Sick Days

Days like the past few are when I really feel like I should give up, for the sake of the rats. I've had a virus...simple thing for people who are relatively healthy and only taking care of themselves. But with my health problems, I get complications. Even vomiting can put me in the hospital. For the past 3 days, the rats have only gotten half of their medications. It has been all I could do to get that 1 dose to them. No way I could do a cage or water bottles. Today I managed meds and folding laundry, which was exhausting. I have had so many people promise me the world, "I'll be there whenever you need me." "You won't be able to get rid of me." Where are they now? They quickly disappear when they realize it is real work, not just fuzzy snuggles. My comfort for today is that they are still alive. Yes, two more of them need to go on meds, but, for now, they are warm, fed and clean. Who knows what tomorrow will bring? If I quit housing The Rat Retreat, who will? What will happen to these homeless rats? Over the years I've had people tell me I had no business doing this with a disability. I've had nasty emails when an expert found I was taking shortcuts in dosing meds and many, many people telling me how I should do things differently. Where are they now? I sure haven't seen them here twice a day...ready to hand out meds! Maybe therein lies the answer...keep doing what I can, and am willing to do. Even if I want to spend more time on art and that leaves less for the rats, at least they've got something no one else is offering. And when someone else rises up to take my place, I'll gladly give it over. Meanwhile, I need to come up with a good phrase for all these "helpful" people.