One Spring evening Patrick left for the store and didn’t return.
Some time later the phone ran and I heard his Dad speaking quietly into the phone,
“Ok. Is there anything I can do to help?”
And seconds later he hung up. Evidently, before Patrick could make it to the grocery store he had spotted an injured fawn on the side of the street. A precious baby deer, maybe seven months old that had been hit by a car. The driver had never stopped.
Amazingly, the fawn appeared to be in stable condition although it was clearly in shock.
Patrick had called to let us know that he was waiting on the side of the street--along with several other kind folks--for the owner of Kindred Spirits, a Fawn Rescue organization to show up and tend to this newly orphaned deer.
The woman was on her way, however it would be a 30 minute drive from her home.
Of course my first thought was Wow. Who does this?
Who gets into her car and drives for miles on a Sunday evening to save a scared, wounded animal—left alone in some neighborhood?
Diane Nicholas is the founder of Kindred Spirits, a non-profit, volunteer based organization that’s dedicated to saving these orphans. Each year she and her helpers answer several hundred phone calls from people –across the nation--who stop to help a wounded deer and don’t know what to do.
And they drive miles –at the drop of a hat--to pick them up.
making a difference
When we lived in Gold River, a neighborhood next to the river, we shared our surroundings with these beautiful creatures. And if you’ve ever been been lucky enough to wander quietly upon deer out in nature---you know their aura of peacefulness. It’s magical.
For those of you who—like me—can’t stand the idea of a helpless fawn being separated from its mother and left to die. Please click HERE and support Diane’s worthy mission. Diane’s organization –comprised only of her and her two helpers--has been nominated to receive a $10,000 grant from the Lady Godiva Program.
Money to help her continue to save these animals.
But she is the underdog in this contest and she needs our help.
Will you take a second and vote for her?
A happy ending
Oh, by the way Patrick’s fawn had no broken bones. She was treated by antibiotics and according to Diane, by the next day she was acting playful.
Here is a photo that Diane took of the actual fawn being released back into the wild. It had been hand-fed every two hours by Diane and her wild-life handlers after it was saved.
One quick look back at Diane… before it re-entered its natural habitat.
A ‘thank you’ glance maybe?
I certainly think so.
Latest Update:
Diane just sent me this picture of her recent rescue. Three babies. Aren’t they precious?
This contest ends May 16, 2015. Vote HERE every 24 hours.
Good luck Diane I sure hope you win!!!
xo
Leslie
*excerpts of this post originally appeared on 4/20/12
Good evening dearest Leslie,
ReplyDeleteThis is such a kind act that attaches us back to our mother earth. We need nature, and from time to time, she needs us. I will vote! My husband has saved many a bird, duck and bunny in our neighborhood! Anita
I voted and sent your post to my husband's computer and kids computers. We'll all vote daily, I hope she wins the grant.
ReplyDeleteWhat a heart warming story.
xo,
Karen
She has my vote. It's kind of you to post and help. I guess we all do in some small way. Collectively we can make a difference. I will be back to vote...
ReplyDeleteThank you for the uplifting story.
Sharon
The House of Hampton
I voted and will do so again! This is a very unusual rescue that people may not realize a need for. Being in an area with an extremely high deer population, I'm used to seeing deer and know how hard their existence among us can be. I hope she wins! Hugs, Leena
ReplyDeleteI got my vote in.
ReplyDeleteHere in Ventura County, the people that amaze meare the Marine Rescue people. They come out at the drop of the hat to rescue marine life. They are all volunteer and we see them at all times of the day and even night.
Beautiful creatures, magical, we have quite a few and love catching a glimpse of them.
ReplyDeleteWonderful charity, i have voted and will continue to do so but worried it may not count as im in the UK....:-) Xx
Wow!!! Some people are incredible and stories like this restore your faith in human nature. I have voted :-) Hope you are well Sweets xx
ReplyDeleteI'm always impressed by people like Diane...she has my vote! Let us know if she wins..
ReplyDeleteShe has my vote Leslie! I love reading stories like these!
ReplyDeleteLeslie, you always have the most fascinating posts! I love this story. Diane is indeed a kind and generous woman to help these helpless animals. I am headed over to vote now.
ReplyDeleteI hop that you had a wonderful weekend. I am looking forward to seeing your backyard/garden once you start planting. Have you any idea what you want to do just yet?
Elizabeth
This woman has such a tender heart. However, I wish I knew how it can be possible for us to co-exist safely with deer. My dear sister & her husband and baby were coming home for Thanksgiving one night, when a deer dashed in front of their car & they hit it. Their windshield was covered in blood & my brother-in-law somehow by the grace of God managed to get their disabled car safely off the highway. They sat on the side of the road in the dark in the middle of no where for hours trying to keep their baby warm, until a kind truck driver stopped & picked them up. Years later, my son and his wife and our granddaughter hit a deer that ran in front of their car at night. Fortunately they were able to make it home even though their car had thousands of dollars worth of damage. My husband & I live in the mountains of North Carolina & our neighbors feed the deer apples in their back yard. Unfortunately the black bears love apples, too. This past fall one of the bears came to our house looking for food, crashed out our storm door, threw our garbage can across the yard & all that crashing scared us nearly to death. We have only two roads off our mountain & every time we drive to the grocery store, we pray that the deer feeding on either side of the roads won't run in front of our car. So, I guess I have a love/hate relationship with deer. Liz
ReplyDeleteBev,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing your personal experiences. I really understand where you're coming from. I remember driving through certain parts of our neighborhood where deer were common and having the same worries. It actually got worse after I saw a large deer get hit in the middle of a busy street. It made me sick. All day, I just felt so sad and I agree about the very real dangers to drivers too. I'm so very thankful to know that your sister's family was unharmed after that accident. How scary for them. And you with your bears too. I don't know the answer to sharing our lives with the wildlife, I only know that they were here first and they're just trying to survive in a land that we humans dominate. Good luck with your neighborhood bears my friend, I can't imagine having bears come crashing into my home. My goodness. Stay safe.
xo
Leslie
Dear Gwen,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing about this kind soul! I wanted to let you know that I voted for her, and that there should be more of us who care for innocents who have no voice at all, and are incapable of any evil, but it is people who are, however, to each other, and our earth and the animal angels God gave us to cherish, and not mistreat! Thank you, Laura
i'm voting! what a beautiful soul, and what a way to be God's hands and feet which is what i so want to do in this life.
ReplyDelete