the record, every single cuddle-cup, hut, tunnel,
bright orange carrot pillow, giant new run-around
enclosure they will share once well enough and
out of quarantine, are all gifts bestowed upon
us through YOUR generosity! So many loved ones
have sent the Sanctuary special items which enable
the piggies to enjoy the highest quality of life
possible and every one of you, from your loving
comments on this blog (especially from lurkers
bold enough to "out" themselves) to boxes
of Fairy Magic from England...to cash
donations and gifts from Jen's Custom Crafts
and CD3's and Millie Bea's Gigantic Cuddle Cup...
You all share this Sanctuary, it is yours to savor with us,
our joys as well as sorrows. We thank you.


P.S. GOOD NEWS!
Today Parker returned YumYum and VinnyGuinea 
who appear healthy (although Vinny does have a
runny nose) as they 1) were kept in a location
separate from the animals with pneumonia,
(Thank God!) and 2) were the only animals
who went to Parker's with their sleeping
bag, so they were able to stay warm.
It may have made a difference had the others
been able to sleep in their cuddle-cups, sleeping bags,
and huts but for reasons I don't understand, Parker
chose not to take them and I was in hospital and
unable to make those decisions. He did love
them very much and is also feeling upset...


So! Our Commander-in-Chief-of-Mayhem has found
his Doppelganger twin in young VinnyGuinea...
and is training him in all ways Mischievous.
To wit: When their new fabric hay trough was
installed (not sure how much, if any, hay they
were fed) Yoda YumYum and his youthful
VinnySkywalker were ecstatic!
As YumYum shoved his snout into the hole 
at the bottom of the trough, Vinny told him,
"AH, GET OUTTA HEAH ALREADY!"
before leaping approximately eight inches
into the air and over the top of the trough like
a pole-vaulter, sticking his landing amidst 
his very own Hay "Field of Dreams" where
he ate and ate until, full, hopped out before
scurrying back into their sleeping bag,
as if no one noticed what he had just done!


We pray neither of them present any symptoms of
illness and we have a quarantine going and
each cage contains two piggies consoling
one another in their grief so - exhausted -
we hope to soon exhale!


YOU WILL ALL BE THE FIRST TO KNOW
BECAUSE WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO EXHALE,
IT WILL BE IN A WHISPER AND, 
IF YOU LISTEN VERY CLOSELY,
YOU WILL HEAR YOUR NAME
IN OUR PRAYER OF GRATITUDE.


love,
Chana

STILL WITH US THANKS TO YOUR PRAYERS...

DEAR ANGEL-FRIENDS AMONG US,
Should anyone ever doubt the power of prayer and love
that we have the capacity to gift one another,
just accept our gratitude that, while not better,
Raj and CoconutPie have survived the night.
They are back in their hut snuggled together
not moving and I am going to get their
wheat grass and perhaps some fresh
carrot juice and begin force-feeding
them today for hydration as they
still have not had anything to eat, drink, 
pee, or poop. But they are alive!
AND WE HAVE YOU.
NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS
THEY ARE STILL ALIVE.
AND WE HAVE YOU.
Today YumYum and VinnyGuinea come
home and will be placed in the living room
quarantined for as long as they appear healthy,
assuming they are...
I am writing large because of the severity 
and frequency of the migraines, the pain
of which is now dwarfed by the grief in
my heart. But a Grace of sorts has begun
comforting us from Within...there is
a glimpse of inner calmness and peace,
as if we are in the Presence of Angels,
and that would be all you, and how
we feel your love.
It is palpable. It is real. It gives us comfort.
We no longer feel alone.
And we have no way to thank you...


Yours,
Chana

NIGHT HOSPICE VIGIL

Late this afternoon we were able to
pick up CocoNutPie and Raj,
both grieving for their friends
and cagemates...
Tomorrow we will get YumYum and his
VinnyGuinea.
But all has not gone well.
The vet could not definitively diagnose
the cause of Taj and MacNutPie's
illness but both Coconut and Raj
began presenting the same
symptoms early this evening...
At one point, CoconutPie could barely
lift her head...too weak to move any other
part of her body and had rolled 
heartbreakingly over on her side,
her big eyes pleading into mine.
 Raj did not move at all. Coconut Pie's breathing
became shallow and labored.
Neither have eaten, taken water,
peed, or pooped; both stopped moving
and had taken refuge inside their big
Snowflake Hut, cuddled side
by side...dying...


A vet once told me that guinea pigs
can die of grief and pain, and if all
else fails, to bring them into bed
and sleep with them.


Since the vet's life-saving attempts to force 
feed and hydrate Taj and MacNutPie, give them
antibiotics, and the best care 
possible - and failed to save their lives,
I brought them into bed with me. At 
least they would die in a loving embrace.


ConniEeeeeee was exhausted from her
own Lucy (her basset hound) having
surgery today but stayed up late
(East Coast time) and kept us
all company as I expected both
piggies to pass within hours and
praying only deepened my shock and despair.
So we all went to bed together
for their last hours while Connie kept
us company and from feeling alone.


As Connie and I talked, the piggies began
slowly moving about and became a little
more active.


I have moved their cage with no top adjacent
to my bed so I can pet them throughout
the night, although it is doubtful they will 
live without a Miracle...although I will
bring them into bed as often as possible.


At least by morning, whatever happens,
they will know that they were loved.


I hope that YumYum and VinnyGuinea
will be returned in good health tomorrow...


The losses are devastating and we still
miss Calvin, who passed January 2nd.


