|
|
09-14-2012, 04:15 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 827
Likes: 627
Liked 905 Times in 330 Posts
|
Any Animal people out there
Beautiful story.
This is a beautiful story! Hope you enjoy it! Not many people get a picture of this proud bird snuggled up next to them! Freedom and Jeff Freedom and I have been together 11 years this summer. She came in as a baby in 1998 with two broken wings. Her left wing doesn't open all the way even after surgery, it was broken in 4 places. She's my baby. When Freedom came in she could not stand and both wings were broken. She was emaciated and covered in lice. We made the decision to give her a chance at life, so I took her to the vet's office. From then on, I was always around her. We had her in a huge dog carrier with the top off, and it was loaded up with shredded newspaper for her to lay in. I used to sit and talk to her, urging her to live, to fight; and she would lay there looking at me with those big brown eyes. We also had to tube feed her for weeks. This went on for 4-6 weeks, and by then she still couldn't stand. It got to the point where the decision was made to euthanize her if she couldn't stand in a week. You know you don't want to cross that line between torture and rehab, and it looked like death was winning. She was going to be put down that Friday, and I was supposed to come in on that Thursday afternoon. I didn't want to go to the center that Thursday, because I couldn't bear the thought of her being euthanized; but I went anyway, and when I walked in everyone was grinning from ear to ear. I went immediately back to her cage; and there she was, standing on her own, a big beautiful eagle. She was ready to live. I was just about in tears by then. That was a very good day. We knew she could never fly, so the director asked me to glove train her. I got her used to the glove, and then to jesses, and we started doing education programs for schools in western Washington .. We wound up in the newspapers, radio (believe it or not) and some TV. Miracle Pets even did a show about us. In the spring of 2000, I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. I had stage 3, which is not good (one major organ plus everywhere), so I wound up doing 8 months of chemo. Lost the hair - the whole bit. I missed a lot of work. When I felt good enough, I would go to Sarvey and take Freedom out for walks. Freedom would also come to me in my dreams and help me fight the cancer. This happened time and time again. Fast forward to November 2000 the day after Thanksgiving, I went in for my last checkup. I was told that if the cancer was not all gone after 8 rounds of chemo, then my last option was a stem cell transplant. Anyway, they did the tests; and I had to come back Monday for the results. I went in Monday, and I was told that all the cancer was gone. So the first thing I did was get up to Sarvey and take the big girl out for a walk. It was misty and cold. I went to her flight and jessed her up, and we went out front to the top of the hill. I hadn't said a word to Freedom, but somehow she knew. She looked at me and wrapped both her wings around me to where I could feel them pressing in on my back (I was engulfed in eagle wings), and she touched my nose with her beak and stared into my eyes, and we just stood there like that for I don't know how long . That was a magic moment. We have been soul mates ever since she came in. This is a very special bird. On a side note: I have had people who were sick come up to us when we are out, and Freedom has some kind of hold on them. I once had a guy who was terminal come up to us and I let him hold her. His knees just about buckled and he swore he could feel her power course through his body. I have so many stories like that.. I never forget the honor I have of being so close to such a magnificent spirit as Freedom. Hope you enjoyed this! But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 Cancer is a strange cell. You can go along for years in remission and then one day it pops its head up again. If you ever have it you will never be free of it. Pray for the day there will be a permanent cure. A SMALL REQUEST... Dear God, I pray that You will guide someone to find a cure for cancer in 2012 . In Jesus Name, Amen All you are asked to do is keep this circulating. Even if it's only to one more person. In memory of anyone you know who has been struck down by cancer or is still living with it
__________________
Jeff Niceswanger 3740 SS Last edited by Jeff Niceswanger; 09-14-2012 at 08:56 PM. |
09-14-2012, 05:11 PM | #2 |
VIP Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Dunnellon,FL
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts
|
Re: Any Animal people out there
Wow!
JimR
__________________
Jim Rountree |
09-14-2012, 05:58 PM | #3 |
VIP Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Richmond Hill GA (and Port Ludlow WA)
Posts: 4,202
Likes: 2,150
Liked 2,932 Times in 901 Posts
|
Re: Any Animal people out there
A beautiful story...I'm certain many of God's creatures have the power to inspire and yes, even heal; if people would simply open their eyes and hearts to what is before them. After all, animals don't have all the filters and complications....they are genuine in every way. Jeff, thanks for sharing.
__________________
Jim Carter 2340 Super Stock 2340 SST/2340 Stock Set another place at the table |
09-14-2012, 06:53 PM | #4 |
VIP Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toms River NJ
Posts: 1,594
Likes: 402
Liked 52 Times in 24 Posts
|
Re: Any Animal people out there
Jeff... What a story I lost my wife to cancer in 2007 thankyou for sharing it.
__________________
Dennis P Chapman 1904 STK NHRA National Record Holder Car Owner. |
09-15-2012, 12:13 AM | #5 | |
Veteran Member
|
Re: Any Animal people out there
Quote:
.
__________________
Jim Wahl....NHRA #2239 S/SS - IHRA # 8 Stock, D2 Stock Champion (forever I guess) 2019 Baby Gators Stock Champion 2009 D2 National Open Stock Champion 1981 D2 West Palm Beach LDRS SS Runner Up Past President, Southern Stock / Super Stock Association. |
|
09-18-2012, 07:18 AM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Ohio
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
|
Re: Any Animal people out there
No greater weapons against sickness than love, encouragement, hope and Prayer.
God Bless those who offer these gifts to the afflicted. That bird appears to offer all. Thanks for posting it Jeff! David The New Hemi Guy Last edited by NewHemi; 09-18-2012 at 04:39 PM. |
09-18-2012, 08:56 AM | #7 |
VIP Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005
Posts: 2,591
Likes: 2,353
Liked 2,117 Times in 607 Posts
|
Re: Any Animal people out there
Great Story!
"Son of David" ......Have Mercy on your humble Servants in their time of affliction and suffering! |
|
|