That's about as positive as I can get. As I type, she is awake, and attempting with her heart and soul to drag herself to her cheese. I am in awe of her ability to thrive when her body is collapsing around her.

As originally thought, I am now unsure as to whether she had a stroke. You see, it is her left side which seems considerably weakened, yet her head is not tilted quite like I originally imagined. When she manages to shift her weight into a more equal balance, she looks quite normal. It is only when she walks that all her weight flops to the left. Movement is laborious for her. Having said that, she does not confine herself to her bed, and more often than not when I am around, she is up.

I had a scare on Tuesday night, she seemed very limp and unresponsive, and when I laid her on her bed, she did not flinch at all. She lay in the same position until I went to bed myself, and I prepared myself that I might have woken up to find that she had gone. I was distraught, of course, but also considered myself lucky that I would not have to make the decision I'd been dreading, and that Tia would be comfortable, and none the wiser.

I woke the following morning earlier than usual and felt the plummet in my stomach as I remembered, and bracing myself, I climbed out of bed and switched on my desk lamp. And there she was, awake and in the middle of her cage, albeit flipped over to her left, eating the hard boiled egg I'd left in the hope she might gather an appetite.

Of course, that means nothing to the bigger picture. I must be straight here, Tia could go tonight, or she could see out another week. I just don't know how quickly her illnesses will accelerate again, I can only judge that they will be very soon, as the series of events so far has barely left any breathing space. I don't think she can get any worse than she is now and I am not expecting miracles, but as long as she continues to teeth chatter when she feels my touch upon her back, then I cradle and protect her right to live out her final days with the family she loves so much.

I am sorry that I only feel like replying to this particular thread for a while on PT, my mind is just quite preoccupied with more pressing matters, such as this, which I believe prevent me from responding whole-heartedly to those of others. I don't want anyone to think I'm blowing my own trumpet by doing so. I will, however, now reply to the lovely PMs I have been sent, and I apologise for not doing so sooner. Thanks also to everyone who replied and is keeping Tia in their thoughts, I am sure they have kept her with me until now. Now I wish for your thoughts to be with her as her life draws to a close, in hoping that she is satisfied, and knows how loved she is.