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[Kokuma]

This post explains why I couldn't succesfully participate the Kissing Eggs Hatch earlier today.

I'm visiting in my friend's farm whole weekend. He raises sheeps, having about 40 at the time. 10-15 of those 40 are lambs or semi-adults.

The things started couple of hours before the Hatch time. We went to feed the sheeps around noon and found out that one of the eves (females) had gave birth to a lamb earlier in the morning or, more likely, last night.
Temperatures have been really low in Finland in this week, down to -30C (-22F), and temperature inside the barn was around 5C (40F). The eve was first-timer birthgiver and hadn't know what to do with lamb so the lamb hadn't have the important first milk from her mother and had turn hypothermic.

First we brought hairdryer into barn and I tried to get the lamb's body temp to rise with blowing warm air on her while my friend called to neighbor farm if they could loan some substitution milk that is used when eve or cow can't feed newborn offspring.
We got the substitute milk but the lamb had no suck-reflex and we had to spray the milk into her throat with doser.
That wasn't very effective. More milk leaked down from lamb's mouthcorners than end up into her stomach.
We brought warming lamp (the one that's used to warm chicken when they are just hatched) into the barn and tried to keep the lamb's body temperature up with placing her under the lamp while we tried to feed her, but suddenly she turned more apathic and we decided to bring her inside house to keep her warm while we feed her more substitute milk.

We mixed some honey to the substitute milk that the lamb would get some glucose in her blood and maybe that'll make her condition get better. But she didn't start to suck bottle and we had again feed her with the doser and finally we got some honeymilk down her stomach. Maybe 1/4 of a tea cup.
Some minutes later she puked everything back up and there we were in the beginning line again with dying lamb in a cardboard box covered with old wooly sweater.

We tried to feed her some more milk but she chewed her jaws tightly shut and it was hard to get the doser's pipe between her teeth.

About half an hour later she died. Signs of life went down less and less visible and she peacefully passed away.

I was glad she didn't have to suffer any longer.

[snickerdoodle]

This event was such a sad time.    Gosh, your loss hurts me as I type this.  It wasn't just an animal. It was a beautiful little creature with a soul.

It's so hard to see or know that animals suffer. Thank you for being there with your friend and for doing all that you could. For me, I'm proud of you for how you stuck through it with your friend no matter this tragic outcome. That speaks volumes of your character.

I'm so very sorry.    Please know I care.

[Glacier]

Oh my gosh...that is so sad Its good that sheep went to a better place where it won't suffer, though.

[Bojko]

I am so sorry to hear of this Kokuma. We in the chat were all hoping for the best.

It was nice of you and your friend to do everything you could for the little one.

[Jiro]

Im sure the sheep was happy while he was still with you

Im sorry to hear this though

[mrsPiggy]

Sorry to hear about the lamb, we were all hoping for the best. Your friend and you had tried your best.

I did not know you are in Finland, it's always cold there. My best friend is from there, but they are living in Egypt right now.

*Hugs*

[Kokuma]

I did not know you are in Finland, it's always cold there. My best friend is from there, but they are living in Egypt right now.

We might have winter for 5 months of the year and temperatures down to -40C (-36F), but the weather is pretty nice in here through summer, temperatures jump up to 35C (95F) and ppl walk around in shorts and sunglasses

Btw, how many places you know on the globe that have sun up in the sky 22hrs /day in summer? =)

[Chi]

Oh, my gosh.  That is sooo sad.  I don't think I could do that.   

When my Mom was young, she lived on a farm.  They had these two sheep, and one of them gave birth prematurely while everyone was away and both she and the baby died.   

[Mimitchi]

Kokuma... my heart was there with you and your friend the whole time. I feel such deep loss for you. You were so strong to stand by that lambs side to the end. You did your best, I hope you do not blame yourself. *hugs*

[K-StateFry]

I feel for you, Kokuma, I really do.
I've been through situations excatly like that with the same end result, I know how hard that can be.
When you're in a situation like that and you try your hardest to save the life of an animal, It's mentally and physically tiring and that tiring can all be more than worth it when you are able to help that animal continue to live.
Unfortunately it makes it even worse when you try and try but you can't keep death from taking them.
So It's with the upmost sincerity when I say I comend you on your efforts.
Obviously Im sure you wish you weren't being commended on your efforts but had instead saved the innocent creature, she will never again suffer.
I guess I took this story to heart because I've been through that more times then I could ever have imagined, so before I write a book here, I hope your friend and you are ok.