Hershey has been a very special ferret for me. He has lived with ADV for 3 years, and has, at times, had to really fight to keep going. Through all of it he has never complained, and has been both brave and loving.

I first met Hershey when he was about 5 weeks old. I was considering getting a kit from his litter, and from the beginning I was struck by his extremely soft coat. Over the next few weeks, I visited several times, and always was drawn to him. In the end, I got both Hershey and his brother ET. ET was a big handsome cinnamon boy, and Hershey was Mr. Softy. Hershey was named because he was a chocolate from German bloodlines, and had a silky coat. Seidig is the German word for silky.

Hershey was never much of a show ferret. His coat had roaning in it, and his shoulders were too narrow. Also, he was not comfortable in noisy crowded places with strange animals and people around. He would withdraw at shows, and seemed to have no personality. One judge once described him as being "very average".

At home was a different story. Hershey was always my explorer ferret. He never had much interest in playing with toys, but he loved to explore new places and go for walks outside on a leash. He also loved to be held, and to get attention from me and my family. He was my sweet chocolate boy with the freckled nose.

When ADV came to our house, and 9 of my ferrets became ADV+, I felt devastated. Some of my best show ferrets were affected. However, Hershey was the one I felt worst about. I am not sure why - maybe it was the way he looked at me. When he looked at me, I could tell he had complete trust in me to make everything all right. ADV was something that I couldn't make all right - at least not for him.

Hershey became sick from the ADV almost immediately. Three months after the exposure he was at death's door - his liver was failing, he was down to skin and bones, and bloodtests showed that his total proteins were way higher then normal, something characteristic of ADV. We tried antibiotics, and while they did help the liver some, they irritated his stomach to the point he was throwing up. I decided that there was little I could do except love him and make him as comfortable as possible for as long as possible. I also made a pledge to him that I would do whatever I could to warn other people about the dangers of ADV, so that other ferrets wouldn't have to suffer, and that I would work to raise money for ADV Research, so that maybe someday there would be a cure or vaccine for this terrible disease.

Somehow, Hershey was able to rally, and regain some of his strength. We started giving him intensive supportive care, and letting him have special privileges, so he could enjoy life as much as possible. Over the next year or so, we had several crises, but each time he fought it, and came back.

Then, I decided to try Imuran as a means of lowering his gammaglobulins. While it took a while, it apparently had at least some of the desired effect with Hershey. His liver values improved, and he became stronger and more active. At one point before the Imuran his liver enzyme values were over 3 times the high end of normal. After 6 months of treatment, they were back to within normal limits.

The next problem he faced was early renal failure. This actually started about a year ago, but progressed very slowly until recently. The only sign we had at that time was anemia, which Dr. Stevenson had said in ferrets with ADV was usually due to decreased renal function. We started using Procrit to stimulate the production of red cells, and again, the medicine bought Hershey more quality time here with me. His hematocrit improved, and he again had more energy.

Through all of this Hershey remained very positive and determined to be as well as possible. And, because of all the special care he was receiving, he and I became even closer. And, because of his attitude, he became my source of inspiration. Whatever I have done these past 3 years in the fight against ADV, whatever I may have accomplished, has largely been due to Hershey and his wonderful and courageous spirit. Now, his memory will serve as my source of strength and inspiration.

Hershey may have been very average in his appearance, but his heart and soul were anything but average.

Sleep peacefully my sweet little man, my freckle faced chocolate boy. You have earned a rest, and we will meet again some day.

Danee

After Hershey got ADV, we didn't get any snow for several years. Each year I would pray for snow for Hershey, afraid that he wouldn't make it to the next winter, but no snow came.

Finally, in early December this year, we got some snow. It wasn't great snow, and some of it was freezing rain and sleet, but I wasn't sure when there would be another chance, so we took Hershey out to see it.

Here are 4 pictures of him in the snow. It is a little ironic - he started going downhill a few days after the snow. It was almost as if he had been holding out for one last romp in the snow.

