One Final Act of Rescue

Facebook is an amazing thing.  Yes, there are days that I would love to just deactivate my account and go back to that simpler time when my iPhone wasn’t surgically attached to my hand so that I could keep up on the lives of everyone I know (and some that I don’t know).  But the reality is, Facebook has opened a whole new world for me.  You may have seen the post that has gone around Facebook:

Before Facebook, I always wanted to do “something” to help animals, but I never knew what I could do.  I looked into volunteering at my local SPCA, but discovered that my sensitive nature did not fit in with their program (I’d end up being a hoarder!).  Then, in the fall of 2011, Jack the Cat got lost at JFK airport.  I started following his story on his Facebook page.  On that page I “met” alot of people.  Alot of people who are just like me. People who want to help.  People who are the “voice for the voiceless.”  Just as the image above says, I have many friends without whom my life would be empty.  I’m now a part of this amazing organization that has given me an outlet for my passion to help.   Some of my “real life” friends get it.  Some of them don’t, and that’s okay – I’m sure they have things in their lives that I just don’t get either!  Most of them at least respect what I’m a part of and what it means to me.

There are many who do much more than I do when it comes to the rescue world.  Most of my contributions occur behind the scenes.  That was not the case with one of the wonderful people I’ve  “met” along this journey – Birdy Sims.  Birdy was right out there on the front lines trying to help kitties.  Over the years, she saved countless kitties – either by taking them in herself or finding happy homes for them.  Just recently, she asked for our (Imagine Home) help in finding homes for three kitties that had been horrible situations (Kira, Katy and Chester – you can find them in our Adoptables Album on Facebook)

In addition to rescuing kitties, Birdy also loved to participate in transports.  Just yesterday, she planned to help transport Larry and Astaire to their new forever home in Oklahoma.  She was so excited about it that she was planning her various doctors appointments around the transport!  Sadly, the universe had other plans.  Sometime in the early morning hours of January 12, 2013, Birdy passed away.  When we received the news from Birdy’s husband, Loren, we were heartbroken.  To say we were in shock would be putting it mildly.  When Kelly spoke with Loren, we received another shock – he still wanted to take the leg of the transport that Birdy had committed to doing.  Clearly, with so much on his mind, we were prepared to do whatever needed to be done to fill that leg, but Loren was adamant that he wanted, even needed, to do it.  We all agreed that if he was up to it, we couldn’t think of a better way to honor Birdy’s memory than to do what she loved best – helping kitties.

Today, my heart still aches.  It aches for Loren, for the rest of Birdy’s family and for all of her friends.  The outpouring of love for Birdy on her own Facebook page, as well as on the Imagine Home page, has been amazing and a testament to the woman Birdy was.  We are working on some things behind the scenes to honor Birdy, and her contribution to the rescue world.

Uncharacteristically, I just don’t have many of my own words, so I will leave you with this:

Unlike most days at the Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined. All of the recent arrivals had no idea what to think, as they had never experienced a day like this before. But the animals who had been waiting for their beloved people know exactly what was going on and started to gather at the pathway leading to The Bridge to watch.

It wasn’t long before an elderly animal came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. The other animals, the ones who had been there for a while, knew what his story was right away, for they had seen this happen far too often. He approached slowly, obviously in great emotional pain, but with no sign of injury or illness.

Unlike all of the other animals waiting at The Bridge, this animal had not been restored to youth and made healthy and vigorous again. As he walked toward The Bridge, he watched all of the other animals watching him. He knew he was out of place here and the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be. But, alas, as he approached The Bridge, his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel who apologized, but told him that he would not be able to pass.

Only those animals who were with their people could pass over Rainbow Bridge. With no place else to turn, the elderly animal turned towards the fields before The Bridge and saw a group of other animals like him, also elderly and infirm. They weren’t playing, but rather simply lying on the green grass, forlornly staring out at the pathway leading to The Bridge. And so, he took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting.

One of the newest arrivals at The Bridge didn’t understand what he had just witnessed and asked one of the animals that had been there for a while to explain it to him. “You see, that poor animal was a rescue. He was turned in to the rescue just as you see him now, an older animal with his fur graying and his eyes clouding. He never made it out of the rescue and passed on with only the love of his rescuer to comfort him as he left his earthly existence. Because he had no family to give his love to, he has no one to escort him across The Bridge.”

The first animal thought about this for a minute and then asked, “So what will happen now?” As he was about to receive his answer, the clouds suddenly parted and the gloom lifted. Approaching The Bridge could be seen a single person and among the older animals, a whole group was suddenly bathed in a golden light and they were all young and healthy again, just as they were in the prime of life. “Watch, and see,” said the second animal.

A second group of animals from those waiting came to the pathway and bowed low as the person neared. At each bowed head, the person offered a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. The newly restored animals fell into line and followed her towards The Bridge. They all crossed The Bridge together.

“What happened?” “That was a rescuer”, The animals you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of her work. They will cross when their new families arrive. Those you saw restored were those who never found homes. When a rescuer arrives, they are allowed to perform one, final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort those poor animals that they couldn’t place on earth across The Rainbow Bridge.”

~Anonymous~

I believe in my heart that, on the morning of January 12, 2013, Birdy Sims performed her last act of rescue.  Rest in Peace Birdy, you will be missed.

<stef>