We've had a tense week because one of our furry ones is in the hospital. Meet Godzilla. He's ten years old and weighs just over 600 pounds. He had a rough start because his mother died during childbirth and he was the only one of his litter of ten that did not find a new mommy. We gave him that name because we wanted him to have something strong and powerful in his life to get him through the hard times.
Here he is, still at the vet's office in 1997 where we had to keep him for three days on antibiotics and fluids to get him healthy before we were able to bring him home. He's three months old here and weighs just eight pounds. 
Of course we had to bottle feed him for some time after we got him home. Here I am at one of his many feeding times.
Here he is with our other pig, Sophie Marie having some dinner. She now weighs 750 pounds, by-the-way and is powerfully missing her mate right now. Until this week I don't think they slept apart more than three or four nights in ten years together.
Our Christmas card in that magical year of piglets, titled My Donna And Child. Sophie was going to be the model but she was too squirmy so the always well behaved young man got to be the Chosen One.
Fast forward to Godzilla as a grownup. In this undated photo he enjoys an afternoon in the pond. Pigs don't have sweat glands in their skin, as you may know, so they roll around in the mud to cool off on hot days.
Donna took this one of him on Thursday, the day of his surgery to cut out some skin cancer from his ears. We tried to kill the bad cells by having them frozen at a clinic in Washington on two prior occasions but they came back. Why? Because cancer sucks.
This time we found a specialist in central Oregon to do this hopefully more permanent solution. He needs to remain there for another week for follow up chemotherapy. Donna stayed with him to spend the days in his stall and read aloud to him both Charlie And The Chocolate Factory and Charlotte's Web. Godzilla loves story time. And vanilla wafers.
I drove down yesterday and was so happy to see him up and around. This treatment is uncomfortable but his pain is well managed here at this facility and if we can take him home next weekend and the cancer does not recur it will have all been worth it.
I don't know much about prayer or good vibrations or whatever is supposed to help the sick in times like these but we would very much appreciate any good thoughts you can send Godzilla's way. :)
you and donna are the perfect parents. i hope he gets better soon.
Posted by: alisa | January 20, 2008 at 06:56 AM
Since reading about Godzilla in your old blog, he has been one of my favorite members of your menagerie. Best wishes for his speedy, and complete, recovery.
Posted by: Diane | January 20, 2008 at 06:57 AM
Coming from someone who has many a visits to the vet, i.e. broken hip, eye infection, skin infection, etc., I understand completely where you are coming from. I wish the best for Godzilla, Donna and yourself. This is a hard time, but you'll all get through it I'm sure!
Posted by: LP | January 20, 2008 at 07:46 AM
Awww, he's adorable, Bean. Sending out warm healing wishes to Godzilla. May he be rolling in mud with Sophie Marie ASAP.
Posted by: LA | January 20, 2008 at 07:49 AM
Both you and Donna show a great love and compassion for your "kids" and I'll toss a prayer up to the Big Guy that everything works out for you guys.
As for yesterdays blog. Don't care about Si- Fi monsters. My mother-in-law is the real deal. So pray for me, won't-cha.
Posted by: Geo | January 20, 2008 at 08:49 AM
I wish your beautiful pig a speedy and sucessful recovery as well as a long and happy life. Give some extra love to Sophie Marie as well. Please keep updating us on Godzilla and post pictures.
Posted by: HeatherMichelle | January 20, 2008 at 09:06 AM
my thoughts and prayers are with you both, and here's hoping Godzilla will be cancer free for the rest of his life.
Posted by: Cathy | January 20, 2008 at 09:27 AM
Keep strong little one. All those who go through these trials make those who walk with them appreciate their love of you. Best wishes on a speedy recovery.
Posted by: Mike J | January 20, 2008 at 09:41 AM
Go go Godzilla! Cancer does suck, Bean. I'm thinking good thoughts for your little guy, and hope you get to bring him home healed and healthy.
Posted by: EditThis | January 20, 2008 at 09:54 AM
Good wishes to your little porcine pal in his times of trouble. You and Donna are an inspiration to the rest of us pet parents out there. And might I add, Donna is beautiful on that Christmas card. (Godzilla ain't bad either)
Posted by: Chrissy | January 20, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Sweet Godzilla! Thoughts and prayers from the east coast for a full & speedy recovery. Hope he's home to the family very soon!
Posted by: Maria | January 20, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Hey Bean, ever heard of a BLT? I'm just saying...
Posted by: Dick | January 20, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Wow........ Tears started building up looking at those pics! I must say, getting to know more & more about you Bean and I've gotta tell ya, you & Donna are truly great people to look up to....Living in CA & to have lots of land (in somewhere that's semi-civilized) would cost a fortune but having all the animals you have would be such a dream!!! It doesn't matter if they are animals, you two are truly great parents! My thought are definitely with you & the rest of your clan during this hard time......
<3,
me =)
Posted by: me! =) | January 20, 2008 at 01:05 PM
No problem Bean, will do. Keep us updated.
Posted by: Lynne_T | January 20, 2008 at 02:01 PM
Aw, I'm so sorry to hear about your sick pig. Can't believe how friggin' ADORABLE he was as a baby. (Still cute but not the same as when he was a baby.)
When my father-in-law had cancer I heard from everybody with their 'cures.' Unfortunately Pop wasn't open-minded and passed pretty quickly. Still, there is a theory out there I heard over and over again. If your body is only given alkalized material to live on, cancer cells can't survive. In other words, if you take the acidic food out of your diet and only eat/drink alkalized foods you'll be way healthier.
I just got a water purification system that does all this. They ain't cheap but if it's works it's better than the pain of chemo. I hope Godzilla is better soon.
Posted by: Lo | January 20, 2008 at 02:17 PM
he's so precious! i'm sending godzilla all of my good vibes for a speedy recovery. cancer does suck!
Posted by: erin | January 20, 2008 at 02:52 PM
Good thoughts and vibes and hugs and stuff to you and Donna and the piggies. I'd throw in a "Cancer Sucks" t-shirt, but I'm having a hard time finding one in a pig XXXXL. Perhaps a visor?
Posted by: Rose | January 20, 2008 at 03:52 PM
may the baby pig jesus live long and thrive.
Posted by: | January 20, 2008 at 06:12 PM
ah Godzilla.....i hope that you feel better soon. I hate cancer. i hope he's home playing in the mud and eating nilla wafers as soon as possible.
Posted by: Amy Souza | January 20, 2008 at 07:00 PM
I'm happy to see such great pet parents. I always enjoy the pictures you put up of your adorable little bulldog and farm animals. I love pigs and I hope yours gets better soon.
Posted by: Jessica | January 21, 2008 at 09:05 AM
Just had a little prayer about Godzilla to St. Francis....bless you all. I'm thinking of him.
Posted by: Cam | January 21, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Our Godzilla at the radio station has blogged about yours today
http://godzillaofnewrock.blogspot.com
Posted by: stephanie | January 21, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Get well Godzilla!! You guys rock as pet parents. :)
Posted by: Sara | January 21, 2008 at 04:30 PM
I hate seeing animals suffer...Get well soon Godzilla
Posted by: Raul | January 21, 2008 at 08:07 PM
:( my little godzilla...i hope with all the hope possible that you get better real soon. you are such an incredible inspiration. i love you very much and hope you can go home real soon...i will be thinking about you...
Posted by: christine | January 21, 2008 at 09:46 PM
look at that picture of you and donna and godzilla.. he's absolutely smiling!
best wishes & good thoughts for godzilla and his loving parents..
Posted by: michelle k | January 22, 2008 at 06:04 AM
Prayer going Gozilla's way! I salute you for going through all that effort to save a pig. I don't think many people would do that even for a dog (because of the expense).
I hope Godzilla recovers well!!!
Tiffiny
Posted by: Tiffiny Whitney | January 22, 2008 at 09:53 AM