GliderCENTRAL

Heart Broken

Posted By: Anonymous

Heart Broken - 06/02/03 05:54 PM

Hi guys,

Late Sunday morning, my beloved little skitz passed away suddenly. He wasn't as active as he usually is, but still insisted on being on both Chris and I, only wanting our attention and cuddles. I think he knew his final hours were coming. We were going to take him to the vet in the morning, because I just knew something wasn't right with him~ he was eating and drinking no problem, but just the fact he was moving around alot slower rang a huge alarm bell in my heart.
I went in early in the morning to check up on him, and he was laying dead on the floor, with the most horrid expression on his poor little face <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I can only imagine with that expression that he didn't pass easily, but in pain.
Both me and my husband are completely heart broken by this, we couldn't understand what we did wrong. A thousand and one questions popped into our heads. He was on BML, with Nekkton Sugar Glider formula 2-3 times a week, and we recently switched him to Suncoast Diet, since all 4 of our babies didnt eat enough BML to make us comfortable.
Our other 3 babies are fine, and active as usual. It was only Skitz which made us really worry.
This morning Chris brought Skitz' little body to the vet to get a Necropsy done. They promply called Chris back with the following info:
they said Skitz's Liver was blackened which isn't normal, his Kidneys looked very undefined, and his Heart had some kind of condition, it wasn't formed correctly, she thinks its a condition that was just waiting to catch up with him, not a diet issue etc, just a birth problem.. Chris is having them send his heart, Kidneys, and Liver to A&M to find out if it was officially a congenital issue or something else.
They said it will probably be 5 days or so before they finish looking at his heart, liver, and kidneys to verify why they basically failed.. Was strange about his heart, she said a normal heart you can see the blood vessels clearly, his wasn't right, she said his heart was bigger than normal and the vessels where small and hard to see.

Skitz was one of a kind, he never crabbed when we first got him, and he immediately bonded with us and showerd us with his love and attention. He was an angel <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frostyangel.gif" alt="" /> I just wish he could have at least died in my arms knowing we loved him, instead of dying all alone. We are both having a horrible time dealing with his loss. I just hope that he knew we loved him with all our hearts, and would have done anything possible to have saved him if we could.

I will post any other results we get back from the vet as soon as we get them.

I hope he is without pain and climbing up a forrest of trees in heaven. He'll forever be in our hearts.

~Amanda
Posted By: Karin

Re: Heart Broken - 06/02/03 06:01 PM

Amanda,

I am so very sorry for your pain. Many glider hugs sent your way...and give your other gliders some extra kisses today. Thank you for the results thus far...it may help another little glider someday.

Karin
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Heart Broken - 06/02/03 06:06 PM

Gosh, I'm so sorry to hear of your loss, My heart breaks hearing your story. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Heart Broken - 06/02/03 06:07 PM

Thank you Karin <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I just wish there was something we could have done for him to prevent this. He was our first baby, and we miss him so much. Life just isn't the same without him. In everything i look at, I am reminded of some memory with him. I just wish he was able to live longer than just one year of life. I just hope we were able to make it a very loving year for him. He will always remain in my heart. I loved him more than anything. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: remo

Re: Heart Broken - 06/02/03 06:24 PM

My eyes are welling up with tears and my heart aches for you. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" /> I am so very, very sorry for your loss.

Thoughts and prayers being sent your way,
Dorothy <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crying.gif" alt="" />, Bandit <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/littleglider.gif" alt="" />, and Gypsy <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/littleglider.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Heart Broken - 06/02/03 08:09 PM

From your post, I would say there is no doubt he knew how much he was loved! I'm sorry you are hurting, as well as your hubby and Skitz' other glider friends. Remember the Bridge - Skitz will be watching for all of his loved ones someday <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: KattyM

Re: Heart Broken - 06/02/03 08:56 PM

I'm so very sorry for your loss. Please don't second guess yourself. Skitz was well loved, and he knew it while he was with you, and he still knows it now. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Judie

Re: Heart Broken - 06/02/03 08:57 PM

I feel so sad for you. The pain that comes from loosing a beloved glider is a real heart breaker. With time...one's heart will heal but the pain will never be forgoten. Be comforted with the knowing...your little one knew he was loved well.