Danee

Sandee, please be on the lookout for a sweet chocolate boy with a freckled nose. His name is Hershey, and he left us today.

Please help him find his friends who are already there waiting for him. His 3 cagemates, Mosby, Kokopelli and ET (his brother), are there, and also his friends Sassy and Buster.

Hershey likes to explore new places, and to play in the snow. We haven't had much snow here for several years, but fortunately, we did get some several weeks ago, and so Hershey got to have one last romp in the snow before leaving. I hope you get snow there, so he can play in it with his brother.

Hershey's favorite treat is chocolate ice cream. He was never allowed more then a taste here, but maybe up there he will be able to really indulge himself.

Please let Hershey know that we miss him a lot, but we understand that his body was just too tired and sick from ADV, and his spirit needed to be set free. Tell him I will never forget how special he was, and that he will always be in my heart.

Danee

A little weangel named Jubilee Spirit is alerted that a member of the Kouri Fan Klub has been settling in at Rainbow Bridge. Harley tells her it's time to go get him for the Klub activities. She asks where he is. Harley points to snow hill and snickers under his breath. Jubilee's jaw went slack when she looked over at the winter wonderland. Oh how she does not want to go in the snow. She tries to stay in the spring regions of the bridge. But alas, there he is with a few other sniffing the falling snowflakes, and burrowing through the snow. Others were sliding down the hill like otters.

So off she went trying to dodge each snowflake only to have one shocking cold flake blop right on her nose, and then another on her ear, and then another, and another. Ugh. So she trots forth to Mr. Hershey!

J: "Ahem.... (polishing her claws on her furry chest and then admiring them), Mr. Hershey, I am here to offici......." But, something grabs her attention momentarily. Somehow a butterfly followed her here even where the snow is. How can that be? They are always following her. "Anyway, Ummm, I am here officially to welcome you to the Heaven based Kouri Fan Klub. My name is Jubilee." She sees the butterfly again. And the innocent, sweet eyed Hershey looked up to see what she was looking at to only see nothing.

H: "Hiya! I'm checking out the snow. It's not even cold here on the bridge, so I can spend lots of time here....isn't that just neato?"
Jubilee looked at him annoyed.

J: " Are you ready or what?"

H: ::Looking up at more snowflakes:: "Ready for what?"

J: "We got Klub things ta do! Don't ya wanna see??

H: "Well, okay, but I can't go for long cause my friends and some of my family is here, I don't like to leave them for long."

J: "Oh you'll like this, this is fun..." She then swats at the psychedelic butterfly that only she can see.

Hershey tentatively follows her to see many Klub Members there at the bridge. Ferrets he's heard of, and his mommy has read about but he has never met. How cool is this, he thinks! It's like meeting movie stars. They all are so busy, and having fun. Some are Konstructing hair weaves out of shedded hair, some are making Katapults to go have fun with kitties at the bridge, some are baking Kookies, some are making eggplant, some are at a shooting range, many are playing with mail, Katalogs, and magazines that get delivered to them, some are Koloring, some are painting with waterKolors, some are Krocheting, and much much more. Surely he will find an interest here. Some of the members are talking about "FLO" and some are writing Khronicles and doing membership paperwork ... they are working so hard.

Everyone is doing something, except that silly goofus weangel, Jubilee. She is over there batting at imaginary things in the air, spinning around, biting the air, dancing and flipping about. Hershey considers her sanity and then waddles over to some of the more sane members, and he chooses to engage in ... Kooking. Hershey, is so comfortable, and its' so freeing to be able to enjoy smells and wanna just try and eat everything for a change. He smiles and thinks its so nice to have friends AND family here. You can't beat that. Except.... Mommy. Mommy could beat that. But that's okay. Hershey ponders over the fact that he will be able to greet her one day and she can see him happy and healthy and tussle in the grass. This is a good day.