If Coco was human we'd be saying long illness bravely borne. Coco was my rescue pig who has lived with us 2 years. She gave DD1 take me home eyes and that was that; love at first sight and the two of them had a special bond.
From that moment the 'Fortified pigs' were a trio, Shai also came home with Millie and the 3 of them have been very happy. Sadly we noticed a lump shortly after Coco joined us and its slowly grown ever since. Over the last year she added more ailments. I thought, I'll let her have one last Summer and that will be it. In her last month she became incontinent and I knew time really was running out.
When she stares at the wall, when she stops eating I thought. But it didn't happen. Then last week she became cold and was using Millie for warmth. Millie was a wonderful nurse, let her use her body for warmth and groomed her. Shai took a few turns but didn't do as much All the time I was thinking please pass away in your hutch with your friends 
The weekend was warm and I put the girls in the run with extra hay. Saturday happy times. Sunday, no Coco went to the Summer house. I will regret that decision for a very long time.
Monday, Coco couldn't sit down. Monday night discovered poor Coco was the victim of flystrike 
Because she was wet from wee, she attracted a fly who laid eggs on her. The eggs hatch in a matter of hours and she was being eaten alive by maggots. Between midnight an 1am she got a thorough bath to remove all visible maggots and I applied vaseline to all sore skin. DH cleaned the hutch all the girls had fresh veggies.
This morning my daughters said their final goodbyes to Coco before school. The plan was to take her to the vet this afternoon. At that time she was wet with wee but no more maggots and she ate pepper. As the morning went on I could hear she was uncomfortable. Owing to a change of plan we could take Coco to the vet this morning afterall.
I sat in the car, wearing my gardening guinea pig coat Coco snuggled into my side. DH came and told me when it was Coco's time. I left the pet carrier in the car and took her in wrapped in a towel under my coat. When the vet examined her we saw yet more maggots (hatched during the morning) Poor Coco was suffering.
She had gas to send her to sleep before the final injection to send her to the Bridge. With gas was a better way than Todd aka OB went. He didn't have gas first. He leapt into my hands with the first injection and fell instantly asleep but needed a second injection to finish him off. Coco just had one injection whilst she was drowsy/asleep and didn't feel it but she did take a long time to pass away. I don't know if she knew I was there, I hope she was too out of it but I stroked her head anyway. And all the time I could see the maggots wriggling away I said goodbye to her before she was gassed and kissed her nose.
Under the circumstances, you'll understand we are not letting the girls human or cavy see her body. Coco is being cremated. When we have her ashes back she will be scattered on her favourite part of the garden.
Believe it or not this is the abridged version of the last few days. 70 has heard it 'live' and has been so supportive. I want to thank her 
Somewhere there is a litter of Coco's pups born in Blackberry Patch Rescue, June 2013 and another lot born to her a couple of months prior to that. I wonder if any are a beautiful chocolate brown like her?
RIP Coco June (approx.) 2011 - 22/09/2015 
parsley