Miracle Pets!

We asked for stories about pets who have beaten the odds and come through a serious illness or injury, and our wonderful client family responded! Here is our first feature, written by Spring Lea, Mommy to the adorable Aspen Leaflight!

When we first picked up our little hedgehog from the breeder, the gal said, "This little girl takes about five minutes to uncurl, but if you're patient, it will happen."  Then she placed the little ball of prickles in my hand, which immediately uncurled, and this little face looked up at me as if to say, "Get me out of here!!!"  It was easy to comply as she had stolen my heart with the first glance.  In the car, she told me her name was Aspen Light (because her quills looked like the bark of an aspen tree with the dappled sunlight streaming down), but she told my husband her name was Aspen Leaf.  So, we called her Aspen Leaflight. 

In her second year of life, our hearts twisted as she started showing all the signs of uterine cancer, very prevalent in hedgies.  We took her to Dublin right away, of course, and they confirmed what we feared.  We were tight for money at the time, and had already lost two hedgies to cancer despite surgery, so we were leery of getting her an operation, but in the end, we just couldn't *not* try to save her life.  The doctors and staff at Dublin performed the operation and confirmed that not only did she have uterine cancer but she had something wrong with one of her adrenal glands as well, so they removed it.

It was touch and go for a while.  The first night we had her back, she whimpered unless one of us held her.  She had plenty of pain meds, but she was just so traumatized from what she'd been through.  Sitting up all night with her to keep her company and croon to her was a very moving experience.  I've never felt so big and important in all my life.  She also kept getting very cold for days after her surgery, and I had to do a lot more follow-up holding therapy just to keep her warm.  But eventually, she pulled through.

It's been about a year since the folks at Dublin saved our little girl, and she seems happier and more loving than ever.  We still cuddle for hours, even though she doesn't need it to survive anymore.  And quite frequently I thank Aspen Leaflight for staying alive for us.  Thanks also to Dublin for helping us keep our precious little girl in our home.

~~Spring Lea

Spring Lea - thank you for your touching story, we are so honored to be a part of it!