Presents, running, work, cooking, baking, wrapping...........sound familiar?
I have been too busy to post my pictures, but I do want to share a Christmas story.
If you don't believe, you will after this, that the Lord cares greatly for His creatures great and small. How much more can He care for you and me?
Remember the little seven year old Standardbred gelding who was hit on the highway along with his Amish owners several weeks back? I knew God put me there for a reason, but never knew how it would play out. Despite my tears and prayers, the gelding was taken away per orders of the Sheriff's Department by a local farmer. He was left ABANDONED in his trailer in town because he had to "hurry home" to milk his cows. A wonderful woman who had just taken her kids to school witnessed the accident, and ran up to the ridge to get her neighbor and Amish friend, Joe Miller.
Meanwhile, a vet by the name of Rob Timan from La Crosse Veterinary Clinic happened by on a farm call and saw the severely injured horse. Joe Miller, Marilyn, and Dr. Timan all were in the right place at the right time, and Dr. Timan offered his services at no charge. Joe decided he would like to take the horse to his farm for care until it could be moved back to Cashton, and the horse was transferred to Joe's farm. This is a very compassionate and caring Amish family, by the way!
I was in a state of worry, not knowing what the fate of the horse was. The news channel stated that "the horse was treated for injuries". That didn't tell me much. I called as many Amish as I could (the neighbor's house and listed contact) and left messages. A week later, Joe Miller phoned me. He told me what had transpired and that he had the horse and the vet had been up several times. Praise God! Then he asked me if I would be willing to haul the horse back to the Amish owner, as the boys had recovered from their injuries (miracle in itself). I agreed.
The day I picked this gelding up his flesh lay open in his hind quarter, the stitches having popped out as the healing process progressed. He was limping, but I saw in his eyes the will to survive and a kind of innocence and trust that only an animal can demonstrate. He got into the trailer and I fed him well on the way to Cashton!
The Detweiler family was thankful to receive him back, feeling a bit indebted to him and undeserving of the fate that had become of him. He explained that his boys were doing well, and showed me the shattered cart and the pieces of it that had impaled itself into the horse. It made me feel nauseous. They led the horse into the barn and tied him in a tie stall. I felt compelled to leave my card, begging them to call if they needed anything.
Two weeks later, they did call. They felt as though the horse was not improving and I asked if I could send a vet out to look at him. Cashton Vet Clinic went out and reported that the horse looked better than they expected and to continue the treatment. The Amish agreed to continue.
Then a week or more ago they phoned again. I feel as though they were giving up on their gelding. He just wasn't coming sound. He was limping badly. His legs were swollen from standing in a tie stall. I guess they were asking that if we didn't take him they would have to "dispose" of him.
Well, I know you work, and so do I. This new teaching job has limited days off, especially since I cashed in all my PTO hours for Vetas. I knew I had to put out a plea for help. Posting on some local bulletin boards, two people stepped up to help haul the horse. But where??? I just had another Amish STB hauled to my house and could not take more. Amy B. and Andrea T. stepped up and offered to help. Neither could haul the horse, but both could help rehab him.
If any of you know Andrea, she is one of the most kind angels that has ever been born on earth and a mighty advocate for horses and ASAP. Amy is wonderful too. Andrea has a long history of supporting ASAP, and her company, Comfortex Mattress Co in Winona, Minnesota, has been a corporate sponsor for ASAP for years. We literally could not have survived without them!
Town and Country Veterinary Hospital offered to take the horse in for diagnostic work and treatment. Andrea offered to pay for the entire cost, plus the hauling.
As I headed to work yesterday I had just reached out to a stranger for help. Kelly G. of Sparta had responded to my ad posted on the mwt bulletin board. We put our heads together, exchanged phone numbers, and Kelly rearranged her life and schedule to accommodate the vet hospital's request to have him there yesterday. Thanks to Susan S. also, for offering to help, but time was short and we had to move or lose this gelding eternally.
During my lunch hour we all talked by phone to make arrangements.
By 4:40 pm, Kelly was just reaching the Town and Country Vet Hospital. The trusting, hurting Standardbred gelding was a real trooper during his transport. He was very sore unloading from the trailer, but in Andrea and Kelly's words, he "tried to act like a normal horse, rolling in the bedding in his stall and shaking them off, despite his extremely sore and aching body". The scab on his hindquarters is absolutely humongous, but is healing. The front leg remains the problem. Doctors will perform tests on Friday to determine the extent of the front leg injury, which is believed to be a deep tendon injury.
The story is for today - that the gelding had the Lord's hand on him from the time the accident occurred. We are all vessels, capable of doing mighty things in His name. If you are given the gift, use it to help creatures great and small who need you! And if you have the means, don't be afraid to give, as it will be given back to you sevenfold or more. I know if God ever blesses me with riches, it will be used to help people around the world who need it, and animals everywhere. My father passed away a very wealthy man, but he died wealthy because he never gave. Not to his wife, or his children (clothing, education, cars, nothing), or those in need.
I saw animals die at his hands because of his hardness of heart, and I will not be the next generation to be like him. He taught me quite the opposite, but I love him with all my heart and my prayer for him was that God would be merciful to him and take him to heaven, and I have spent the last nine years forgiving him over and over for the things my eyes did see. But good can come out of bad, and this little horse is going to be okay, thanks to the strangers who are now friends, the friends who are always there for the horses, and to the Lord above for His never ending mercy!
Have a very Merry Christmas, everyone, and we'll send pictures of the gelding when they come!
Love
Susan
