Her Luck Ran Out

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Lucky rat died today during surgery for a malignant tumor, aged 34.5 months (or around 85 in human years). Even if she had survived she had other tumors growing, so perhaps really it would be providing her but a scant few more months of quality living. It was a series of tragic events that led to her passing; her tumor went from the benign to malignant variety and grew quickly, but of course, she'd kept it hidden from us. Our usual vet was overseas, and the locum - unfamiliar with rodents - didn't feel confident enough to attempt surgery and spaetlese, who provided us the rat in the first place, was interstate. When we made the booking for Lort Smith it was further delayed by another week during the Easter break.

Lucky was so named because she had been earmarked as snake food, was rescued from such an event by spaetlese. Before she made it to us she had escaped her cage and had spent a couple of nights in a house with non-rat friendly cats. Having cheated death twice, she did lose a tip of her tail to a cage accident, but made it through that fine. She had also already gone through one tumor operation. Ever lithe of form, gregarious and curious of nature (yes, even on the rodent scale of things), I like to think that we provided her a happy life. But my parting moment as she looked up at me whilst holding my finger with her front paws is in burned into my memories forever. Farewell, Lucky.

Comments

[txxxpxx.livejournal.com]

*hugs* The stress surrounding her passing would have been felt far more strongly by you than it was by her. I am sure her overwhelming impression was that she was in a warm, happy, friendly place and was loved. And realistically, could any of us want for more?

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Oops! I forgot to offer you a dead rat (I'm full of great gift ideas, aren't I?)

I think caseopaya feels it even more keenly. But I don't think Lucky was terribly happy in the last weeks - the tumor has just gotten far to large.

[txxxpxx.livejournal.com]

Thank-you for the thought. Tony said to me a while ago that I was so easy to please. Just give me a cocktail & something dead off the side of the road & I would be in my element. :) Lots of people say to me "Hey, I saw a squashed possum today & thought of you." I consider it a compliment :)

And in the scheme of things maybe Lucky was not the right creature to go through my process. I like to think the universe provides or takes away in a manner which respects the indivdidual spirit. I'm still waiting for th beetle colony to reestablish to a point where it will be able to cope with Dantelion. He has not been forgotten :)