Thank you all for your love and
prayers for us as we endure the
Dark Night of our Souls, Raj and Coconut
still grieving for their loved ones as they lie dying.
It would be more than anyone has a right
to ask to wake up with Raj and
CoconutPie both alive in the morning,
Yet shall sleep tonight meditating
with that prayer which I know all of you share:
YOU: who are now the wind beneath our
broken wings...and hearts.


Love and Need you all,
Chana
and thank you...LOVE
is the only thing that can save us now.

TAJ MAHAL ON THE COVER OF GUINEA PIG MAGAZINE

Dear New Friends,
For those of you not familiar with
the world of guinea pigs,
Guinea Pig Magazine is the only
International Guinea Pig magazine
of its kind in the world.
Published by our dear friend,
Alison, in England, she picked
our very own Taj Mahal to kick
off her first issue for 2012!
His wonderfulness traveled to many
countries throughout the world
and he is still on the cover until the
next issue comes out.
He was an orphan adopted from
the Whatcom Humane Society
with his brother, Raj Mahal.
An orphan made International
Stardom in the guinea pig world!
Even if he hadn't, he would have
been no less special to us.
He made us laugh, loved to
be picked up and petted,
was a rapscallion whose
favorite trick was to steal Raj's
fresh, organic veggie treats,
run into his Hut to hide them,
then run back out begging for
more, get his own, hide them,
then run back out and steal
his brother's...that was his
idea of Great Guinea Pig FUN!
And he also had a special gift for dragging
all of his toys and heavy ceramic food
bown into his Pigloo, no matter how
difficult it was to move...how he
did it remains a mystery.
But every morning, all that had
been scattered throughout his cage
was missing and one lift of his
Pigloo revealed a trove of Taj's
precious treasures.
And he was sweet.
Just look at that smile.
He was so proud of his tongue
and bi-colored lower lip, too...
To our new friends in India
who may be visiting our site 
for the very first time,
many pranams for coming,
and for your love.
To our old friends, we need
not speak, for you already
know anything and everything
we could possibly say...
Love,
Chana

TWO ANGELS IN SMALL PACKAGES: WE MISS YOU...

BROKEN HEARTS TODAY...

                             MacNutPie
             FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2012

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Taj Mahal
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2012
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


YOU ARE LOVED.
YOU ARE MISSED.
WE WERE BLESSED BY YOU,
OUR PRECIOUS GIFTS FROM GOD.
OUR LIVES WERE BETTER FOR
YOUR PRESENCE IN THEM...
WE WILL NEVER BE THE
SAME AGAIN.


Guinea pigs can die of grief.
While living at Parker's farm,
MacNutPie and Taj Mahal
took sick
and both passed
away today.


CoconutPie is living with Raj.
I have brought them home.
Tomorrow, Parker will bring
YumYum and VinnyGuinea home 
to us.


I am doing my best to stay out of the hospital
utilizing a variety of in-home health-care
providers who are coming here to enable
me to avoid inpatient care.


I knew guinea pigs could die of grief 
when they lose their friends,
But never realized or imagined they
would or could die without their "person"
and Home here. Now we know just
how sensitive their precious hearts are.


While in hospital, it was necessary 
for them to live with Parker's animals.
He said they loved their mini-bunny and
slept and snuggled with him.


Originally, it did not appear
that I would become strong enough
to take them back and
care for them (physically) but have 
and will
do so for the remainder of our
lives together and never part with them
again until Their Angel Comes.


As I am completely inconsolable
and in too much migraine pain to
read and respond to emails,
your love and prayers
are appreciated with
profound gratitude
even if I am unable to
thank you personally.
Right now I am just in shock 
and grief
that they are both gone 
never to return home again to
PandaPig's Sanctuary.


Love,
Chana

Turn, Turn, Turn Part 1

 In the Beginning...it was just PandaPig and me.

Now, it's time to repay his kindness by 
giving VinnyGuinea what Panda gave me...


And the Circle remains unbroken.


And it is GOOD.

THERE IS A SEASON, TURN, TURN, TURN...Part 2

Once upon a time, in a faraway place, a long, long time ago...

I was just a wee lad and PandaPig took me in as his very own.

And mom snuggled me every chance she got! Then, I grew up
and PandaPig died of cancer. Although it has been years, I remained inconsolable and became an attack-pig, waiting for
the return of my beloved Panda Pig. But after awhile, all the
other guinea pigs were having fun together and I began to feel
lonely. Still, mom was afraid I would hurt the others and I only
let her snuggle with me. She didn't know that my loneliness
was beginning to overcome my "attack anything that moves"
ways of yore.

Then Calvin died. And nobody was getting over THAT,
not a one among us...especially mom. So, she did what
she promised she would not do...brought home a little
tyke named VinnyGuinea, a big New York Giants fan!

At first he clung to his look-alike, Raj, who adored him the minute
he laid eyes on the cutest baby-pig he had ever seen because it reminded him of...well, himself!

And it was Good.

It was very, very good. And watching them,
I began to remember what happiness felt like,
what it felt like when PandaPig did for me
what Raj was giving VinnyGuinea.
And we all knew from the get-go that Vinny 
was a Very Special Piglet!
When mom got sick, and we moved to the Farm,
Parker the farm-boy-animal-whisperer did
an amazing thing: he put Vinny in with me.
And I forgot what loneliness felt like.
So now we are together,
and Raj has Taj,
And MacNutPie has CocoNutPie,
and I have Vinny
and we all have a bunny.


AND IT IS GOOD.
love,
YumYum and the Herd from the farm
officially known as "Parker's Ark."


WE LOVE YOU ALL.