Residents | Rainbow
Bridge > Xena
 |
 |
Xena getting petted
|
 |
|
Laura & Xena cuddling
|
 |
|
Xena eating with Dorie
|
Xena: Warrior Princess
A year or so after Healing HEART Sanctuary officially opened, Executive
Director Laura Bradshaw received a call about a lamb with
a “slightly crooked” spine
that needed a bit of help. She agreed to help, and found herself
face to face with a fantastic little spunky girl who was nothing
at all like expected.
The baby lamb didn’t just have a “slightly crooked” spine;
her entire body was bent in the shape of an L. As such, her movements
were not fluid and straightforward, but she spastically danced
about in a flourish of constant, herky-jerky activity. This whirling
dervish of a lamb, fantastically colored in tones of chocolate
and cream, earned the name “Xena, Warrior Princess” for
her acrobatics.
As she twirled and kicked her way into Laura’s heart,
she thought of ways she could help Xena. Laura spoke with Eddie’s
Wheels about designing
an adjustable cart that could be readjusted every time her spine
was slightly straightened – similar to the concept of braces
on teeth.
But before Laura had the chance to bring this vision to life,
Xena turned suddenly and wretchedly ill. Finding little help
or solace in any of the local vets, (“Why save a lamb that’s
only worth $20?”) Laura drove rapidly to UC Davis in California
with Xena sitting on the seat beside her.
As it turned out, she was given the wrong milk formula as a
baby, which led to copper poisoning. Try as they did, ultimately, Xena
did not survive her treatments. The only silver lining
in all of this was that one of the vets Laura had worked with
during Xena’s time here led HHS to Helen, a blind puppy who ultimately came to live at the
sanctuary.
Xena’s transition from a shy, skittish baby to a reassuring
creature of love was one of the swiftest, powerful, and beautiful
transitions ever witnessed. In the mere two weeks she spent with
Laura and HHS, Xena came to understand how to love and how to
be loved. And her ability to give and receive love was unparalleled.
How wonderful it was to be a part of that experience.
|
