Love and loss ... kindness and hope ... the ongoing story of Melvin and Bella ...

Keeping my fingers crossed for Bella, come on Bella be nice to Mr Husboar x
I am truly hoping so on the second attempt ... either Bella decides that that his presence is acceptable and stops being quite so dominant, or that he will agree that she is destined to be 'top pig' (she's actually about 400g heavier then him and apparently significantly longer/larger ... not sure whether that makes any difference?)!
Thank you for your kind wishes! ❤
 
It's a rollercoaster of emotions with the pigs, but behind that your health too x
Yes, I had an 2.5 hour assessment yesterday (virtually - tho I couldn't actually see the doctors who were assessing me, due to tech issues at their end!).
Their recommendation is that I will have to go into hospital in London for up to 6 months, but this will be some months ahead, due to waiting lists etc (COVID hits again!).
It's been a hugely tough, acutely distressing six weeks, with the pain of Melvin's decline after his op, the intense questioning of my decisions, his terrible loss, worry over a lonely Bella, and now what best to do for her ... and the fear of the assessment and it's recommendations ... life is hard sometimes ...

Yet that is countered by the amazing kindness and support I have found on here, and the amazing offer of a chance of a new home for Bella given by a wonderful TGPF member! And life still has so much to offer ... as I'm due to become an aunty once again on Saturday ... life is truly bittersweet, isn't it?
 
Yes, I had an 2.5 hour assessment yesterday (virtually - tho I couldn't actually see the doctors who were assessing me, due to tech issues at their end!).
Their recommendation is that I will have to go into hospital in London for up to 6 months, but this will be some months ahead, due to waiting lists etc (COVID hits again!).
It's been a hugely tough, acutely distressing six weeks, with the pain of Melvin's decline after his op, the intense questioning of my decisions, his terrible loss, worry over a lonely Bella, and now what best to do for her ... and the fear of the assessment and it's recommendations ... life is hard sometimes ...

Yet that is countered by the amazing kindness and support I have found on here, and the amazing offer of a chance of a new home for Bella given by a wonderful TGPF member! And life still has so much to offer ... as I'm due to become an aunty once again on Saturday ... life is truly bittersweet, isn't it?
I hope everything goes well for you. And congratulations in advance of being an aunty again! x
 
Yes, I had an 2.5 hour assessment yesterday (virtually - tho I couldn't actually see the doctors who were assessing me, due to tech issues at their end!).
Their recommendation is that I will have to go into hospital in London for up to 6 months, but this will be some months ahead, due to waiting lists etc (COVID hits again!).
It's been a hugely tough, acutely distressing six weeks, with the pain of Melvin's decline after his op, the intense questioning of my decisions, his terrible loss, worry over a lonely Bella, and now what best to do for her ... and the fear of the assessment and it's recommendations ... life is hard sometimes ...

Yet that is countered by the amazing kindness and support I have found on here, and the amazing offer of a chance of a new home for Bella given by a wonderful TGPF member! And life still has so much to offer ... as I'm due to become an aunty once again on Saturday ... life is truly bittersweet, isn't it?
yes, it is, hang in there! Life is full of twists and turns. Look forward to seeing the new bundle of joy Auntie 💕
 
I just wish that there was a magic wand ... that Bella could be bonded with a cute new friend and live with me until I have to go into hospital ... and then there would be some kind person/some way of caring for my lovely Bella and her new friend until I can return to be with them once again. But that simply isn't possible sadly ...

My mind has just gone over and over this ... it's so hard to let go when such strong love is present ... even when there is simply no other choice available 😢
 
Congratulations on the prospect of becoming an aunty again - how exciting.
Will be hoping you can get into hospital sooner for your treatment.
I’m sure the waiting isn’t easy.
Will be keeping you in my thoughts and in my heart
 
Congratulations on the prospect of becoming an aunty again - how exciting.
Will be hoping you can get into hospital sooner for your treatment.
I’m sure the waiting isn’t easy.
Will be keeping you in my thoughts and in my heart
Thank you, at the moment SIL has a (huge) bump!

The waiting is hard, I admit (as I was referred for this assessment at the end of October 2019, 10 months previously), so I'm becoming well-practised at waiting sadly.

I'm wishing even more now that Melvin had survived, as with two piggies there would not be such urgency to rehome as they could live together here with me until my admission in a few months time, and then go to into rescue and a new home together.

But Bella really needs a friend and so a new home ... even if she's proving to be rather choosy! It's a waiting game in all aspects at present!
 
