Marilyn I am sorry to hear about Vernon. You have a very special heart caring non-stop for such fragile babies. Sometimes things happen for a reason. Maybe Vernon's life was to open all our eyes to God's small creatures.
Thank you for taking such care.
Bless you Vernon.

I can't believe I am crying over a squirrel but I got so attached to him long distance and looked forward to the pictures and stories about him. He was so precious. If God sees every sparrow that falls I am sure he saw Vernon. He is probably harvesting huge walnuts from a tree that will never stop supplying him with food. R.I.P. precious little Vernon. Vique.

I've followed your posts and his progress, and my heart sank when I saw your most recent heading. I usually lurk, but just had to extend my sympathies. I've so enjoyed him through your words and pictures. I'm sorry that he didn't make it, but am so grateful that you gave him love and a chance. Little does he know how many hearts he touched.

Bless you, and fly free, little Vernon.

Suzieque

I'm so sorry Marilyn. You did all you could. RIP little Vernon.

God bless you for taking care of Vernon.

Thanks so much Marilyn, for trying....

patti

I mostly lurk here but just had to step in and say, Marylin, little Veron left this world knowing the feel of a loving touch and a full tummy. All thanks to you. Bless you for what you do.

Thank you for sharing him with us while you could. I am sorry for the loss.

ohh gosh marilyn, i am soooo sorry :-( i have been following your rescue w/ great interest as we have tried helping a baby squirrel ourselves in the past. it was heartbreaking when Nuts didn't make it, he fell in his cage and broke his neck when he was a few months old. my poor DH bore the brunt of the feedings and was completely devastated by his loss, especially since we were acclimating Nuts for release. i've been sharing Vernon's story and pics w/ my DH and he reminded me to never ever again bring a baby squirrel home :-( he can't go thru it again. i'm not even going to tell him anything else, he still gets upset about it...

you have a great heart for trying to save him, i am sooo sorry he didn't make it ~ liz

So sorry Marilyn. I just know that ifvanyone could have pulled him through it was you. Just wasn't meant to be.

RIP Vernon

Linda

I am so sorry Marilyn....it always hurts losing them....bless you for trying your best and bless little Vernon....

I'm so sorry you lost him, poor little thing. You were so good to him though, you did everything you could.

A Time for Every Purpose Under Heaven....

Job WELL done, Marilyn.
Thank you, Vernon, for your lessons to us all. RIP little fellow.

Oh, no! I'm so sorry, Marilyn. You gave Vernon his best life.

(((Marilyn)))

I am so sorry Marilyn. When I think of all the little creatures that meet with misfortune and have to fend for themselves, I know for certain that in spite of the sad ending, Vernon was one of the lucky ones! You of course pay the price for that, by having another piece of your heart ripped out. One could think that eventually there would be nothing left, but the great thing about people like you is that when those pieces are ripped out, they grow back twice as big..... If it is true what they say, that what goes around comes around, you have a fantastic future ahead of you..... somewhere...somehow.... I have never met you, but I still think you are one of the best human beings I know!

Elisabeth

Dang, I hate hearing this! I looked forward to your updates on him! He looked so good--& you spent so much time with Vernon-

Thx for taking care of him-

Bless ya, Donna (^_^)

I'm really sorry to hear this, Marilyn. I was really hoping he would make it. God bless you for taking care of him and the possums.

I was pulling for little Vernon and am so sorry to hear this sad news. He had the very best care with you tending to him. (((Marilyn)))

Oh, Marilyn, I am so sorry you lost him. I know how attached we have become to him through your posts and pictures and it doesn't compare to what you must have felt for him. I hope you find comfort in knowing that thanks to you he knew love and felt secure. Bless you for all that you do.

Rest in peace sweet little Vernon.

Linda

I'm sorry, Marilyn. I do know that you gave him great care and he had a great life while it lasted.

Tami

My heart is broken. I just loved watching Vernon growing up. It is my first look at raising a wild young one, and all the care and stories you told us about him. Wow. I just expected this little guy to make it. I know how much you put into rehabbing these babies. Vernon was no exception.
I love that you have a resting place for all the innocent ones, it is so touching.
Marilyn, I know I don't always speak up much, but I admire what you do and the courage, patience and love that you have for this.
Do you cry when you lose these little ones? You are very tough and sound always so strong and positive, even in the worst of moments.

Trin

I'm so very sorry, Marilyn. He was looking so good, hair growing in and he was growing too. You're in my heart, my dear. Love you.

Yes, I cry. I shed tears when he died, but nothing like how many tears I shed reading everything you all wrote. I am going to post a raccoon story...it's a happy story tho...but it has a twist to it that makes it a little odd.

Marilyn I'm so sorry. I looked forward to your posts on Vernon's progress. Thank you for what you do for the animals you take care of. I love watching the squirrels in my oak tree. Oh yes I curse them a time or two when they get into my potted plants, but I'll look at them differently after caring about Vernon.

I am so sorry, Marilyn. You gave dear Vernon the best life possible and as someone else wrote, he knew the loving touch of your care.

Rest in Peace, Little Vernon.

I'm so sad and sorry to hear Vernon passed. You tried
very hard to save the little guy. You're in my thoughts.

Oh, Marilyn, I am so sorry to see this. At least Vernon had a better quality of life when he was with you, and I'm certain he knew he was loved.

Thank you for having shared him with us. We'll miss him.

