It’s a small world! A few days ago I was delighted to see a familiar face splashed all over the national news and social media.
But first, a little background.
Regular readers will remember that just over a year ago I made an emergency trip to Orlando, Florida to be with my daughter Shannon who had been severely injured (traumatic brain injury) in a fall in her home. For 11 days I almost lived at the hospital as Shannon’s life hung by a thread. But late one afternoon as Shannon’s husband Rick, their son (my grandson) Ryan and I left the hospital we decided to visit the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in nearby Maitland for a temporary diversion that was much-needed by all three of us.
However, our timing could have been better because the center was about to close for the day. So we spent about half an hour touring the (very impressive) facility but just before they closed (on an impulse) I asked to see Rehabilitation Supervisor Diana Flynt. My purpose was just to touch bases with her – because of the bird rescues I’ve been involved in, to see if she knew some of the rehab folks I know out west (she did) and to let her know how much I admire the work they do.
What a gracious lady! I’m sure that because of us they were late closing the facility. Diana gave us a mini guided tour and even took the time to bring out their famous education Bald Eagle named Page for a close inspection by all three of us. She and Page even posed for a photo with us (when I saw this image I hated my big belly so much I’ve lost significant weight since then…). When Diana heard the story about Shannon she was hugely sympathetic to the plight of our entire family. She told us about one of their own staff members who had suffered a brain injury similar to Shannon’s but had eventually recovered almost completely. That was a story Rick, Ryan and I dearly needed to hear at the time.
Ok, fast-forward to two days ago. Two adult Bald Eagles became locked in aerial combat over Orlando and fell to the ground where they ended up in a storm drain but still locked in combat. Eventually one of the eagles let go and flew away but that pushed the other injured bird further into the drain where it had to be rescued. And sure enough – its rescuer was Diana Flynt!
The rescue was big news locally and all over the country. I first saw it on Facebook and then on a national news station. Here’s a link to one of the stories of the rescue I watched. After seeing the photo above you’ll recognize Diana toward the end of the video.
I can’t imagine a world without folks like Diana. They work endless hours with little or no monetary compensation (many of them are purely volunteers) trying to save wildlife in distress. It’s very often a heartbreaking labor of love because many of their patients have to be euthanized but there are also significant numbers of success stories where the patient is eventually released back into the wild (or in the case of raptors used as education birds if release isn’t feasible). Mia and I will be forever grateful to the Montana Raptor Resource Center for nursing the injured Barn Owl I cut out of barbed wire back to health so it could eventually be released again and to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Northern Utah for saving the juvenile Short-eared Owl with a badly injured wing (that I also had to cut out of barbed wire) so it could be used as an education bird. Another rehab center I have great respect for is the Cascades Raptor Center in Eugene, Oregon but there are many others.
Rehabbers rock!
Ron
Note: Since this post is marginally about Shannon’s accident and many readers have followed her recovery for so long I thought I’d include a final report on her progress.
The news is all good. In recent weeks her improvement has been dramatic. Her physical recovery is complete and her memory and cognition issues have all but disappeared, though she still has some minor difficulties retrieving names for some common objects. Her effervescent, cheerful personality has fully returned and so have her confidence and fierce independence. Several days ago she called just to tell me about her excitement because “I finally feel like my old self again!”. It’s been a long and difficult struggle for the entire family but you can imagine how that phone call buoyed me up!
Not bad for someone who was injured so badly that on the night of the accident her family was told by ER doctors that she had “zero chance of survival”. Two days later when I got off the plane in Orlando I was as prepared as I could possibly be for the fact that she might already be dead. She was five days in the hospital before a surgeon finally told us that “Shannon will survive” though it was obvious that he wasn’t optimistic about her eventual mental recovery.
We’re a very lucky family!
Apologies for the wordy post…
Ron glad your daughter is doing so well! I look forward to see your adventures!
How wonderful to have met this awesome lady. I first saw the story on the news and then on facebook. I was so happy that the two eagles were basically ok. And you are correct, rehabbers are a very special group of healers. I had an experience with one this past summer and even though she was busy, she always was able to give updates.
Kermit the Frog happy flail for the news about Shannon! 🙂 🙂
I’m so incredibly grateful for all the phenomenal people who save and rehab animals — wild and domestic. We’re fortunate to have a marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation center close by and I volunteer for our local spca that also has a disaster animal rescue team of which I used to be a part (they’re staff only now — bummer!).
