Note from Mia (the site Admin): I actually had missed that Honey Bandit was deaf, poor baby! Keep this little fel
> For the first time in 10 days. HoneyBandit does not have a catheter in and does not require fluids every hour. > Sadly he doest have what might be a hernia - a weak spot which could let his intestines escape from his body. It could just go away! Palomino says: Having a deaf horse does not bother me, nor does training a deaf horse. What really really bothers me is that being able to talk to a foal in this condition is a huge part of the rehab. Sometimes at night, as he dreams, his little hooves are moving and he is whinnying in his sleep. Who is he calling? Is a helicopter part of his nightmares? Is it bearing down on him, pushing his family further and further away? We can only pray that he will someday get his hearing back."
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Last night was pretty rough. As the tears slid down my face, I looked down at HoneyBandit. Lying so still, in a solitary world of loneliness, his life so brutally changed. Only a month ago, he was running along on his tiny hooves, flying along side his mom, surrounded by his family, free to run in the California hills.
Now, his mama is gone, his family is gone, and his world has turned silent. He doesn't hear the pounding feet as he flies across the hills. He doesn't feel the warmth of his mothers breath against his skin. There is no more playing with the other foals, frolicking about, kicking up their heels. Instead, he lays quietly on his blanket, an iv running into his catheter. It doesn't hurt, but this is not the way things were supposed to be. Later, after we helped him up, he walked over to the fence. Chino was standing on the outside. He went up to the fence and started nosing the dog. (he has been so "shocky" and stressed that a wild life specialist had suggested he could be stressed from the dogs as he is still a wild animal). However, he would not leave the fence. So I opened the door and the dog ran in and laid down on his bed. HoneyBandit slowly walked over and laid down on the bed beside him. You can be sure the dogs are back, and this morning he seemed to have a little more spunk in his step. The good things yesterday was we had some visitors that came to wish him well and to bring him "supplies" for his survival. He, like CHILLY PEPPER, belongs to everyone. It takes a village to raise a child - well it takes the world to save a mustang. We heard good wishes from as far away as Australia. Adam & Celeste Deem, good friends and authors of SAVING LI'L SMOKEY, stopped by to visit and brought a wonderful surprise. They brought some of their "signed" books to sell and all the proceeds go to HoneyBandit's care. Today was a good day. HoneyBandit can use his tail. He can actually swing it back and forth and lift it up and down. Two days ago he could only lift it slightly and now he almost looks like a real little baby. Many of you may have read that we have "adopted" HoneyBandit. The paperwork is being processed as I write, but there is a correction. CHILLY PEPPER - MIRACLE MUSTANG, Equine Rescue & More is actually is the adopter of this baby, so we can provide the necessary care for him to hopefully pull through this.
I have been asked more than once what will happen to HB. However, the only thing I know right now is that he is our biggest priority in the rescue at this time and that we will do everything we can to help him get through all this. Every day that passes seems to indicate that he might always be a "special needs" horse, and since that is what we specialize in, that is okay. At some point he could be placed with an adopter, but for now the only thing I care about or am interested in is getting through one day at a time. The vet stated that each day he lives gives him a better chance of survival. We had some mixed news from the vet yesterday. His heart is getting stronger - yeah!, but his potassium level is again on the rise. We will be taking him in on Monday. BLM offered to pay for the vet care up to the day that CHILLY PEPPER - MIRACLE MUSTANG, Equine Rescue & More formally adopted him so we could continue to provide whatever treatment he needs to stay alive. Please Note: HoneyBandit's progress is day to day, and has he continues to survive, he is also making it clear that he is a SPECIAL NEEDS HORSE, and that is going to include needing a customized, warm stall/room for the winter. Of course we have a normal metal, (not fancy) barn, but he continues to need 24/7 (hopefully not forever) care, and will have to be in close proximity to the house so I can be re-introduced to my bed someday. Our barn is not set up for a sick horse, and he is too big to be in the house. So, our question is, can anyone help us build/get a room set up for him as the weather in shingletown is getting cold fast. It has been absolutely freezing at night (especially for me - ha ha) as he is snuggled up in the electric blankets that were donated. PTL for that one, as we still had trouble with his temperature. We can build it, but were wondering if anyone has any lumber or old wood that is sitting around their property that they don't have a use for. Of course it would have to be in good condition as his immune system is fragile at best. But we need to provide a safe, warm place so he will not be compromised. Appreciate any thoughts, ideas, wood etc. Please remember, donations are tax deductible. Thank you and God bless. Good things that happened today: We were on a radio morning show putting the word out about HoneyBandit. It's KCNR1460.COM and they did a wonderful job.
Then, at 9:30, Channel 7 KRCR from Redding came and did a fabulous story about HB. HoneyB is still holding on, but he is on a roller coaster -- doing well for a short time and then crashing. A few minutes ago I walked out of the house and pretty much started panicking. He was laying so still and was so non-responsive I thought we were losing him. I spoke with the vet, but they were closed so I couldn't take him in. She specializes in worst case scenario foals and she was a little surprised that he was still alive, that he still didn't sound like he was doing well. He did have some good improvements, like the fact that his insides are working somewhat, although he will still not drink his milk mix on his own. The brightest moment of the day was when the little guy started to move his tail. It was kind of like when Chilly Pepper realized that her head moved. But he is finding out that his tail goes up and down and he actually got it to go sideways for a moment. His journey is such a roller coaster of little ups and downs, but he is so precious, so please keep praying for him. Thank you for all your help! P.S. I am not sure if Terri told ya'll why we named the little guy this unusual name. WELL - we were finally going to have a small honeymoon after 2.5 years of marriage. It was all planned out until I picked up the phone and asked my honey to "bring the trailer to the Litchfield facility to pick up the baby. " Being the awesome man that I married, he jumped in the truck and the honeymoon was gone. Thus we named him "Honey Bandit". The little Bandit that stole our honeymoon. Read all about Honey Bandit, the newest addition to my family on his page here if you'd like to help with the expenses of Honey's care, please visit our Donations page here |
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