Star Clan came to take Chronos to the Rainbow Bridge yesterday afternoon at 4 P.M., following a surgery in an attempt to save his life. He is surrounded by starlight, at his feet and in his eyes, playing at the Bridge today, and not in pain any more. His last illness is here:
A Special Thank you to Xglider, who sent Chronos a ring toy he had a blast with on his last night here (it arrived earlier that afternoon). Chronos, though he only had half a tail, loved to carry things with it.
First, Chronos was a special needs glider, and a rescue. He had genetic issues with his hands/feet and only one intact hand, his front left-which tended to cause him to fall. He battled various conditions for the 1 years and 8 months we were graced with his presence. For the 2005 and 2006 SGGAs, he was the demo glider for the E-Collars, and in 2006 for syringe feeding meds, without a single crab. His picture is on pg. 75 of Srlb's new book on gliders, in the collar, with the 'you can take it off now' look on his face. He suffered anal gland abscesses, and finally a blocked gall bladder/liver disease, major surgery, and furthered our knowledge in these areas for gliders.
Chronos' Story: He came to us in July of 2005, a week before the SGGA, from someone I'd taken in gliders before. He'd been in a colony situation with several other males that attacked him, with cuts and scars on his face. I was told he was about 2 years. When I took the pouch (not very clean, and had a hole in it) I was told "Watch out, he's mean", and that his name was Stubby. I hadn't heard a crab. I reached in and took him out to transfer him to a pouch I brought, he curled in my hand, laid his head on my thumb, and just looked at me (he had a very expressive face/eyes) and when I pet him his eyes just closed. Like he knew his ordeal was over. I'm thinking "yeah, right, he's mean and vicious. We ought to put out an alert on this one" and it was all I could do not to roll my eyes and say something right there. I transferred him to the new pouch, and we took him home. He was also rather brownish colored, and didn't smell too nice.
The first night, as he was up exploring, we kept hearing this CRASH....by the time we got to the cage, we couldn't tell what happened..nothing out of place. Until finally I sat and watched, and saw him lose his grip and fall. Thinking HLP, we got him out to examine him...and found out he only had a couple deformed claws on each back foot, and one front hand with no toes at all, only little stubs (hence the name, but a mean one, I thought). We knew about only half a tail we were told he chewed off. Between the deformity of his toes, the couple deformed nails, he simply couldn't hold his weight by his back feet...and would fall. That's when I learned to rig hammocks so he could navigate his entire cage, but wouldn't get hurt. Whenever you'd put your hand in the cage, he'd hop on and grip with those nailless fingers (strong grip, and it felt really awesome and soft), then when he was out, work his way up your arm to say hi. You had to be careful not to move too fast or he'd lose his grip. I never heard a crab, and he never offered to bite.
I was going to the SGGA in Arkansas to do the demos for the Ecollars. He'd been hissing when he peed, so thinking UTI vet prescribed antibiotics, and I took him to continue his meds. He and Riker went with me, and I looked forward to getting to know him. He was so sweet and laid back, that rather than just stressing B's glider and so we could do more demos, I tried him out with the collars. He never offered to bite, no crabbing, just let us do whatever to him without complaint. He also made the rounds to visit just about everyone on the second floor balcony-that glider just loved everyone. All I could think was if he was "mean" to his first owner, he must have had more reason than I could imagine. Nothing fazed this little guy!
Over the next year we struggled with what we thought was a recurring UTI. 3 or so weeks off meds, and it'd be back. Finally, his urinalysis brought up suspicion of diabetes. As it turned out, the infection affected his kidneys and once cleared, his readings and blood glucose testing was normal. Finally, though, he started leaking green infection from the cloaca. As it turned out, we weren't dealing with a UTI, but abscessed anal glands, likely from being bitten there in the fights in the colony prior to him coming to us. The abscesses were so bad, no amounts of antibiotics would do more than temporarily knock down the infection. We were considering having them removed, since too long on antibiotics would hurt his liver, and we had recently lost one to liver damage/failure from abuse, Gimli. We didn't know his liver was already beyond repair when we got him.
