Haley
Well-Known Member
As some of you know, I lost Max on the morning of January 3rd of this year. To say I was devastated would be an understatement. He and Basil were my first two bunnies and my heart boys, with me through 8 years of my life. Basil passed away on July 15th so to lose his best friend almost 6 months later was heartbreaking. It has been a little over 3 months since I lost him and my heart still hurts every day.
A lot of you will remember all the health issues Max went through over the years. At age 3, we almost lost him from a tooth root abscess. It was difficult to find a good vet who could diagnose the problem, and then properly treat it so that Max could live a normal life. Thanks to the encouragement of many members here, I got a second opinion and another surgery for Max (to remove the abscess and his front incisors). This forum truly saved his life. Max struggled over the years with his teeth and infections. I literally maxed out my credit card (no pun intended) over and over trying to keep him going. I figured if he was fighting, I would give him every opportunity to do so.
Weeks after Basil passed, Max was not well again. I had his teeth checked and the vet found another huge lump above his molars. Max enderwent another major surgery and ended up having a huge mass of bone and teeth and abscess removed from his upper jaw. We almost lost Max that day due to so much blood loss on the operating table. Max just was never really well after that surgery. Moving to the west side of Michigan for a new job, I had to drive him the 5 hour round trip to his vet dentist in Ann Arbor for regular checkups (sometimes after school when I felt like I was going to collapse). But he was worth the drive and worth the stress.
This winter, Max really started to go downhill. He could not eat on his own; I had to spoon feed him pumpkin and critical care and even then he wouldnt eat much. He was very thin and it was starting to take it's toll on him. I felt like nothing I did was enough. The night before he passed, I knew it was coming. I could see the same look in his eyes that Basil had the night before he died. I tried to hold him and get him to sleep with me but Max was always too fiesty and strong-willed for that. I held him as much as he would let me and told him how much I loved him, how much Michael and I both loved him and understood how tired his body was and that it was ok for him to go and be with Basil. I put him in his pen with his girl, Hazel. He passed sometime during the night.
I didn't post here because, frankly, that would make it seem so much more real. Max and Basil were the reason I joined this forum and the reason I got into rabbit rescue. My house still feels so empty without the two of them, even though I still have 4 other rabbits who need my time and attention. They just arent the same as my little "gentlemen", as I used to call them.
I am trying to keep my passion for rescue and love of rabbits alive through the bunnies I still have, but a huge part of me died when my boys died. I guess I feel afraid to get attached again.
Here are some of my favorite pics of Max over the years. He is my only rabbit I raised from a baby (he was 5 months old when I got him from Petco, unaware of rabbit rescue at the time). He was so fun and so spunky..such a little fighter until the end.
With Basil and Hazel, this past spring.
With Biggie and Basil (he never really took to Biggie):
Cooper, our golden, loved Max and Basil:
Love this video..you can see his spunky attitude:
Best buds:
He LOVED Michael:
This is what we called "Maxin' and Relaxin'" with the pillows Soooska made for him:
I dont think he approved of the tie...
I miss you so much, little prince.
I just pray he and Basil are together, somewhere. They were truly soul mates
A lot of you will remember all the health issues Max went through over the years. At age 3, we almost lost him from a tooth root abscess. It was difficult to find a good vet who could diagnose the problem, and then properly treat it so that Max could live a normal life. Thanks to the encouragement of many members here, I got a second opinion and another surgery for Max (to remove the abscess and his front incisors). This forum truly saved his life. Max struggled over the years with his teeth and infections. I literally maxed out my credit card (no pun intended) over and over trying to keep him going. I figured if he was fighting, I would give him every opportunity to do so.
Weeks after Basil passed, Max was not well again. I had his teeth checked and the vet found another huge lump above his molars. Max enderwent another major surgery and ended up having a huge mass of bone and teeth and abscess removed from his upper jaw. We almost lost Max that day due to so much blood loss on the operating table. Max just was never really well after that surgery. Moving to the west side of Michigan for a new job, I had to drive him the 5 hour round trip to his vet dentist in Ann Arbor for regular checkups (sometimes after school when I felt like I was going to collapse). But he was worth the drive and worth the stress.
This winter, Max really started to go downhill. He could not eat on his own; I had to spoon feed him pumpkin and critical care and even then he wouldnt eat much. He was very thin and it was starting to take it's toll on him. I felt like nothing I did was enough. The night before he passed, I knew it was coming. I could see the same look in his eyes that Basil had the night before he died. I tried to hold him and get him to sleep with me but Max was always too fiesty and strong-willed for that. I held him as much as he would let me and told him how much I loved him, how much Michael and I both loved him and understood how tired his body was and that it was ok for him to go and be with Basil. I put him in his pen with his girl, Hazel. He passed sometime during the night.
I didn't post here because, frankly, that would make it seem so much more real. Max and Basil were the reason I joined this forum and the reason I got into rabbit rescue. My house still feels so empty without the two of them, even though I still have 4 other rabbits who need my time and attention. They just arent the same as my little "gentlemen", as I used to call them.
I am trying to keep my passion for rescue and love of rabbits alive through the bunnies I still have, but a huge part of me died when my boys died. I guess I feel afraid to get attached again.
Here are some of my favorite pics of Max over the years. He is my only rabbit I raised from a baby (he was 5 months old when I got him from Petco, unaware of rabbit rescue at the time). He was so fun and so spunky..such a little fighter until the end.
With Basil and Hazel, this past spring.
With Biggie and Basil (he never really took to Biggie):
Cooper, our golden, loved Max and Basil:
Love this video..you can see his spunky attitude:
Best buds:
He LOVED Michael:
This is what we called "Maxin' and Relaxin'" with the pillows Soooska made for him:
I dont think he approved of the tie...
I miss you so much, little prince.
I just pray he and Basil are together, somewhere. They were truly soul mates
. Let your love for Max and Basil be carried on to the other bunnies at your home, that would be a great tribute to your "gentlemen." :rip:
