As some of you may know, I have pet rats. I currently have 5 little fluff balls, and this is a storey about one I named Lucia.

 

~~LUCIA~~ (pronounced loo-CHEE-ah) Saint Lucia was a 4th-century martyr from Syracuse. She was said to have had her eyes gouged out, and thus is the patron saint of the blind. She was widely revered in the Middle Ages, and her name has been used throughout Christian Europe (in various spellings).

 

 

I came accross a double rex cream coated rat who had serious eye infections/issues. She was going to be euthanised due to these issues, and me being a sucker for the underdog, took her in with the intention of fixing her eyes and giving her a better life. Being a double rex, her coat was meant to be patchy, but it was rough, dry and not in a good way. I got her home, bathed her and rubbed some olive oil into it. She was such a good girl, and although she was crying, she didn't bite me once.

 

At the first of many vet appointments, she was put on antibiotics to clear up the infection so we could get a better look at what was going on. After a week of this, we returned and it was discovered that she suffered from Entropion, which is where the eye lashes curl inwards irritating the eye. Dogs with curly coats suffer from it, as to rex (curly haired) rats. We were faced with a number of options... removal of the eyes, an eye lift or life long meds to help discomfort etc... The vet, who specialises in exotic pets, was not keen to operate at all due to the complications- some rats don't do well under the knife, and becuase her eye/eyelids are so small, surgery would be difficult and fiddly. I got more meds and took Lucia home.

 

I had to take another rat to the vet for another issue and went to my local vets. I took Lucia in for company. Here I met Lucia's life saver. My vet Silka took one look at her and said she'd be willing to give surgery ago, and was quite confident she could help her out... and here begins the first of multiple operations.

 

In the first operation, it was discovered that her right eye, the worst of the two, had ruptured. The cavity was cleaned up and then the lids were sewn shut. What was left of the eye was left in as it appeared not to be causing problems, and would be hard/dangerous to remove. Her left eye looked a little better. It had some ulceration on it but Silka wanted to give it a shot to heal, so a small piece of skin above and below the eye were removed and sewn up. Lucia got through the surgery really well, and her left eye was doing really well. Her bad eye however, was leaking/oozing fluid. We returned to the vets the following week. She was very happy with the good eye, but decided it would be best to remove the remainder of the bad eye and clean it up again. She again flew through the surgery and recovered really well.

 

A week on again, we were back for stitches removal and good eye check up. The 'good' eye was slowly going backwards, and we were pretty sure she also had no sight in it, so it was decided removal would be the best option... her third surgery. She again coped really well and was again in the recovery stage. We had some issues with healing this time, so meds and daily bathing was needed. After weeks of this, we had another appt and she was again scheduled in for her 4th surgery. Silka found a small piece of the eye still there, which was weaping/oozing. This was removed and again closed up.

 

Finally, after 4 operations and months of meds/bathing, Lucia was infection/pain/eye free. Her coat is now so fluffy and soft, her surgery sites aren't visable... you'd never know that she had eyes before. I don't like to think about how much I spent on getting her better. I knew when I took her in that I'd do everything possible to make her better, and while I never thought she'd need 4 operations, her life is now 100 times better and I have no regrets. Out of the five rats I currently have, she's definately the most outgoing and adventurous... and to think she was going to be euthanased. :fingerscrossed:

 

Here are some photos of her journey, enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

She was a very lucky girl the day you came into her life......................you have gone above and beyond what most people would have and your rewards will be in another place and another time.

Thank God for amazing people like you. :rofl: :rofl: :fingerscrossed:

OH MY GOD Maesie...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

As tears fill my eyes there is nothing I can say as Kaz has said EXCACTLY what I was feeling...........

 

God bless you Maesie....you are an ANGEL....... :fingerscrossed:

You are an angel for saving her!

What a beautiful story.

She looks amazing now.