He again was the E Collar model for the 2006 SGGA, and we added meds to it, because he was on them anyway for the infection. So I could demonstrate how to syringe feed meds to a glider. He also came with his new girlfriend, Clotho, one of Gina (Monster's) joeys. We didn't have an available mate for him among the gliders we had. And Chronos LOVED his girl, who we named Clotho because she and Chronos were together in the mythology. Chronos is actually 'Father Time' and Clotho is the youngest of the 3 aspects of Fate, from Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality series, who collected the material from which the threads of each person's fate is spun. The other two aspects spin, measure, weave into the tapestry of life, and then cut at the end of a person's life. Time works closely with the Fates.
Chronos loved his girl, and would carry barrel o' monkeys monkeys and the little bunnies-the easter version- to her every night and fill the pouch with them-much to her discomfort, lol, with his half-tail. They were his 'gifts'. Many times I'd look in and they had their arms around each other, giving each other a wash. No glider could have suited him more.
We had his abscess infection relatively under control, but it wasn't gone, and were about to give the go ahead to the vet to remove them. We needed to let the infection enlarge the glands to a point prior to surgery so she could locate only that tissue easier. Then, he turned yellow.
I'd had him out only 2 nights before, and he was fine. Clotho had been ill, and completed meds for whatever made her throw up, but Chronos never seemed to get sick. That night, he vomited, and when we took him into the light his coloring and pee were extremely yellow. I knew an ER vet couldn't deal with this, so we gave him some anti nausea meds, and I took him to the vet the next morning. This story, his final struggle, is in the above link in Health.
Through it all he was Chronos as in the rest of his life. All his disabilities and infirmity aside, he acted happy, and active, and to his last night Clotho NEVER ONCE went without her monkeys. He stopped eating voluntarily, but she got her monkeys. He played with the feather toy, and even went for a few in the wheel on his last night...and brought Clotho her monkeys. He was just as sweet, just as affectionate as always, this "mean" glider. He's the only one who didn't try to bite ME after anesthesia...his own foot, yes, but not his people. His coat was the softest I've ever felt, and was the most gorgeous silver once all the brown wore off.
She got to say goodbye when he went to the bridge, and for the first time let me give her a kiss on the head with no reaction.
Last night, we finally had to get her out to eat at 2:30 am...she was waiting for Chronos, who ALWAYS came and got her to eat (he woke up earlier normally)...and he didn't come. She ate well, but is upset. She's crabbier than usual today, and I'm spending time with her, and we're thinking about who is to become her new cagemate (s)...though it's a bit soon yet. And she didn't get any monkeys.
Chronos was a One in a Million glider. To go through what he went through in his short life...without an ounce of agression or mean bone in his body, loving everyone right to the end, showing absolute trust no matter the circumstances...I don't think I'll ever find another like him. If I had ever had to choose between him and Riker, I don't know that I could have done it.
Chronos, you will be terribly, terribly missed!!
I had originally thought of another song for him, but this one was just HIM. So...
For Chronos: Russel Watson ~ Faith of the Heart (theme to Star Trek: ENTERPRISE)
It's been a long road Gettin' from there to here It's been a long time But my time is finally here
And I will see my dream come alive at last I will touch the sky No they're not gonna hold me down no more No they're not gonna change my mind
'Cause I've got faith of the heart Going where my heart will take me I've got faith to believe I can do anything
I've got strength of the soul No one's gonna bend or break me I can reach any star I've got faith (I've got, I've got, I've got) I've got faith
Faith of the heart
Pics to follow
Edit: when we got Chronos, my husband said "That's a keeper". He was, and we did. Even though at first he hadn't meant that as WE were keeping him, he loved him as much as I did-with Chronos, it was impossible not to.
Last edited by Xfilefan; 03/23/0702:34 AM.
Jen/Colin Commander Riker 12 16 02-10 04 12 you will be FOREVER missed Sinbad, Gabby, Baby, and Alley
That squirrel video is so cute! I HAD that toy for Maverick--before I got Sampson. As soon as Sampson came along, though, he ripped their eyes out! All three of the squirrels in one night! Apparently, Sampson has is pretty protective of his cage, and has major issues with invaders...
Jen .. my heart has just been so heavy since I saw the first note in the PM last night… I cried then, and have been crying today… no words will come to me …
I hope you don't think me rude, but I after reading this post I thought this of this poem ;
I Only Wanted You
They say memories are golden Well maybe that is true. I never wanted memories. I only wanted you.
A million times I needed you, A million times I cried. If love alone could have saved you You never would have died.
In life I loved you dearly, In death I love you still. In my heart you hold a place No one could ever fill.
