Take Me To Post Comment Form Those who know me or work with me know that I talk about my babies all the time (my two ferrets Trixie and Little Man). I'm sure folks get tired of hearing me talk about them, but I love them so much I can't stop.

I went home Saturday night after work and came home Sunday afternoon (it stinks being home less than a day). While I was at home this weekend, my Oma asked how Trixie and Little Man were doing and I told her I didn't think Trixie was feeling well and I thought I would take her to the doctor this week. I used to joke about Trixie being an "old woman" because she was almost six years old.

I got back to Statesboro this afternoon and checked on my ferrets. I noticed Trixie was laying funny so I walked over to her and noticed she was breathing heavily. I put my hand in her cage and rubbed her and she was unresponsive. Usually she kisses and licks on me when I pet her. I suddenly felt a pain like a knife was going through me. I knew something was wrong.

I called Mom and told her what was going on (you never get too old for a mother's comfort) and she got upset that I was upset and called our family vet in Eastman to ask what he thought I should do. He said for me to give her a baby aspirin and see if she perked up.

I walked back to Trixie's cage and noticed she was struggling to move around. I looked up my vet here in Statesboro and called the emergency line. I struggled to stay composed long enough to tell the doctor what was going on and sure enough, she told me I needed to bring her in.

I wrapped Trixie up in her favorite blanket and took her. I cried the entire time I was there. I felt terrible, but I couldn't help myself. Trixie was my baby. We'd been together a long, long time. The diagnosis: cancer. It had taken over her spleen and possible her liver. I had a couple options - euthanasia or surgery. I couldn't afford surgery and treatment afterward.

I told my baby goodbye tonight. I think I did a lot of growing up in those few hours. Trixie and I have been together for a long time. I've been her 'mom' for almost six years.

I cried on the poor doctor for over an hour, and then my entire family took turns calling me and I cried on all of them too. I'm driving back home tomorrow to bury her in Eastman.

It's all the memories and Trixie's habits that I miss. Like how Trixie loved to steal things. When I bought her, the pet store told me she'd steal my diamonds and gold, but Trixie never wanted that. She stole empty Capri Sun packets and Dad's cans of peanuts. She'd hide them in her secret hiding spot, and when I found her spot, she'd move all her things to a new spot.

Or like the time she snuck out of the back door and spend the night outside. I thought she was a goner. She was really smart though. She spent the night under the air conditioning unit outside where it blew hot air and she stayed warm.

I'll miss how she'd lay in my arms and lick me, or how she'd curl up in her blanket and look at me like she was perfectly happy. She used to love getting baths. She'd swim around like a little otter..but she didn't like to be dried off. She knew her name. I could call her and she'd come right to me. She was actually a very smart ferret. It didn't take much to litter train her, and when she was out of her cage playing around the house, she'd go back to her cage to go to the bathroom, or get back in her cage when she was tired.

She loved to investigate things. She'd play with the cats, and she loved plants. She loved me. That's what I'm going to miss most. I'm going to miss my 'baby.'

However, I found out tonight that my teacher's son died this weekend. I know that my situation doesn't even compare to that tragedy. No matter how bad something in your life is, there is always someone who has it worse. My heart goes out to him. I thought I wouldn't make it through Trixie's passing, I get upset all over again every time I look at her empty cage. I feel like my best friend died. I can't imagine what it would feel like to lose a real child.