Farewell Heddie

Heddie's Story (??? to 7-30-06)


Heddie arrived at my apartment in October of last year. She had been
a classroom pet somewhere in Madison, but the school was no longer
allowing animals and the family who was caring for her had no
interest in keeping her. She showed up at my door in a plastic bin
with soaking wet shavings, a gerbil wheel and a little shoe box to
hide in. She was a huffy, fluffy girl, but she was very curious and
opened up very quickly when held (to the amazement of her prior
owner). I thought she would make a great candidate for re-homing
after I helped her adjust to more regular human contact again.

The first thing I did was get rid of her shavings and wheel. I set
her up in a pen and gave her a nice wheel to run in. That evening, I
let her wander around the livingroom to see how she would behave.
What I saw broke my heart. Heddie had no use of her back legs. When
she whump-whump-whumped across the floor, it was because she ran with
only two legs, while the back two dragged behind her.

So, Heddie stayed. The vet treated her for mites and said to help her
lose weight to increase her mobility, which eventually helped (to a
limited extent). Later, I started her on a low-allergin diet to help
her tummy feel better.

She was ever the gentle girl, once she stopped hissing and clicking
that is, and never ever bit or showed agression. She bit me once in
the time she was with me, and that was after Lola had been agressive
towards her and she was very upset. She prefered to eat mealworms
from the floor, since she had to be soooo careful not to bite my hand
when I held them for her. She prefered to eat the mealies from their
back ends, since she really didn't like when they tried to grab on to
her while she ate them. She was very patient with the vet, and always
polite with her fellow hogs. She was a gentle spirit, regal and kind.

Her illness came at a difficult time. Yoda has been so touch-and-go
lately, and Lola had her emergency spay just over a month and a half
ago. Poor Heddie hadn't gotten as much quality snuggle time until we
bonded over syringe feeding. That was an experience for sure. My
calm, sweet girl faught me tooth and nail, refusing to swallow,
whipping her head around, pawing wildly in the air when I tried to
give her medicine or Boost or baby food. She didn't particularly like
to be held afterwards, but she appreciated a place to hide or a leg
to snuggle. We found common ground and shared some good quality
moments, just the two of us.

Yesterday morning Heddie was gasping for air. Though she improved
when she was placed on her heating pad, she later stumbled about in
her habitat, deficating and urinating, gagging and falling to her
side in her effort to get enough air. She could have stayed alive
only in an oxygen tent, and after two rounds of antibiotics and
nearing complete anorexia, it was doubtful that she could have stayed
long even then. I made the difficult decision to help her cross.

Heddie fell asleep peacefully with Mom nearby. For the first time in
a month she breathed gently, and for the first time she let me hold
her and kiss her before sending her across the rainbow bridge. I am
so greatful to have been able to give her the gift of a peaceful
crossing, and know it was what she wanted.

Heddie will help the vet students at UW Madison learn more about
hedgie kind, and I will share the results of her necropsy with you
when it comes back to me in a few weeks. I look forward to the
closure of knowing why she had to leave me so soon after coming into
my life.

I know she is happy and running on four healthy legs with her friends
across the rainbow bridge. Her fellow Molly Girls are sure to have a
party for the newest arrival, and I know Angel Sophie was there to
welcome her and keep her company until the happy day I will see them
both again.

Thank you for coming into my life, sweet girl. I count you as one of
my blessings.