roxta
Shiny_Rock
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2019
- Messages
- 188
Hello, all. I would like to share the ring I made to memorialize my beloved pet mouse, Celine. Sorry if this story is a long.
I know what many of you are thinking: A mouse? How much can you love a mouse? They're pests, they're vermin (I get this a lot).
Well, Celine was not my only pet mouse but she was my "soul-mouse". It goes back to the day I went to collect her from the breeder. I was trying to pick up a "blue" grey mouse from the tub when Celine ("lilac" grey) jumped onto my hand. I put her back because I had my heart set on the "blue" one. The breeder helped me pick up the one I wanted, put it in my carrier and I made the payment. But as I was about to leave, something told me to "take the one that jumped on my hand". So I went back to the breeder and did a swap. And that's how Celine came into my life. She chose me.
Within a week or two, Celine would just sit in my hand or on my lap, like a tiny dog. We bonded and she trusted me, much more than Ruby ever did.
In our time together, she had a few health episodes where she would have died if she hadn't been such a fighter, with me fighting alongside. The first was when she had surgery to remove an abscess under her right ear. The surgery itself went off without a hitch but the swelling in the area and eye-dryness from anaesthesia led to her eventually damaging and losing her right eye. She had another surgery to stitch the eyelids closed so it could heal - but during that surgery, she sustained burns on her left side from the heating pad. She lost patches of fur as well as a portion of skin from her left ear. She also lost almost 25% of her original weight through this ordeal. But I fed her with a syringe every 2 hours and got her through it. I moved into the spare room with her so I could care for her overnight without disturbing my husband. Luckily I run my business from home so I was able to attend to her full time. A month after the initial surgery, she was a one-eyed, patchy furred little thing - but she was alive, she was healthy and she was happy. We survived.
The second time was when she suddenly had paralysis in half her body, completely out of the blue. The vet suspected she had a brain tumour but I decided to postpone cancer medication for a week and see if she could improve. She got better for a few days but then went downhill. On her worst day, she was having seizures every few hours. I decided it was the end and that I would protect Celine from any further suffering. The next morning, I made an appointment with the vet to put her to sleep. But when I went to give her some final cuddles, she walked a few steps. For the first time in 2 weeks, she walked. The appointment was cancelled as she continued to improve through the day. Over the next few weeks, she had to re-learn how to do everything, from holding food to drinking from her bottle, to running on her wheel. She had permanent brain and sensory damage from her mystery illness (brain injury/infection/stroke?) but once again, she fought and survived. She went 12 months with no health issues whatsoever. Loved her food, loved running around and loved cuddles.
Finally, as Celine hit the 1.5 year mark (mice typically live 1.5 - 2 years), I started to be more vigilant about checking for lumps and bumps. One day, I found a lump on her right side. She had surgery to remove it and tests concluded that unfortunately, it was an aggressive malignant mammary tumour and it would regrow/spread. This is common in domestic mice. It was growing back at such a rapid speed that removing it again was pointless. I decided that I would maintain her quality of life for as long as I could. She spent her final two months even more spoiled than normal. Even as the tumour continued to grow, she didn't let it ruin her ability to enjoy her food and she remained active pretty much until the end. She only had a couple of bad days at the end when she wouldn't eat and I had to feed her with a syringe again. But eventually I could see the cancer taking its toll on her tiny body. She no longer had the energy to do what she loved (eating) and her quality of life was diminished. And so we said goodbye and had her put to sleep peacefully at the vet.
I knew for some time that I wanted to have a ring made with a stone as unique as Celine. After the mystery brain illness fiasco, I started my search. I found a poorly cut unheated Madagascan sapphire and had it recut into a shield shape. A shield for my little fighter. The colour is a greyish lilac - her coat colour. It shifts in different lighting (between pink and violet) and is full of character, as she was. It has some inclusions/flaws - just as she did, but it is beautiful regardless - just as she was. The sapphire arrived back from the cutter the day Celine was having her last surgery. I was so anxious that day, waiting to hear back from the vet on how it went and what she thought the lump might be. When I saw the stone, I cried instantly. It represented Celine and her journey so well. It has now been set on a wide platinum band with a matte finish to keep the focus on the sapphire.
I miss Celine every single day. She passed away in late April, two months short of 2 years old, and I haven't been able to go even a week without shedding a tear (or 50) for her. But when I look down at this ring, it reminds me to be strong and a fighter like she was. It also makes me cry because I remember how much she meant to me and how broken my heart is now that she's gone. I know many people won't understand the bond we had or how I could get so attached to a mouse. I even had friends laugh at me for spending so much money on her vet care. But I've had cats, dogs, bunnies, hamsters, etc growing up and I can honestly say that the love you have for your pet should not be limited by its size or life span. I'm just so grateful that Celine chose me to love and take care of her. Now I wear this ring and keep her close to me wherever I go.