I'm so sorry to hear this. You are a special person to have the stamina to take care of God's little creatures as you do. The dear little thing..He died being loved. ..I thought of you last night. I've been feeding a baby opossum dry cat food and he has grown in the last months. I went up to see him last night and there was a baby skunk eating his food. Then I heard the opossum lumbering thru the bushes. They are not the brightest..He walked over to his dish and the skunk sprayed him and he ran away..Do you think he'll be back? I love watching his antics...Again , I'm so sorry about dear little Vernon.

I am so sorry. You provided comfort, warmth, nourishment and love. He would have had no chance for survival without you.

It hurts to read this, Marilyn, for so many reasons. Mostly because I know how hard you tried to keep him alive and it was looking good for him and then he didn't make it after all. Your hard work was not in vain, though, because like Hounds just said, you made him feel loved and cherished, like every baby should feel.

My heart breaks for you. This just drives the point home, it's SO hard to raise wild animals and those who attempt it are so far beyond special, there just aren't words.

((((((((((Marilyn and Vernon)))))))))))) That garden must be lush with love.

Oh gosh Marilyn I'm so sorry to hear this. Vernon may not have had a long life but he sure did receive a whole lot of love. And because of you and him I will look at Squirrels a little differently now. Thank you.

Oh no. I am so sorry. I have been telling my daughter
about how special you are, and about Vernon. She will
cry (like I am) when I tell her.

Bless you.

I am so sorry to hear about Vernon. What a shame. I was hoping he would thrive and grow into adulthood.

I am so sorry. I also looked forward to the progress pictures of Vernon. You tried so very hard for him, and you gave him the very best during his short life. Thank you for all that you do. You really are amazing.

Lily, I don't know if the possum will be back. Maybe. Instead of the catfood, try putting out some table scraps, or in addition. Perhaps in two places. The skunk will be back
most likely too. I have a friend in Pa. who feeds wildlife and she has skunks, raccoons, possums and foxes that all come to eat. We don't have very many skunks here because we have great horned owls that nest on the place, and skunks are their favorite food. The wild possums and the raccoons eat together tho.

I'm so sorry Marilyn.

I'm very sorry for your loss Marilyn.

Hugs to you sweet lady. Thanks for your loving care of Vernon and the lessons we all learned about our wild babies.

I'm so sorry to hear about Vernon, Marilyn. God bless you for caring for God's little creatures which are such a gift to us and which we so often don't take time to appreciate.
Barb

I'm really sorry Marilyn. I was really rooting for the little guy. God bless.

I'm sorry Marilyn. I guess looks really can be deceiving, he looked so good and was growing so well.
Lots of hugs,
Tammy

Marilyn, I'm sorry. I hope you take some comfort in knowing that you made his short life comfortable.
He died well cared for and safe.
Take care,
GardenSpice

I am so sorry. You did all you could Marilyn, and I want to thank you for helping this poor little guy.

I've been keeping up with little Vernon's story and keeping you both in my thoughts.

It still amazes me how such tiny creatures can cause big holes in your heart. ;(

Marilyn, I hope the garden you've made brings you comfort when you must leave another little 'Innocent' there.

I'm so sorry, Marilyn.
I know you did everything you could for the little guy.

Ron

Oh, shoot! I was just sick when I saw the title of your post. Thanks for all that you did for him, Marilyn. Give yourself some extra rest for the next few days. You deserve it, girl! ((Marilyn)) RIP Vernon

So sorry about Vernon, Marilyn. You tried so hard to keep him around. Wild critters are a challenge, I thought you did well keeping him going as long as you did. I tell my kids to be good to all animals because their eyes could be the windows to heaven. We don't know who might be looking back at us. Crazy, huh? If Vernon is in animal heaven, you certainly got some points for a good soul.

We took on a mangy black lab two months ago that found our farm. Half her hair was missing, she was thin and apparently had puppies at a young age as she is still young herself. Anyway we got her fattened up, her hair is growing back, her ears on the inside are finally healing and she was soooo happy! Anyway we left for an 8 day trip. She had a bed in my garden shed, someone to feed her and talked to her every day. She is used to our farm and knows all the good spots to be. When we came home on Monday she was gone, left to the neighbors one mile away after a couple days without us, we found out Tuesday.
We brought her home, gave her a bath and thought life was back on track. Today, she is missing again. I fear for her life,,,she is so unaware when she is around vehicles. We are going to have her spayed if we get her back. Hopefully find her a good home. My dogs don't care for her to much, she is so big and playful, she tends to irk them. They don't know what fun they are missing!
So after spending much time tending to her needs, trying NOT to grow to attached, its tough having her gone like this.

Thanks for your Vernon stories, they brought lots of smiles.

Sorry to hear this. I haven't been able to post a ton since I started back to work, but I loved checking on the updates. You did all that you could. Blessings to you!

Here is a link that might be useful: Updates on our son and resources for autism

It's so hard to believe this sad news - I'm so sorry. When I saw your last post you mentioned that it was still an iffy situation. But when comparing the pictures, I thought he was really going to make it. I know this one is pretty tough, but I'm sure you put all of your heart into everything you did. I guess it just wasn't meant to be. I just want to thank you again for all of your hard work. I have a baby squirrel that comes to my back door all the time. I usually keep boxes out there until recycle day. That baby squirrel will rip those boxes to shreds - it's amazing. But I always think of him as a royal pain for making such a mess that I have to clean up. After reading about your work with Vernon, I have a different thought about the baby one in my backyard.

Sending a big hug!

gneegirl