My Beloved Winston has died.

[Chicletreat]

First,  I should preface this post by saying that I’ve never posted here before.  I feel like I know everyone here however, as I have been reading all the posts for the past 4 years when my precious Winston came into my life.  I’ve actually never posted before on any website, just a voracious reader, mostly because I’m a pretty private person and apprehensive about writing to strangers. Everyone seems so supportive here, so I feel you may be able to understand.

I guess the reason why I’m writing this now , is because I feel like I’m falling apart.  My beloved mini-rex Winston passed away on Thursday from GI Stasis. I don’t know how to make the pain stop.  I can barely write this because I’m crying so hard.  He was the light of my life.  He has been with us since he was six months old (just turned 4 on May 12).  We gave him the best care-  highest recommended doctor in the Detroit area (Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary, HRS, Rabbit Magazine recommendation)  I took him in for bi-annual checkups at her recommendation.  I fed him the Oxbow pellets, gave him the best varied greens, varieties of hay,  Full free-range of our house , with his own special room. where I created a village for him with all his favorite toys.  BUT HE STILL DIED- and he was only four years old.  I know they are fragile animals, I’ve read numerous books on how suddenly they can die. But this is particularly difficult for me, because he was fine on Wednesday morning -ate all his pellets- and by the afternoon he refused his greens and not hopping around like normally.  I made an appointment that evening with the vet – unfortunately not his normal vet of the past four years because she just moved to Atlanta.  I saw another vet highly recommended by Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary.  He administered a shot of reglan and a syringe of Critical Care- and since Winston produced about 12 fecal pellets while he was there, sent him home with more reglan and Critical Care. 

 Needless to say his condition did not improve.  While he did produce 3 fecal pellets that evening – he remained listless and wouldn’t eat or even swallow the critical care we gave him.  At 5:45 am, we rushed him to the best Animal Emergency Center outside Detroit over an hour away.  He was put in an incubator, given meds, and sub-q fluids.  But I’ll never forget that image of him wrapped in the blanket and looking so listless.  We kissed him and told him how much we loved him and left the ER.  He was admitted overnight, but I  couldn’t leave the parking lot-even though the doctor said he had a good chance since I brought him so quickly,  We just sat in the parking lot for a couple hours and then went back to see him, hoping that the pain meds would have taken effect.  He was very out of it, but when I went to kiss him on the head and tell him I loved him, he tried to lift his head to sit up, but couldn’t because of the drugs and his legs just splayed out.

We finally left with instructions from the ER physician that she would call to give us a status report. At 12:55 pm that day, she called to inform me that Winston had passed away.  My heart is broken, I have a hole that I can’t imagine going away. I can’t eat- I feel sick. I I have never lost a pet, but I have lost both parents whom I was very close to, through terrible bouts of cancer.  This feels worse.  I had no time to prepare.  I don’t know who to talk to who would understand this pain.  Besides my boyfriend, whom I live with, who is equally devasted by our loss-  I don’t know who to turn to.  Everyone I know either doesn’t have a pet or has a dog or cat, I’m afraid their reaction will be it’s just a rabbit- move on.

 If you have taken the time to read this, thank you for listening.  As I said, I was extremely nervous to post anything, and any comments at all would be more that appreciated.

 

 

[Almcv]

Im very sorry, teared up a bit.
words cant replace the love but they will help u remeber all the happy moments you to shared. Just focus on that.

i lost my chocolate lab almost a year ago it was the most devistating thing. even like u said losing close relitives feels less hurtful
my thoughts are with u

[FrankieFlash]

I’m so sorry for your loss Chicletreat. I can’t imagine the pain you are in. I know I’ll be a mess when it’s Bunjamin’s time.
You’ll be in my thoughts and I wish I could do more since you live close to me but I’m not sure what to do.
When I lost my aunt last november, I couldn’t stop crying, I didn’t eat, I was so upset. And I still tear up thinking about her but I do know the pain gets slightly less as time goes on.
You were great bunparents and I know he loved you and appreciated all you did for him.
Binky free Winston.

[bullrider76543]

We are so sorry for your loss, nothing can prepare you for the devistating feeling of loosing a beloved companion. They are so precious and steal our hearts ar become a part of our souls. No words can consoul the pain that you must be feeling, but please feel some comfort that your beautiful bun is not in any pain. We lost our Donna Christopher and she was only 3 months old. it was devistating to my 18 year old daughter, but we took it one day at a time, and thats all you can do. you are in our prayers, Binkey free Winston.

[jerseygirl]

Chicletreat, I’m so sorry for your loss. Your pain is evident and brought me to tears also.
I wish there was something that would lessen it. I think only time is the healer here though.