And so it continues!
Unfortunately Bella (and the boar-friend) have definitely decided over the course of a second meeting that they are not to one another's liking sadly.
But ... the kind TGPF member has offered to try a meeting with her bonded girls, to see if Bella will fit with them as a trio.
A long shot, I know ... but Bella has one more chance to be part of that lovely home! So still fingers crossed here! 🤞
 
How is Bella doing, has she had the session yet, finger crossed it goes well with the other girls x
 
How is Bella doing, has she had the session yet, finger crossed it goes well with the other girls x
Well, now a complication! Bella apparently coughed a few times yesterday ... she's never had any coughing episodes before. Kind TGPF member is an experienced GP owner, so spotted the few episodes of coughing and slightly heavier breathing straight away, and rang her own vet this morning. Bella is still eating/drinking/moving around fine, so it's thought to be a bit of a respiratory infection emerging after the change of location. So Bella is now on sulfatrim as a precaution.
So Bella is now recuperating (and will not be put in with the girls until all clear)!
 
Well, now a complication! Bella apparently coughed a few times yesterday ... she's never had any coughing episodes before. Kind TGPF member is an experienced GP owner, so spotted the few episodes of coughing and slightly heavier breathing straight away, and rang her own vet this morning. Bella is still eating/drinking/moving around fine, so it's thought to be a bit of a respiratory infection emerging after the change of location. So Bella is now on sulfatrim as a precaution.
So Bella is now recuperating (and will not be put in with the girls until all clear)!
Aw, Bella sounds like in great hands, try not to worry I’m sure she’ll be fighting fit very soon and able to meet the other girls x
 
Sows are well known for a bit of soap opera drama. I hope Bella is soon fighting fit (not literally) and in the mood to move in with her new neighbours.
 
Sows are well known for a bit of soap opera drama. I hope Bella is soon fighting fit (not literally) and in the mood to move in with her new neighbours.
I hope so also ... (not the "fighting fit" bit) ... as I hear Bella's style is apparently more to chatter crossly and then square off when presented with new (obviously unwelcomed) boar company! Hopefully (everything crossed!) new female company may be more to her liking ... she's a sassy, choosy girl!
I'm just so pleased that she is in such good hands, as the kind TGPF member who has Bella presently staying with her was so observant and so quickly 'on the case'!
 
I hope so also ... (not the "fighting fit" bit) ... as I hear Bella's style is apparently more to chatter crossly and then square off when presented with new (obviously unwelcomed) boar company! Hopefully (everything crossed!) new female company may be more to her liking ... she's a sassy, choosy girl!
I'm just so pleased that she is in such good hands, as the kind TGPF member who has Bella presently staying with her was so observant and so quickly 'on the case'!
Fingers crossed it’s a big success next time round x
 
So Bella will be on antibotics for her cough/heavier breathing for a week ... but she's in such good hands with the experienced person with whom Bella is currently staying. Any bonding attempts to join the possible "girls brigade" are now on hold however, until she's finished her antibotics.
Luckily she took her meds well ... and I was sent a photo of her napping whilst enjoying cuddles from her lovely TGPF host!
 
Missing my piggies hugely tonight as tears fall hard ... I'm still wracked with guilt that maybe my cheeky Melvin could have been saved ...

And wishing there was any other way, any other way, than to rehome my sweet Bella ...

My family tell me there can be other piggies in my future, in years to come when my health is better ... but it will not be Melvin and Bella.
Melvin is gone forever, and Bella ... Bella will be living elsewhere ... she will be someone else's piggie (in the best outcome) ... also gone forever from my life.

But I'm scared that my sweet Bella will end up in a hutch amongst lots of other piggies in a rescue ... her basic needs met, but no time for the fuss that my pampered girl is accustomed. That Bella will revert to the terrified piggie she was when brought home from rescue before, that she will wonder where her caring familiar home has gone ... an single, older piggie forever overlooked, in favour of cute youngsters.

I hoped against hope that she would find a match in a lovely home with a similarly bereaved piggie or as part of a piggie herd ... I'm still holding on so hard to that hope ... as handing my lovely girl to a rescue will be totally crushing and heart-breaking. She came from a rescue ... I would never, ever wish for this to be ... for her to have to return. It feels like my lovely Bella is paying the price of my illness, and the terrible guilt is immense.

I dream there could be a way that Bella (and a new friend) could be cared for whilst I was away in hospital ... to have the thought of returning to my sweet girl and a new piggie friend would be such a motivating reason to fight and recover. Oh how I wish, I wish ...
 
So sorry you find yourself in this awful situation. Keep praging that once Bella is better that she will bond with those other girls and get along really well. All reputable rescues take time out for cuddles and piggies are always bonded and paired up with another piggies. Don’t think everyone that visits a rescue is looking for a baby or adolescent piggie. Many people are looking for mature piggies too so try not to worry too much, I know it’s so sad loosing Melvin and then Bella.
Fingers crossed Bella makes friends with these little ladies x
 
This is so desperately hard for you, it's a horrible situation to find yourself in. I really hope Bella gets on with the girls when she is better, it sounds like she has found a lovely knowledgeable home.
I echo what @Bill&Ted says - a good rescue will give piggies lots of cuddles and human contact and they won't let a guinea pig be an only one. Bella will either be bonded at the rescue and be rehomed as part of a pair/group or will be bonded with the new homes piggie/s. Bella wouldn't be sent off to live alone or in a hutch at the bottom of the garden. All housing and new homes are carefully vetted before rehoming, this is why the forum always advises rehoming by a reputable rescue.
 