If you have fur babies, hold them and cherish them while you can. I'll end story-time with this quote: Grief is just love with nowhere to go.
I know what many of you are thinking: A mouse? How much can you love a mouse? They're pests, they're vermin (I get this a lot).
Well, Celine was not my only pet mouse but she was my "soul-mouse". It goes back to the day I went to collect her from the breeder. I was trying to pick up a "blue" grey mouse from the tub when Celine ("lilac" grey) jumped onto my hand. I put her back because I had my heart set on the "blue" one. The breeder helped me pick up the one I wanted, put it in my carrier and I made the payment. But as I was about to leave, something told me to "take the one that jumped on my hand". So I went back to the breeder and did a swap. And that's how Celine came into my life. She chose me.
Within a week or two, Celine would just sit in my hand or on my lap, like a tiny dog. We bonded and she trusted me, much more than Ruby ever did.
In our time together, she had a few health episodes where she would have died if she hadn't been such a fighter, with me fighting alongside. The first was when she had surgery to remove an abscess under her right ear. The surgery itself went off without a hitch but the swelling in the area and eye-dryness from anaesthesia led to her eventually damaging and losing her right eye. She had another surgery to stitch the eyelids closed so it could heal - but during that surgery, she sustained burns on her left side from the heating pad. She lost patches of fur as well as a portion of skin from her left ear. She also lost almost 25% of her original weight through this ordeal. But I fed her with a syringe every 2 hours and got her through it. I moved into the spare room with her so I could care for her overnight without disturbing my husband. Luckily I run my business from home so I was able to attend to her full time. A month after the initial surgery, she was a one-eyed, patchy furred little thing - but she was alive, she was healthy and she was happy. We survived.
The second time was when she suddenly had paralysis in half her body, completely out of the blue. The vet suspected she had a brain tumour but I decided to postpone cancer medication for a week and see if she could improve. She got better for a few days but then went downhill. On her worst day, she was having seizures every few hours. I decided it was the end and that I would protect Celine from any further suffering. The next morning, I made an appointment with the vet to put her to sleep. But when I went to give her some final cuddles, she walked a few steps. For the first time in 2 weeks, she walked. The appointment was cancelled as she continued to improve through the day. Over the next few weeks, she had to re-learn how to do everything, from holding food to drinking from her bottle, to running on her wheel. She had permanent brain and sensory damage from her mystery illness (brain injury/infection/stroke?) but once again, she fought and survived. She went 12 months with no health issues whatsoever. Loved her food, loved running around and loved cuddles.
Finally, as Celine hit the 1.5 year mark (mice typically live 1.5 - 2 years), I started to be more vigilant about checking for lumps and bumps. One day, I found a lump on her right side. She had surgery to remove it and tests concluded that unfortunately, it was an aggressive malignant mammary tumour and it would regrow/spread. This is common in domestic mice. It was growing back at such a rapid speed that removing it again was pointless. I decided that I would maintain her quality of life for as long as I could. She spent her final two months even more spoiled than normal. Even as the tumour continued to grow, she didn't let it ruin her ability to enjoy her food and she remained active pretty much until the end. She only had a couple of bad days at the end when she wouldn't eat and I had to feed her with a syringe again. But eventually I could see the cancer taking its toll on her tiny body. She no longer had the energy to do what she loved (eating) and her quality of life was diminished. And so we said goodbye and had her put to sleep peacefully at the vet.
I knew for some time that I wanted to have a ring made with a stone as unique as Celine. After the mystery brain illness fiasco, I started my search. I found a poorly cut unheated Madagascan sapphire and had it recut into a shield shape. A shield for my little fighter. The colour is a greyish lilac - her coat colour. It shifts in different lighting (between pink and violet) and is full of character, as she was. It has some inclusions/flaws - just as she did, but it is beautiful regardless - just as she was. The sapphire arrived back from the cutter the day Celine was having her last surgery. I was so anxious that day, waiting to hear back from the vet on how it went and what she thought the lump might be. When I saw the stone, I cried instantly. It represented Celine and her journey so well. It has now been set on a wide platinum band with a matte finish to keep the focus on the sapphire.
I miss Celine every single day. She passed away in late April, two months short of 2 years old, and I haven't been able to go even a week without shedding a tear (or 50) for her. But when I look down at this ring, it reminds me to be strong and a fighter like she was. It also makes me cry because I remember how much she meant to me and how broken my heart is now that she's gone. I know many people won't understand the bond we had or how I could get so attached to a mouse. I even had friends laugh at me for spending so much money on her vet care. But I've had cats, dogs, bunnies, hamsters, etc growing up and I can honestly say that the love you have for your pet should not be limited by its size or life span. I'm just so grateful that Celine chose me to love and take care of her. Now I wear this ring and keep her close to me wherever I go.
If you have fur babies, hold them and cherish them while you can. I'll end story-time with this quote: Grief is just love with nowhere to go.
I’m so glad she had you and you her. One day you will be reunited.
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