If tears could build a stairway and heartache make a lane, I’d walk the path to heaven and bring you back again.
Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same. But as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.
Author Unknown
Amanda
Amanda, Jeff&
A Pomchi named Wickett A Yorkie named Meeya A Great Dane named Berlyn 5 Cats Kamorah, Aiko, Mo, Peekaboo, & Alice Someday Ill have more suggies... 2 skin kids - Xander Finlay James March6 2010, and Rohan Kingsley July 5 2011
Jen I am very sorry for the loss of Chrono's. You are in my thoughts as is Clotho. You will miss him dearly but know he is pain free. You gave him so much ~ certainly a much better life then he had. You are the most caring glider owner and never forget you gave him your all.
Hugs today and always
Have a Good Day Brenda & Mr. Magoo
Friendly Reminder please have an e-collar ready before you need it......
Jen, I've been crying so much today... my heart is grieving right with you I'm so very, very sorry. You have my unending admiration of your strength and caring...
Chronos knew he found love and peace immediately when he first met you. When I first saw Chronos at the SGGA 2005, he had my heart. You were truly blessed to have shared his love and life with you. My heart is very heavy right now, crying right with you. Many, many hugs are with you, Jen.
Jen, Chronos was blessed to have such a devoted slave in his life and I cannot even begin to fathom how huge a hole he's leaving in your heart and s headed your way!!
I should have put this in the first post, but better late than never.
Chronos' nickname was 'the Original FuzzMonster'. Sometimes we'd call him Fuzz. It didn't have anything to do with his personality, which was anything but monstery, lol.
Something else keeps occurring to me today-then I forget. Suppose I'll have to come and edit the next time. Brain just isn't working well today.
Thanks, Becki For now, that hole is big enough to drive a truck through. It will mend in time, but he'll always have a little piece.
Jen/Colin Commander Riker 12 16 02-10 04 12 you will be FOREVER missed Sinbad, Gabby, Baby, and Alley
Jen you were an angel to Chronos & gave him all the love he could possibly ever want. Thanks to you he had more of a life than he ever thought possible before he came into your hands & heart. My heart breaks for the sadness that you are going through, but know that he is now free of pain & illness. He is whole & healthy & will be waiting for you.
THE RAINBOW BECKONS
In loving memory of my angels who have crossed over the rainbow bridge
The rainbow has beckoned It’s calling you home To meadows and forest In which you may roam
My heart it grows heavy To think you might leave I’d be all alone then Alone then to grieve
I know deep inside me That you cannot stay The pain that you’re feeling Grows more night and day
You look at me asking In your silent way To let you go home now “Please let me” you say
You say there’s no pain there No fear and no hate Just peace and well being Once you’re through the gate
You tell me you’ll always Hold me in your heart That time and that distance Can’t keep us apart
And if I should need you At my side you’ll be Tho I cannot see you You’ll be there with me
You promise to wait at the rainbow for me To wait `til I join you Together to be
I just want to hold you And beg you to stay To ask please don’t leave me Alone on this day
Yet deep in my heart know I must let you go You must make the journey now to the rainbow
I bow down my head then The tears fill my eyes I give you my blessing My love now to fly
So fly to the rainbow And wait there for me Some day I will join you Together to be
by: Chris Hamann
Chris Illusion, Malcom, Isabell, Annabelle, Zach, Isis, Aly & Indy AND Miss Emmy & Miss Chloe kitties
My Angels: You are always in my heart.
You've flown to the rainbow and wait there for me Someday I will join you together to be
I have been reading about Chronos and I cannot even begin to think about what you are going through. He sounds like the type of glider who loved life and loved everyone he saw. You two were lucky to have each other and I think it is beautiful how he was with his Clotho. I will keep all of you in my thoughts.
One of the things I've always admired about you, Jen, is your allowing all of us to share in the experiences you've had with your gliders. We're so much richer for going through the situations you've faced with Riker and Chronos and others. Thank you for being willing to write in times that are really painful.
I'm just very sad for you, and know you've done everything in your power to make Chronos' life the very best. I know you'll miss him. I'm so sorry.
jen my heart is heavy, when you think of Chronos, I firmly believe that means he is nearby watching and speaking directly through to you. you may not find solice in this, but Chronos loved you, and he will stand for many years, doing what he has done, helping others and saving more lives.