Through childhood, I have always loved animals. When asked at 7 years old what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was a zoo-keeper. I had a lot of pets too, from hamsters when I was around 5 years old to having guinea pigs at 14, cats throughout, and when I got to 16, we got a beautiful dog who is thankfully still with us (or rather my parents...). I LOVE animals... I just didn't realise what an impact they would have on my life.
Growing older through adulthood, I have learnt to accept that due to health issues, I live my life with chronic pain. I have Left Hemiplegia and Hip Dysplasia, along with the early onset of osteoarthritis in my hips. I won't lie and say it doesn't affect me, it does. Its a major influence of my life, but I have learnt to live relatively normally whilst factoring in the pain. I have a full time job and have a wonderful husband and a lovely house. But I haven't always been so thankful.
Last year, around September, I let life get on top of me a bit. There was a lot going on at work, my mum was very poorly, and my health was failing for the umpteenth time. I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression, and ended up taking 2 months off work whilst barely leaving the house.
Then, through no choice of my own, I inherited Florence, a timid little hamster who didn't have the best start in life and who needed a home.
The first few weeks of having Florence was a little bumpy. It sounds stupid, but having the responsibility of keeping a living thing alive was a daunting prospect, especially when I was so low. But, around a month after I inherited her, she started to be very sociable towards me, showed me love, and, a major plus, stopped peeing on me. We were starting to bond, and I was starting to smile. By March, I went to Australia, with Florence being babysat, relatively relaxed and happy.
When I got back from Oz, Florence was very hyper, and I'm glad to say, shes stayed that way, although shes still very loving towards me. It's like we have an unspoken agreement. If i'm ever in pain, she looks at me from her cage, as though expecting me to get her out and she treads ever so carefully over me. She's a star.
3 weeks after being back from Oz, I was browsing on a website for pets when I saw an advert for 2 very hairy guinea pigs, which was written in the 1st person begging someone to give them a good home. I couldn't resist, and after persuading my husband (then fiance), we welcomed Delboy and Rodney into our home.
The bonding between me and the guinea pigs didn't come as quick or easy as Florence. They had clearly been very badly treated, and whilst they never bite, they were not in the habit of trusting humans. They had matted hair and very long nails, and seemed starving all the time. We have now had the guineas 8 months, and only now have they started to trust me. They still run away if we move too quick, but they're getting there, and they have started, like Florence, to interpret my pain. As recent as yesterday, I had a very bad pain day, it was an 8. The guinea pigs stare their adorable stare and squeak very occasionally. When I give them lap time, they make sure they move slowly if at all, and I got a couple of kisses as if to make sure i'm ok.
It goes further than understanding though. It physically makes me feel better, as though it takes my mind off it. I would have a houseful of animals could I do so... unfortunately, my husband has said no more, and I don't really have the room, but I really do recommend, should anyone struggle coping with pain, try adopting an animal, big or small. It has really got me out of a hole I was in.
Thanks for reading, I love you all..
Steph x