Sending prayers of comfort to you and your family.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Heart Broken - 06/02/03 10:07 PM

I am so sorry!
Lots of hugs to you!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Heart Broken - 06/02/03 10:26 PM

I am sooooo sorry. I lost Dawn last month. I'm sharing a hug and tears. Thank you for sharing the results. Give us an update when you get it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/upset.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/gliderangel.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Heart Broken - 06/03/03 01:20 PM

I'm still waiting for the final results from the necropsy, but we asked our vet to have Skitz cremated when they are done analysing his organs.
We printed out some beautiful pictures of him last night, and are putting a tribute shelf up to hold his ashes as well as the pictures.
I hope that will help us adjust to his loss, and always keep him fresh in our memories. I'm always afraid of eventually forgetting the little details about him. He was so special and deserved so much more than what life dealt him.
I know he's happy in glider heaven romping around eating as many mealies as he wants, free of pain.
I just miss him so much <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crying.gif" alt="" />
Thank you everyone for your beautiful posts, they have really helped me a great deal in coming to terms with this.
I will post the results of the necropsy as soon as I get them. If it was a genetic issue, I'll have to get his half sister Allira checked out by the vet. I don't want to risk losing another one to a birth defect if that winds up being the case <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
/glider hugs to all of you
~Amanda~
Posted By: Lucy

Re: Heart Broken - 06/04/03 03:12 AM

Epiphany, I'm so sorry for your loss. With a recent loss of my own, I understand how empty and deadening it can feel. Please know you're among friends here. And a BIG thanks for getting the necropsy and other information. The more information of this type that we get, the better our chances are of finding out what works and doesn't work for our gliders' health. I'm so sorry.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Heart Broken - 06/04/03 05:11 AM

this is sad... I'm thinking of you <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/upset.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Heart Broken - 06/04/03 03:49 PM

I'm so sorry for your loss. You and your other gliders are in my thoughts.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Heart Broken - 06/04/03 05:18 PM

My heart just breaks for you! He sounds like a very special little glider.
May time ease the pain... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Heart Broken - 06/04/03 10:39 PM

I'm SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Sugar_Mama

Re: Heart Broken - 06/05/03 02:42 AM

I'm so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine what you must be going through. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Heart Broken - 06/05/03 04:34 AM

I just read this thread, and I want to say how very sorry I am. I also want to express my deep and heart-felt gratitude that you are doing everything you can to help the glider community by having a necropsy done and sharing the results. I know we'll learn more with each necropsy, and hopefully we'll be able to prevent at least some deaths in the future.

Thank you! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />

Crystal
and Punka <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/littleglider.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Heart Broken - 06/05/03 07:14 AM

Thank you everyone <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />
I wanted to get a necropsy done for several reasons, the main one being to find out why my little baby died so suddenly. I think I was doing everything right according to all the info here, and other research i've done. My first reaction was blaming myself when he died <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Even though I'm sure it may have not been my fault. I'm anxious to get the results back from the vet to see what happened.
I'll keep you all posted.
On a side note, the vet told Chris that his liver may have been blackened, from just pure death. Since he we didn't find him until the morning, it had time to develop that black hue~ she went technical with Chris, but as I wasn't on the phone with her, i'm not sure what she said.
I just hope the results of the necropsy/toxicology will be conclusive.

/glider hugs
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Heart Broken - 06/11/03 08:12 AM

It has been a week, still don't have my necropsy back <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> hopefully I'll get it in a couple of days.. Not knowing what was wrong with Skitz is killing me <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crying.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Heart Broken - 06/15/03 09:01 PM

Amanda,

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I hope that time will heal your heart. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Skitz' Necropsy - 06/16/03 11:27 PM

Hi guys,
We talked to the Vet today, and have our necropsy report on the way in the mail. The vet said that A&M didn't find anything wrong with the toxicology/lab tests they ran.
So it seems that poor skitz died due to an enlarged heart defect that he was born with <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crying.gif" alt="" />
I will post the necropsy when I receive it in the mail. Just wanted to update y'all on this.
The vet received his remains from A&M today, so we'll have his ashes within a few days <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frostyangel.gif" alt="" />
Thank you again everyone for all the support, it has helped us alot through this ordeal.
/glider hugs <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />
~Amanda~
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Skitz' Necropsy - 06/16/03 11:37 PM

