I decided to start this blog because my boy, Harry, recently presented with symptoms of late onset megacolon. I have searched all over the Internet, gone through countless forums and read everything I could. And yet, despite everything I read, I still felt so alone. Like no one else was out there dealing with this condition. Not just the bother of giving meds and going to the vet and a special diet. But the heart break. Knowing that, no matter what you do, how much money you spend, how many hours you spend cooking the healthy dinner for them (while you eat canned soup or some other quick meal), how much love you give them, it won't make a difference. Knowing that someday soon, you're going to have to say goodbye. Knowing that this beautiful little boy or girl will never have the chance to grow old with their cagemates.
Reading people's questions or reading about the special diets that people put their sick ratties on tells me that I am not alone. But I still feel alone. Because no one really shares the whole story with the world. When they have a question, they ask it, but give nothing more. So, I am writing here so that I have an account of what I go through, but also so that the next person who googles "megacolon" will, hopefully, feel a little less alone. I'm hoping that people will feel free to ask questions on here or to give me advice, if you've ever gone through the same thing. I want this blog to become a kind of community for those who have seen megacolon first hand. I just figured a forum was a little to big for such a rare problem.
Now, let me give you a thorough introduction to my boys. James and Harry were born to EVR Amelia, sired by JM Pippin. Amelia did not have an easy time birthing. Some of her babies ended up scattered, some even ending up outside the cage. One baby lost his leg and half his tail when Amelia tried to pull him back inside. Harry lost a toe and the very tip of his tail. It seems kind of unfair that his life, which started with pain, will end with it as well. I was looking for a pair of youngsters because I had two old man rats, both over 2 years. One was doing quite well, but the other, my heart rat Jinto, had chronic respiratory problems and had recently begun growing a tumour on his neck. Knowing that, with surgery not being an option, he would not be with me much longer, I decided to find a couple of young companions for Shingo. I first checked rescues, but didn't find quite what I was looking for. When I found this litter listed on Evergreen Rattery's website, I immediately put myself on the waiting list. James is a Russian Silver, while Harry is a Russian Blue with a lightning blaze. Originally, I was going to receive two Russian Silvers, because someone higher on the waiting list had already claimed Harry. When I went to visit them, just a few days after their eyes opened, their breeder informed me that the person who had reserved Harry was interested in one of the silvers and would trade me if I was open to it. I was thrilled. I've always had a thing for unique head markings, which is probably why I've had 2 rats with megacolon. I readily accepted and began brain storming names. Originally, I was planning on Russian names. I was going to name James, Yuri and Harry, Ilya. Those names came from two of my favourite characters in one of my favourite books and actually would have fit my rats quite nicely. I still hadn't decided on those names, simply because of their difficult pronunciation, when I brought them home. It wasn't until I wrote a topic on goosemoose.com to introduce my boys that I noticed their birthday. July 31st. Harry Potter's birthday. AND Harry had a lightning blaze on his face. It was fate, pure fate. It was a little weird at first, because my father's name is James, but it was too perfect to pass up. Now, without further ado, I will introduce you to Harry and James.
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