Well done Maesie :fingerscrossed:

Thanks guys :fingerscrossed: but I can't take all the credit. My vet, Silka has been wonderful... not only has she been willing to undertake multiple difficult surgeries, she has also greatly reduced my appointment fees and been great support also. BUT... the most credit has to go to Lucia. She has more strength and determination than any other animal I've had the pleasure of owning. Throughout the whole process, from being taken from her home, washed, dried with a hair dryer, put into unfamilar suroundings, having her eyes poked, wiped, ointment squrted in, meds shoved into her mouth twice a day for months... all while unable to see much if anything at all, and not once has she attempted to bite me. Her nature is just beautiful and she has a very special place in my heart :rofl:

Just like people some creatures come into our lives for a reason, they leave footprints on our hearts and long after they are gone their memories are the very air that we breathe.

I have such treasured friends and creatures in my life and for them I am very grateful

Just like people some creatures come into our lives for a reason, they leave footprints on our hearts and long after they are gone their memories are the very air that we breathe.

I have such treasured friends and creatures in my life and for them I am very grateful

 

So very deep and true Kaz and I agree 100% I also believe she came into my life for reasons beyond the healing of herself.

You did a wounderful thing Maesie.

Lucia is so lucky to have you

Oh wow wow!! That is a beautiful story Maesie! How wonderful that Lucia was fortunate enough to find your caring soul and nature. She is so very lucky to have found you, I admire your perseverance with her - such a delicate area (the eyes) and to help her the way you have unconditionally is absolutely beautiful

 

She is a gorgeous little rat, without the eyes she looks even more special. I would think she will be eternally grateful to you and oneday will repay your kindness - I bet she has already with her loving little nose and inquisitive little body *pictures little Lucia snuggled up in the crook of your arm or her wet little nose nuzzling your neck* :grbud:

 

It's just an amazing journey! How is she managing no sight? Her other senses would have kicked in and she'd have no problems getting around would she?

 

*sigh* I love it, thanks so much for sharing

Wow Maesie this is the most wonderfull and loving story have ever herad. For that you are a truly amazing person for giving her second chance that she may not have had anywhere else, she sounds absolutly adorable and so loving towards you. I really do hope that this will inspire others to do such amzing things also.

 

Hope she is doing well and good luck to the both of you.

Thanks all :grbud:

 

She gets around really well Amy, and yes, her other senses are very well tuned. If I get up in the middle of the night for a drink/wee she always stirs to see what the noise is, and she's the first to the cage door when I call them for dinner. Her hearing, sense of smell and touch overpower anything her little eyes ever saw! She also gets around the cage like she knows wHere everything is. Even after a clean and re-decorate, she takes it all in her stride and whips around in no time. She has no fear what so ever and is always the first to explore new things. Rats, especially the red eyed ones are known to have bad sight anyway, so dealing without it isn't usually a problem. She has the sweetest nature and loves her mummy . In free range play time she always comes back to me so she can get her barings, so I get lots of love and cuddles. Nothing like a warm snuggle to brighten your day.

i know how much you love your little animal fam and you truley have been blessed with eachother

 

Edited June 19, 201015 yr by KAZ

Sadly, my precious Lucia is no longer with us. She was put to sleep yesterday after going down hill suddenly. She was limp and unresponsive when I rushed her to the vet, but her little heart didn't want to give up the fight. She was strong right to the end. I miss her terribly but know I gave her a wonderfull chance at life. :emoticon112:

Her life was made more wonderful being with you. Sad to hear she has passed :emoticon112:

Oh Maesie, I'm so sorry..... :gday: I have tears in my eyes typing this because you both went through an incredable journey together...she had such a good life thanks to you.. :emoticon112:

 

Rest in peace sweet Lucia xx

I just read this thread and was overwhelmed by your generosity and love for Lucia. I am so sorry she passed away before her time, but I am so impressed and inspired by what you did for her and I know she will be eternally grateful to you. The short time you got to spend with each other is worth all the time in the world :thankyou: RIP little Lucia.