Thank you for your kind words of reassurance ... it's been a very tough week. I've waited 10 months for an assessment for a specialist service (delayed due to COVID), and the outcome of the assessment this week was a refusal to place me on their waiting list, due to my deterioration over lockdown. Now there is only one other option for treatment, in London ... and whether NHSWales will fund me is totally unknown.

And then Bella being poorly ... and being afraid for her, after losing Melvin when he became unwell ... and she's not here for me to care for her :(. My fear also triggers realisation that I will have to cope with this ongoing worry ... I have to let go of sweet Bella and trust her to others. She's in a wonderful home presently ... I'm hoping so hard it works out that she can stay ...
 
Thank you for your kind words of reassurance ... it's been a very tough week. I've waited 10 months for an assessment for a specialist service (delayed due to COVID), and the outcome of the assessment this week was a refusal to place me on their waiting list, due to my deterioration over lockdown. Now there is only one other option for treatment, in London ... and whether NHSWales will fund me is totally unknown.

And then Bella being poorly ... and being afraid for her, after losing Melvin when he became unwell ... and she's not here for me to care for her :(. My fear also triggers realisation that I will have to cope with this ongoing worry ... I have to let go of sweet Bella and trust her to others. She's in a wonderful home presently ... I'm hoping so hard it works out that she can stay ...
Fingers crossed for Bella x
 
An update ...

Bella is gradually recovering for her URI, still eating well thankfully and maintaining her weight very well. The vet apparently was expecting a dainty female piggie, rather than 1.3kg of chunky Bella ... enjoys her food, that girlie! Unfortunately, she appears to have given a touch of her UTI to the potential husboar (during the two attempts at bonding attempts) ... so he is also now on meds! :oops:

But she's being very pampered by the kind TGPF member, and I received a lovely photo of Bella sticking her head out of a lovely pile of hay!

And I am now an aunt again, to a beautiful niece born last week!
 
An update ...

Bella is gradually recovering for her URI, still eating well thankfully and maintaining her weight very well. The vet apparently was expecting a dainty female piggie, rather than 1.3kg of chunky Bella ... enjoys her food, that girlie! Unfortunately, she appears to have given a touch of her UTI to the potential husboar (during the two attempts at bonding attempts) ... so he is also now on meds! :oops:

But she's being very pampered by the kind TGPF member, and I received a lovely photo of Bella sticking her head out of a lovely pile of hay!

And I am now an aunt again, to a beautiful niece born last week!
Aw, congratulations for the safe arrival of your new baby girl. Good to hear Bella is on the mend x
 
An update .. thank you so much for the kindness shown to me on this thread!

So Bella has thankfully fully recovered from her UTI, with the excellent attentive care of the kind TGPF member. A bonding session was tried with the kind TGPF member's two girls, but unfortunately both Bella and the dominant girl wanted to be 'top pig', so the session had to be abandoned sadly.

But the wonderful news is, despite Bella declining the company of both the potential boar-friend, and a potential all-girls household ... the kind TGPF member has fallen in love with Bella, just as I love Bella, with her funky hairstyle and funny little ways, and asked to keep her!
Bella is such a lucky piggie, as she has found a wonderfully caring new home.

The plan is that the kind TGPF member will try a baby girl piggie with Bella, and see if Bella will accept a tiny new friend, who will be no competition for the tastiest veg, or the comfiest hidey! So hopefully, soon Bella will have a friend once again.

Today I travelled to take the last of Bella's things, her outside run ready for grass munching next spring, some comfy vetbed for winter snoozes, and her c&c grid set, so she can have a spacious new c&c in her new home, for her and her (hopeful) new friend.

I was so lucky to be able to have one last cuddle with my sweet girl. She looked so relaxed in her new owner arms, and was still a cuddly, chunky piggie as ever, though modelling a very professional hair trim ... much smarter than any haircuts that I gave Bella! She snuggled into me, and happily ate the forage treats I had picked for her ... sow thistle disappearing at a tremendous rate! Such a sweet, sweet piggie!

I miss her ... I always will ... and still wish that circumstances could have been different so I could have kept my gorgeous girl, but I am so tremendously thankful for the kindness of the TGPF member in offering Bella such a loving new home.

Love and loss ... the immense kindness of a stranger (brought together through this fantastic forum) ... and my hopes have come true ...

Be happy, Bella ... that is what I hope and dream for you. Forever missed, forever loved, my sweet girl ❤
 
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