Awwwww you are in my prayers. Let us know what happened. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Skitz' Necropsy - 06/16/03 11:47 PM

Ummm, how enlarged was his heart? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I don't mean to be cold or unfeeling but Bugsy has a slightly enlarged heart also. The vet says it is not enlarged enough to be a consideration and showed it to me clearly on the x-ray. I sincerely hope you don't mind me asking this - maybe we can all learn more from Skitz' passing than we have. My thoughts are with you.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Skitz' Necropsy - 06/16/03 11:50 PM

I'll be seeing the vet in person in a few days to talk to her about it, as she preformed the necropsy. But from what she told Chris on the phone, his heart wasn't properly formed; it was twice the size than a normal suggies heart, and the blood vessels going to the heart were not very defined/developed.
I hope that helps. If you have any other thoughts on questions I can ask my vet, please let me know.
I want to be able to be as thorough as possible if it will help save another suggies life.
Charlie, don't be silly, I really don't mind questions at all. I want to be able to supply as much information as I can <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />
/glider hugs to you all and thank you again <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Skitz' Necropsy - 06/17/03 05:44 AM

I am so sorry to hear about Skitz. Thank you so much for posting about the necropsy results. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the rest of your glider family.
Posted By: Anonymous

Update!~ Skitz' Necropsy - 06/18/03 08:21 PM

Hi guys,
I don't have my scanner with me, so I typed out the report I received from the vet today; word for word.

They still have no cause of death determined <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> When I was at my vet's office today when I was talking to her about it, I just broke down in tears. This is all still too close to my heart and I didn't get much information due to the state I was in. What she did say was that in the back of her mind, she still believes it was a genetic issue he was born with and that it just caught up to him. She still thinks his heart was the problem <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
Attached is a PDF of the copy I received from the vet.
I just wish I had definite answers as to why he passed so quickly. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crying.gif" alt="" />

Attached File
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Update!~ Skitz' Necropsy - 06/18/03 10:02 PM

I'm confused - the vet said the heart was very enlarged but it doesn't say that on the report.... Am I reading this right? It says the heart was within normal boundaries (or such to that effect). <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/question.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Update!~ Skitz' Necropsy - 06/18/03 10:06 PM

When our vet did the initial necropsy she said his heart was enlarged and the vessels weren't defined. She said A&M said the heart tissue was healthy, and doesn't agree with them about the heart being within the normal range.
So right now we have no answer as to why he died so suddenly or what the cause was. I'm very frustrated and upset with this. I really hoped the necropsy would have given me more answers than it has <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
The vet already cremated Skitz's remains so we can't have any further tests done. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crying.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Update!~ Skitz' Necropsy - 06/18/03 10:38 PM

Oh - I shouldn't question you right now - I know this isn't the time. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" /> I worry about Bugsy's slightly enlarged heart so this is real close to me. I'm sorry you didn't get the results you were hoping for from the necropsy. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shakehead.gif" alt="" /> Now you have your sweet Skitz' remains and you can begin to heal. I hope you can do so quickly, as he would have wanted. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/gliderangel.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Update!~ Skitz' Necropsy - 06/18/03 11:42 PM

Charlee,
I don't mind the questions, i'm just a bit upset that both my vet and A&M couldn't find a reason for his sudden death. It makes no sense to me how a young healthy glider could all of the sudden die <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nixweiss.gif" alt="" />
My hubby says it reminds him of those incidents you hear of young people (in their 20's) die of a sudden heart attack for no apparent reason.
I didn't mean for my frustration to seem directed toward you, as that is not the case <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />
I really appreciate any input as i'm so confused about this <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worried2.gif" alt="" />
On a side note, we should have our memorial shelf up for Skitz tonight. We framed a few of his pictures, and bought some beautiful leaf candles to go around his little box of ashes. He's so very missed <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frostyangel.gif" alt="" />
/glider hugs to you all <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />
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