Late again to the party, Ron, but wanted to thank you for the good news about Shannon’s recovery! (Wonder where she got that patience and perseverance ? 🙂
Apology?
Not needed.
No way, no how.
This is a wonderful post to read. On so many levels.
I am thrilled for Shannon and her family, and awed by the work of rehabbers. Whatever/whoever they are working on.
It would be a sadder, less beautiful world without them EC. Each and every one of them.
DO NOT APOLOGIZE for such important news! I am delighted to know that Shannon has recovered so completely. Not everyone does. I am very impressed by rehabbers – their amazing skills and patience. It takes a very special person to be able to deal with heart-breaking injuries to wildlife. I am very grateful for what they do.
“It takes a very special person to be able to deal with heart-breaking injuries to wildlife”
It does, Susan. When you care so deeply about your patients, and they all do, it can be draining and soul-wrenching to be part of so many tragic outcomes. And then to actually have to euthanize them after investing so much emotionally…
Doing so is an act of kindness but that certainly doesn’t make it any easier.
I heard about the Eagle’s, but didn’t see the video. How exciting it was your friend that is taking care of the bird. I’m glad it will be ok. Are they going to mend the beak? Or maybe they feel the crack isn’t that bad.
That is exciting news about your Daughter. I kept praying Shannon would pull through. Thank you for the update. Oh, and thank you for the family photo with your friend, and Eagle. Your Grandson is a handsome kid!
I don’t know if they’re going to have to deal with that beak, Jean. But I suspect not because they’re apparently hoping to release the eagle quite soon.
Yup, Ryan’s a handsome dude – he must have inherited that gene from his mother!
Echoing what other rehabilitators have said, your blog gives us the opportunity to see our charges when they are whole and healthy. I remember one summer, coming across a family of robins at a rest stop along the highway. I so enjoyed watching them and some Brewer’s blackbirds interact with their parents – healthy and free! But I couldn’t resist walking up to one of the fledgling robins (who was totally oblivious of any potential danger), grabbing it, and telling it to ‘pay attention!’ before letting it go. I figured it was a painless lesson for the young bird … but I think it was really mostly testament of my frustration with the hundreds of baby songbirds that come into rehab centers, often unnecessarily and because we humans give lip service to caring about them, yet refuse to keep our cats inside, or stop using pesticides and other chemicals, or to time our landscaping, etc., etc. Thank you for your kind remarks about the work of wildlife rehabilitators (and our center!) It is an opportunity for us to give back and repay the gifts that wild nature gives us all. And thank you for sharing such good news of Shannon!
Louise, You and other folks like you are some of my heroes and I’m pretty picky about who qualifies. It’s as simple as that…
Ron- your post brought some welcome good news in this very difficult week. Congratulation to you and your family!
It’s been an extremely difficult week for me too, Dan. That phone call from Shannon pulled me out of a pit of despair so I had to share…
I agree with Pam Novak, it is refreshing to see healthy wildlife in it’s habitat. Your photos are beautiful and stories insightful and educational. It was a friend of mine who knew I was suffering from compassion fatigue who introduce me to your blog. Your blog has helped restore my faith in humankind. So many of the injuries to wildlife are due to man, one starts to lose faith in us as a species.
Great news on Shannon’s full recovery!
And Thank you for your support to Wildlife Rehabilitation.
April, I know your long-term volunteer work with WRCNU is often extremely stressful and I marvel that you’ve been able to keep it up for so many years (your daughter too). My heartfelt thanks for your perseverance!
Wonderful news on your daughter. As a mother of three grown children I could identify with you.
Parents understand that, don’t we, Linda!
On behalf of the wildlife rehabilitation community, I thank you for your comments. I run a facility in Eastern Canada, and your photos and stories are such a great diversion to how we normally see our wildlife. They come through our doors in all sorts of stages of disarray. When I get to view your photos, and the amount of time and detail you give each one to capture the beauty of each animal, it is such a great reminder of how special each animal is, especially when viewed in their natural environment. Thank you for sharing your photos and your stories. Best wishes for your daughter’s continued recovery.
Pam, I can’t thank you enough for the work you do. And for the kind words…
So glad to hear about your daughter’s recovery, and also that people like Diana work so hard to make sure wildlife can flourish!
