"The Circle of Healing"

[CatWoman]

Jeff Guidry with Freedom

Every day at Sarvey Wildlife Center we witness first hand the incredible battle for life that our animal brothers and sisters go through. This is a story of one Bald Eagle's magnificent spirit and sheer will to live.

It was mid-summer when a call came in reporting a fledgling Bald Eagle had fallen out of a nest on a Seattle golf course. Our very own Crazy Bob went to the rescue and transported her to the Center. She arrived with two broken wings. When asked to take her to the vet, I jump at the chance.

When I load this hurt and terrified baby into the car, she neither whimpers nor fights; she can't even stand. This is not a good sign; she is obviously in very bad shape. As I drive to Sno-Wood Veterinary Hospital, I constantly look back to check on my very special passenger. She stares at me with big beautiful brown eyes, her mouth slightly agape. I drive a little faster—this Bald Eagle must live!

She is operated on and has both wings pinned; they are now immobile. Back at Sarvey we lay her in the bottom half of a huge carrier filled with shredded newspaper for support.

The fight for her life begins.

Twice a day a tube is pushed down her throat so that food and medicine can be pumped into her. A week goes by with no change; she still cannot stand up. At three weeks, there's a slight change, but it's for the worse. I'm getting scared for this young Bald Eagle.

Working at the Center, you begin to recognize a look, a look that indicates death is winning. This bruised and broken Bald Eagle was losing the battle but not her dignity. The struggle for her life was not over.

Every chance I get I talk softly to her, telling her to hold on, to fight, to live. Why I felt such a connection to this particular eagle, I do not know.

Four weeks go by and she is still on her belly. There is nothing so heartbreaking as seeing the life force of this majestic bird slowly slip away.

At five weeks we are approaching the end.

Sarvey Wildlife Center believes in giving every soul that comes in a chance to live; but when it is painfully clear that death is the only way out, the decision is made to let that particular spirit continue on its journey. We were at this juncture; this beautiful baby eagle was given one week to see if she could, or would, stand up. This was a crushing blow. Every day that next week I checked to see if she was up. The answer was always the same... "No."

On the following Thursday I could barely face going to the Center. As I walked in not a word was spoken but everyone wore a huge grin. I raced back to the young Bald Eagle's cage, and there she stood in all her glory!

She was standing! She had won. This girl had cheated death by a mere 24 hours. She was going to make it. She was going to get her second chance.

http://www.sarveywildlife.org/Story.aspx?id=7

http://www.sarveywildlife.org/Gallery.aspx?galleryname=Freedom%20and%20Jeff&galleryid=1280

[Midlodemocrat]

1. What an incredible story. Thanks for posting this.

[CatWoman]

2. check out the other pics at the second link

:hug:

[0007]

3. Man!! what a touching photo.

[Dhalgren]

4. What a lovely, moving story. Thank you!

:hi: Rec!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

5. OK, you did it. Here i am tears streaming down. What a beautiful

account and photograph. Thank you for sharing it CatWoman.

[CatWoman]

8. lol

it made me cry, too :)

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

10. So you're another

mush! :) :hi:

[CatWoman]

19. guilty as charged

:hi:

[0007]

6. bttft and recommend with many kudos for a great post.

:hi:

[CatWoman]

9. hey you

:hi:

:loveya:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. brought tears to my eyes

thanks for sharing. The last line of the story--after we find out how Freedom helped Jeff heal--took my breath away. The Grandfathers did indeed send Freedom as a messenger. Ho Metaquiatsun!

[susankh4]

11. Beautiful!

Thanks so much for the inspiration.

[PeaceNikki]

12. Everyone needs to finish that article. I am sobbing!!

:cry:

"When Jeff was later diagnosed with a serious illness requiring chemotherapy, he found himself turning to Freedom for support. Two or three times a week, whenever he felt well enough, he would drive from Bothell to Arlington to walk with Freedom around the grounds. Now it was Freedom's turn to give Jeff a reason to fight for his life.

Only a short time ago Jeff was informed there was no trace of the disease left in his body. He immediately left for the Center.

When he took Freedom out of her flight, she did something she had never done before: She extended her wings and wrapped them around him.

The circle of healing was now complete."

[marions ghost]

13. this eagle seems to be very gentle

but I'm sure there's a lot of skill in handling them. I know of someone who died from a single peck of a Great Blue Heron, just a freak accident. The Great Blue can have a 6 ft wingspan I believe.

Thanks for the great photos.

[BuelahWitch]

14. The most beautiful thing I've read in a long time!

A kick for Jeff and Freedom!

[tavalon]

15. Not only is that a beautiful story but I'm completely jazzed

I live in Bothell! I can go to Everett and see this place for myself. How beyond cool is that!?!

Thank you!

[CatWoman]

16. make sure you get some pics and post them

:hi:

[Theres-a]

18. Photos please! nt

[CatWoman]

17. kick

:kick:

I need more stories like this :hug:

[Silver Gaia]

20. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful story. Thank you so much for posting this, CatWoman.

I cried, too... :grouphug:

[Silver Gaia]

21. Here's a link to another story by Jeff Guidry about his relationship

with Freedom. There are more pictures here, too.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art56135.asp

[midnight]

22. Pure Love....I don't know if anyone else feels this, but it does

not matter what animal I come in contact with I have a connection to because of my own pet. I became aware of this after receiving my beagle who is the love of the family.

[I Have A Dream]

23. I can actually feel the love between them when I look at that picture.

Thank you for sharing this beautiful story! :)

[roughsatori]

24. CatWoman, Thank your for posting that story and to Midnight for PMing me to read it.

When I started the article I thought this will be an up-beat animal story. Then I found myself very involved in the life of of a fledgling bald eagle: still expecting a happy ending. Then I just KNEW that you had posted this story to let me know of this young bald eagles painful death. I tried to feel better by remembering that I have not eaten fish, chicken, meat (and haven't worn leather) in over 20 years. I stopped as a pre-teen after seeing my father shoot, then prepare a deer as food. But CatWoman, that did not work and I, who pride myself for being sort of cold, realized that I had tears in my eyes. I almost did not finish the article as I thought that it would be too sad for me today. But I am thankful I did finish the article. I actually cheered out loud, dabbed more tears, then laughed with joy.


Thank you very much CatWoman. And thank you midnight for sending the link and recommendation that I read this article.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

25. K&R

[AspenRose]

26. How Beautiful.

:cry:

[GardeningGal]

27. A kick for those that missed this earlier. Well worth the read. n/t