Friday, August 03, 2007

This morning, around 11:00 am, Numo was humanely put down at the vet's office. Dr. Horton confirmed that he wasn't living a good hedgehog life and she confirmed that I was making the best decision for him.

I couldn't be there when he was euthanized. And I chose not to see him dead. After experiencing the images of just Numo's xray burned in my brain, I couldn't imagine seeing his dead little body. My last image if of Dr. Horton holding him, while she kindly said, "I can tell you've taken very good care of him."

My friend Josh and I left the vet with an empty carrier. In the car, we told Numo stories. I was very thankful to come home to Gunther, who's been great companion.

Numo has been a wonderful addition to my life. He's been a great little Hedgehog Ambassador, both in person and on his blog. He had such a great, curious personality. While not a cuddler, he was always very social. A super marathon wheel runner, and conqueror of many toilet and paper towel tubes.

Thank you to our well-wishers. I hope you'll forgive me if I don't reply to every message. I hope you'll spend some time looking at Numo's blog archives to revisit the super stories and great pictures of Mr. Numo.

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Last Days with a Wonderful Hedgehog
This is the realist not the pessimist speaking. I've got a follow-up vet appointment with Dr. Horton on Friday, August 3rd. I know that we'll be having the Quality of Life discussion. I know that Numo's back legs aren't improving. He's losing his energy. Barely drags himself around. Sleeping most of the time. He's got his appetite, but not much else. The time I spend holding him is great. By holding him, he doesn't have to carry the weight of the half that's paralyzed. He's nosing around, licking his nose, being damn cute. It's a bit of a visual misnomer, because when I set him down and his falls over, or doesn't move I know he's hurting. Numo is a one-time-Hedgehog Olympian. He loves running in his wheel and pushing around his toilet paper tubes. He can't do either. This is not the quality of life he deserves.

It looks like I'll be putting him down at Friday's appointment. There's that 1% chance some little hedgehog turnaround happens. Accepting the 99% chance, I'm spending lots of good time with him, telling him how much I love him. Taking loads of pictures for me and his fans.

Here are loads:

Looking miffed.


Cleaning his paw.


Laying in my hand, wanting to sleep. Those pokey back legs don't have any feeling. It's a sad novelty, but it is neat that I can touch his paws and belly so much now. A healthy Numo wouldn't let me do that.

I spent loads of still time with the camera pointed at Numo. I'm a nature photographer trying to capture...



The elusive hedgehog yawn!

Look at the crazy mouth! The first time I saw him yawn I was started. That giant jaw. Those pointy teeth!


His mean-give-in-high-school look.


Looks tired with the back lighting.


Frankenstein pose?


Pshaw!

At once I am super, super thankful for this time with Numo. Being at home in hedgehog-hospice mode has been good. I get loads of time with him and I've been doing great work on the site. He's helping me focus on what's important to me. Also, I am exhausted and sad.

And so thankful for Numo being my hedgehog buddy and for the great experiences and adventures I've had with him.