April

4/12/00 - 10/19/01


It's been a bad couple weeks out here for the rodents. I lost two great mice, Goliath and then Max, and two great rats, T-bone last week and now April. April was the spunky little girl who fit right into the clan from day one.  She was a happy, gregarious girl who would bounce around the room like a pinball. She wasn't afraid of anyone, as she would jump on any rat at anytime, whether it was the big Sugar or Thelma or the smaller Winnie or Iris. She loved people and  would befriend any human that came in contact with her too.

April had been to the vet numerous times in her short year and a half of life.  She was constantly plagued by respiratory problems.  Generally, she responded well to medicine.  The last couple weeks, she got pretty bad.  The vet was really getting used to seeing her. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with pneumonia.  She was given a shot of fluids and more medicine to take home.  She literally died in the car on the way home from the vet today.

   
April was one of my personal all time favorites and will of course be missed tremendously.  The doctor said today that there wasn't a whole lot they could do for her so when she passed, in a way, I was glad she wasn't in pain. She had went through a couple fits this week where she was gasping for breath and I could hear her whining.  The last two weeks, April literally lived in my room, never having to go in the cage unless she wanted to.  I set up food and water for her and a constant supply of different baby foods her to eat, which is where she got most of her nourishment these last two weeks.  She was also eating a lot of her veggies still, which was good, so despite her condition, I know she was eating okay until the end.  Often the last two weeks, I'd wake in the middle of the night to find April lying across my neck, her favorite spot. I wouldn't move (as much as I could) and a couple times, woke up the next morning in the same position, with April in the same spot.  Having spent all her time outside the cage the last two weeks, I was able to give her almost all of my attention, which was nice.  She might have been sick, but I know she was happy.

I also got a lot of email on April. She was a popular little girl.  I don't know if there is a heaven, but if there is, April has her own wing.