Freedom and Jeff
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DFBear
Mar 18, 2008, 2:12:47 PM3/18/08
to DreamHealer
Freedom [a bald eagle] and I have been together 10 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.
Jeff
photos in the original email at:
http://www.sarveywildlife.org/Gallery.aspx?galleryname=Freedom%20and%20Jeff&galleryid=1280
When Freedom came in she could not stand. Both wings were broken, her
left wing in 4 places. 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 dowl 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-Hodgkins 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. Yahoo!
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 coarse 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's.
Hope you enjoy this.
Jeff
Sarvey is near Arlington, Washington.
"In 2005 Sarvey took in 3339 animals, 14 Bald Eagles alone, 174
Raptors total, making Sarvey the largest bird of prey rehabilitation
center in the northwest."
"It takes over 100 clinic workers to keep Sarvey's doors open."
http://www.sarveywildlife.org/
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.
Jeff
photos in the original email at:
http://www.sarveywildlife.org/Gallery.aspx?galleryname=Freedom%20and%20Jeff&galleryid=1280
When Freedom came in she could not stand. Both wings were broken, her
left wing in 4 places. 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 dowl 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-Hodgkins 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. Yahoo!
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 coarse 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's.
Hope you enjoy this.
Jeff
Sarvey is near Arlington, Washington.
"In 2005 Sarvey took in 3339 animals, 14 Bald Eagles alone, 174
Raptors total, making Sarvey the largest bird of prey rehabilitation
center in the northwest."
"It takes over 100 clinic workers to keep Sarvey's doors open."
http://www.sarveywildlife.org/
debhi...@adelphia.net
Mar 18, 2008, 7:28:54 PM3/18/08
to dream...@googlegroups.com, DFBear
This is just the best story I have ever read and could feel the passion of Freedom and Jeff right off of the computer! Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful story of the bonds of love in a friendship that will last a lifetime!
Debbie Hill, Madison, NH debhi...@roadrunner.com
Lisa Small
Mar 18, 2008, 8:28:20 PM3/18/08
to dream...@googlegroups.com
Thank-you for sharing this heart-felt experience. The bond you have with this beautiful bird is so evident in the photos....and the description of her wrapping you in her wings.....priceless ....what a moment that must have been for you. She really is beautiful..please tell her I said so. She looks like she would understand. Continued wellness to you, Jeff...and, yes, I enjoyed the inspiring story very much. Sincerely....Lisa
DFBear <DFb...@gmail.com> wrote:
DFBear <DFb...@gmail.com> wrote:
Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.
Deborah Maltman
Mar 18, 2008, 11:05:59 PM3/18/08
to dream...@googlegroups.com
Very touching story Jeff! I loved reading it and viewing the pictures of you and Freedom. Really, Wow! Would it be ok to pass your post on to a conversations with god group on yahoo? I know it would be well received there as well.
Deborah
> Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:28:54 -0700
> From: debhi...@adelphia.net
> To: dream...@googlegroups.com
> Subject: [DreamHealer] Re: Freedom and Jeff
> CC: DFb...@gmail.com
Deborah
> Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:28:54 -0700
> From: debhi...@adelphia.net
> To: dream...@googlegroups.com
> Subject: [DreamHealer] Re: Freedom and Jeff
> CC: DFb...@gmail.com
DFBear
Mar 19, 2008, 1:45:05 AM3/19/08
to DreamHealer
Hi all
I posted this from an email message I got, hence the reference to the
pictures in the email. Jeff signed his message but you'll note it was
not posted by Jeff. The joys of technology. I added the URLs and
quotes from their site at the bottom. I thought you might enjoy it.
Sorry if that was unclear - that was not intended.
If you would like to contact Jeff, he can be reached at
je...@sarveywildlife.org
I'm sure he would be happy to have his message posted on another
group. You may want to drop him a note to tell him where you saw it
and where you're putting it. Or that you were inspired by it. It can
be amazing to discover your message to friends is inspiring the world.
David
I posted this from an email message I got, hence the reference to the
pictures in the email. Jeff signed his message but you'll note it was
not posted by Jeff. The joys of technology. I added the URLs and
quotes from their site at the bottom. I thought you might enjoy it.
Sorry if that was unclear - that was not intended.
If you would like to contact Jeff, he can be reached at
je...@sarveywildlife.org
I'm sure he would be happy to have his message posted on another
group. You may want to drop him a note to tell him where you saw it
and where you're putting it. Or that you were inspired by it. It can
be amazing to discover your message to friends is inspiring the world.
David
DFBear
Mar 19, 2008, 1:53:40 AM3/19/08
to DreamHealer
I passed along the existing messages to Jeff this evening.
David
David
DFBear
Mar 19, 2008, 1:53:46 AM3/19/08
to DreamHealer
Deborah Maltman
Mar 19, 2008, 2:00:19 AM3/19/08
to dream...@googlegroups.com
Thanks David!
This answers why I couldn't locate the post sent in by Jeff. :)
Deborah
> Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008 22:45:05 -0700
This answers why I couldn't locate the post sent in by Jeff. :)
Deborah
> Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008 22:45:05 -0700
> Subject: [DreamHealer] Re: Freedom and Jeff
Elke Hutton
Mar 19, 2008, 2:58:56 AM3/19/08
to dream...@googlegroups.com
The world needs more stories like this..................
Thank you David. Most beautiful story ever!
Elke
I passed along the existing messages to Jeff this evening.
David
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