You should come out to California someday; maybe you and I could meet up (there’s hawks, golden eagles, pelicans, lots of sandpipers, cormorants, quail, and lots of non-avian wildlife too). It’s not at all the touristy hollywood kind of place it’s made out to be (after all, it is the most biodiverse US state).
If you’re planning to come out to CA shoot me an email, we could go looking for animals together (I’m in Southern CA).
I’m only 11 but I saved up for a camera and love to be in nature, whether it’s the sierra’s, the desert, the coast, or just a local park.
Levi
Hi Levi,
Mia has told me about your enthusiasm for wildlife photography but I loved hearing about it from you in this comment. I wish I’d been bitten by the nature photography bug at your age. With your passion for photography I’ll bet you’ll go far.
I actually used to live in your general area (Escondido/Poway for me) when I was your age but it’s been quite a few years since I’ve been back.
Great to hear such good news!
Thanks, Kent.
Me again. Why do they think the eagles were fighting and not courting???? They do lock talons in air and come spiriling down. . Normally manage to unlock talons before hitting ground.
Marina, I went by what Diana said in the article – that it was likely a territorial battle. I have confidence in Dianna’s judgment in these matters – she knows her stuff.
Hi Marina
It’s the wrong time of year for them to have been courting.
And they do have intense territorial battles like this.
Be well
Karen
Congratulations, Ron.
Good news on your daughter.
Thank you, Art.
The absolute best part of you post today is the fantastic news about Shannon’s recovery.
Talk about a “weight being lifted from your shoulders…” Good things do happen to good
people. I am so very happy for all of you… Shannon does not know me, but please tell
her that I am so very happy to hear of her recovery, and wish her continued progress in
her recovery. Thanks for the good news to day Ron… “you made my day…” ;-)))
Roger, I suspect Shannon might read this blog sometime soon and if she does she’ll know what you said. Thanks for that!
Thank you for such an uplifting post…on all topics!
Thanks, Barbara.
You want to talk about dedicated people, these people are such. The Cascades Raptor Center here in Eugene, I should mentioned visitors from all over come to visit and on one such occasion a actor visited. This is what Louise, and her ataff have given to this community and beyond. These centers bring more than just their mission, what they teach, the children especially, boy are they fun to watch, they talk to the raptors, the center have days just set aside for the kids. I think what I’m trying to say is this, the animals of this world have a way to heal, to bring meaning, that we humans have not learned for the most part. But the few that have are those that have given their lives to help these raptors and those who help the other wildlife, really understand, and what is really nice, Louise and her staff share it openly for all of us to in a small way be a part of what they do.
Steven, I’ve mentioned before what a huge fan I am of both Louise Shimmel and the CRC. I’ve never actually visited the center or met Louise in person but I know enough about her work (and her reputation among her peers) that I really admire her. And Louise often provides valuable insight in her comments on this blog.
Oh wow!!! Yes people like Diane and all the other bird rehabbers!! Are special people. . ….
They certainly are, Marina.
So happy to hear about your daughters progress and recovery. I’ve followed it very closely since we too have dealt with a similar situation. I’m so happy for your family.
Bill, I dearly hope that your “situation” turns/turned out as well as ours did!
Congratulations all around, and no apologies necessary!
Wonderful news!
I suppose, like me, you get comments about reflected light when your picture is taken! VBG!!
That’s the worse glare I’ve ever seen on my half-acre of forehead, Dick!
Ron:
Wordy post? No way! Fascinating, educational and heart warming: yes! Thank you.
So glad to hear Shannon is doing well.
As for the belly? Good job, as a waist on men over 42″ is significantly positively correlated with heart problems. Appearance kind of pales into insignificance compared to open heart surgery.
Another t5hank you for your daily photographs. As a bird photographer I greatly enjoy them beyond their beauty.
Richard, to be honest Shannon’s dire situation probably contributed to my ability to lose a little weight. For a while I didn’t have much of an appetite…
Best read of the morning! Congratulations to Shannon and the whole family. And 3 cheers for rehabbers of all species.
“And 3 cheers for rehabbers of all species.”
Roger that, Neil!
Wonderful story about the eagles – they do get themselves in some jams – and Diane who you’d met! 🙂 Amazing what a picture will do to give us a reality check on ourselves! 🙂 I’m SO glad to hear Shannon has continued to improve and is pretty much whole! Some pretty amazing human rehabbers out there also.
Rehabbers are very special people, Judy – whether their patients are human or wildlife.