Members here do know what these little ones can mean in our lives. So I hope your posting here does offer some comfort.

Winston sounds to have a wonderful home and care.
Binky Free!

I don’t know if this would help you and your boyfriend or if time is not right but I wonder if spending time with the rabbits at the sancturary would help? Just being around them? Their unique little spirits can be powerful.

I’ll be keeping you in my thoughts.

[chromashadows]

Poor little Winston I can tell you both gave him amazing love and he knew he was loved so much. <3 It is so hard losing our buns. I just lost mine last week so I know the devastation.
I hope it eases the pain some to know he’s still with you in spirit and is also having fun at the Rainbow Bridge with the other buns. They’re patiently waiting for us and when we pass, they’ll be binkying over so fast to jump into our arms and nose our faces. <3

Binky free, Winston. You were (and always will be) so so loved.

[Chicletreat]

I just want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers.  Talking about what happened to people who really understand has helped me get through the past days. I have been checking back regularly just to re-read your comments and it seems to give us both some peace.

 We have contacted a pet grief support group at Michigan State University, and plan on attending the next session in early August.  Also, we have spoken with someone at Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary to arrange to donate Winston’s toys as a way of honoring his memory.

Thank you again for your kind words and wishes for Winston, it means so much to us.

[Denise12]

I’m so sorry, my heart breaks for you. My bunny is 3 years old and has had 6 GI stasis bouts and is inevitably going to die from one of them, just not sure which one. I am so sad for you.

[bunnyfriend]

I am so so sorry for your loss Winston had an amazing home with you and it sounds like he was loved very much. I hope you are able to heal soon, hugs to you. Binky free Winston.

[RabbitPam]

I am sorry about your loss of Winston. When that happens it is hard to find others who know how upset you feel. The Rainbow Bridge website used to have a Monday night online ceremony to remember pets that is a nice way to formalize your loss.

I want to add that you are welcome to participate on BB anytime. I had never been to the site when my first bunny Spockie died in December of 2007. Ironically, I found BB in January of 2008, and just chatted with the members since I had so many stories of him after 8 years. I was a member for 9 months without having a bunny, and when I got Samantha, everyone was very excited for me here. Now, years later, I am a forum leader. So I just want you to know how welcome you are in our bunny community. It’s just love of bunnies that brings us together.

[ScooterandAnnette]

We are sorry for your loss, and know how you feel. We lost Bailey, our first pet, less than three weeks ago, and got bad news today on Carbun. But as RabbitPam notes, this is a pretty good forum for people who understand and love bunnies.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Welcome-I’m so sorry for your loss. Sorry I just saw this thread. Such a sudden loss is really hard and especially when it’s a young bunny and you thought they were going to recover. I had a hard time reading your touching story, I feel like I was there, I can just picture what you went through and how hard it must have been. It will get easier with time, you must give yourself time to grieve and allow yourself to grieve in your own way. We’re all here to be your virtual shoulder to cry on, we all understand loving bunnies and most of us have parted ways too soon with one of our own.
Binky Free Winston.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m sorry I did not see this post sooner. I hope you are doing well and I want to offer my heartfelt condolences on the loss of your sweet Winston. I always get very sad and teared-up hearing about others losing their bunnies, because I know how deep a bond you form with a rabbit and the absolute devastation of losing them.

I know how sad and frustrating this situation is for you. Sometimes even the most well cared for rabbit passes away suddenly. What a wonderful bunny parent you were. You definitely did everything you could to help Winston. Sometimes all the care and love in the world cannot save our dear friends. He was a lucky bunny to have you and I’m sure he died knowing he was loved.

Please take comfort knowing you gave him a wonderful life and his memories will always be alive in your heart.

(((((Binky Free Little Winston)))))))

[Zari]

Hello,

I came across your post just now. I know you posted this 5 years ago, but I’m in the same position you were in back then. Except my husband isn’t as caring as your boyfriend at the time and I couldn’t kiss my Bella goodbye or even hold her. She died this morning with GI Stasis and I’m in MY. I fly back tomorrow. I had my father bury my Bella, who was a 6 year old Holland mini-lop. I feel so lost and have so much pain. Everything u mentioned, I feel right now. This is my first time posting on any site, I normally don’t do this, but I have no one who understands my pain and how I feel like I lost my child today.

[Bam]

Hi Zari!
I’m very sorry for your loss of Bella. Please start a bridge-thread about her if you like, you can do that here: https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/afv/post/aff/16/Default.aspx

You can write a little bit about your life together and add a few pictures of her. It sometimes helps with the grieveing a little bit. Here you are among people that really love and care about rabbits, we will listen to you.

Binky free, little Bella.

I’m locking this thread now because it’s so old.

[Author]

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