Gene, Gene
Gene, Gene… as I liked to call him, lay to rest peacefully on my lap on with his lady ducks by his side.
On Tuesday, we took Gene in for his 3-month check-up and unfortunately, they found that his heart was back to beating at an increased rate, despite the improvement we’d seen over the past year. Gene’s bill had also lost its vibrant color and his feathers were slowly wearing. He no longer had the muster to be difficult for the vets and Cardio team when they were attaching the EKG machine. The trip to the vet seemed to just wear him out completely. With Spring upon us and mating season, we knew he would likely experience additional frustration from not being able to mate with his ladies. Gene was tired and showing us, he had well begun his downward trend. He was such a trooper and fought so hard for a long happy life. Next month, Gene would have been with us for four full years. A duck’s natural lifespan is about 6-8 years, so we know he lived a long life and had some wonderful last days bathing, preening in the sun and being outside with his ladies. He loved his lady duck friends more than anything.
Last April Gene was diagnosed with heart disease. We immediately started Gene on multiple heart medications and until Tuesday his heart had improved with each 3-month checkup he received. Gene this past year also was dealing with a severe sinusitis. But daily hot compresses and nebulizer sessions with saline solution, helped clear Gene up. In November, he was diagnosed with stage four arthritis in both hips and knees. This caused Gene to be mostly immobile, but despite everything he was still a happy duck with a strong will to live. We gave him medications twice daily to help ease any pain or inflammation from his arthritis, hoop therapy, daily warm baths in the bathtub, a full blow-dry, followed by time to preen, and rest in front of the fireplace. We purchased Gene a specially designed wheelchair to help him get around, but he wanted nothing to do with it. Always making his way out of it within minutes. Gene maintained a great appetite, his energy level remained high, especially in the tub! And he showed us each day that he was happy to be alive and was a content, happy duck. Every afternoon when we’d carry him back down to his yard, Virginia and Nan would come running from their pond to greet him. So excited to have him back.
Gene was one of our first residents before we were even Ridge 2 River. We were committed to keeping him happy and comfortable for as long as he wanted and seemed to be. With the information we received Tuesday and some time watching him after his check-up, we decided it was time. We didn’t want to make Gene struggle through another week or two so he could be with us. We didn’t want him to suffer. We wanted to give him a great life for as long as possible, but then we wanted to let him go in peace, without waiting for too long.
We were in Pullman, at WSU for Gene’s check-up, seeing all his favorite vets that had taken such great care of him. After his exam and discussing with the vet, I called Eric to make our decision. We then spent some time facetiming with Eric, as he was back home taking care of everyone else. Eric said his goodbyes to Gene and got to see him one last time.
They gave Gene a quick injection he didn’t even seem to feel, to take the edge off and relax him. Within a minute or less, Gene was head down fast asleep on my lap. As calm and rested as he could be with his body gently raising up and down with each soft breath. He was so restful that when they gave the final poke he didn’t even seem to notice, his body just stopped rising and falling. He was gone. I felt in my heart he had obviously been ready.
We believe he is now with all our other amazing residents who have traveled over the rainbow bridge. And with his name’s sake, my dear Uncle Gene, who was also so precious to me.
We love you Gene, Gene and we already miss you. You will be in our hearts forever.
~Namaste