aka Mister Big
We believe in miracles!!!!
Red Jack w/Star
DOB 2/22/10 @ 2:15am
Birth Height: 20" ~ Birth Weight: 18 lbs.
MDR #59258
DNA Type on file @ Texas A&M University
Microchip ID#on file
Sire: Windcrest Firefly, 30 ½" Dark Red
Grand Sire: MGF Fiftyfire, 31 ½" Dark Red
Grand Dam: Windcrest Pinkee, 32" Red
Dam: Windcrest Little Bridget, 32 ¾" Dark Red
Grand Sire: Windcrest Little Red Man, 31" Dark Red
Grand Dam: Windcrest Red Beau's Robin, 32" Brown
“I think I can, I think I can”…a phrase we have all heard from the children’s book, The Little Engine That Could. To tell you about Mister Big is to tell you the story of a little donkey who thought those same words, “I think I can, I think I can.”
Bridget, and her best friend, Strawberry, were hospitalized with botulism poisoning on 2/9/10. Sadly we lost Strawberry and her red jennet foal was stillborn by c-section. Bridget kept fighting for her life and the foal within her was kicking around letting us know he was alive and had a “will to live.” Two weeks passed and Bridget was finally beating the dreaded botulism poisoning but then developed hyperlipidemia. She would not eat or drink, yet the foal inside her was kicking away letting us know he had a “will to live.” Bridget had been on heavy medication and constant IV’s to sustain her life. She did not move around in her stall and most days appeared very lethargic.
On 2/22/10, in the wee hours of the morning, Bridget went in to labor and delivered her foal under vet supervision. It was way too early for her to have her foal so there was major concern for both Bridget and her very tiny 18 pound jack foal. With Bridget fighting for her life, how could she ever have the strength to mother her foal? We went immediately to the hospital to be with Bridget and her baby. He was so tiny that we feared we could loose him and possibly Bridget too. His little perfect red head looked up at me and his eyes were saying, “I think I can, I think I can”…I hugged him with tears rolling down my face letting him know I would do all I could to help him survive. Bridget was not in a motherly way and did not want him to nurse. She had NO MILK and the nursing was hurting here. She did kick out and nudge him away from the nursing area, but let him snuggle around her body and chin. She would stand vigil over him letting him know she was there and loved him but could not possibly provide for his need to nurse. Luckily the vet was able to strip Bridget of the little bit of milk she had and gave it to him. Later he tubed him and for a week he kept the tube stitched in his nose and down to his stomach and he had to get “faux milk”….still sleeping most of the time, he would occasionally stand up and try to nurse but nothing was there for him. Luckily he had gotten enough colostrum to get his antibodies from Bridget. He would look at me and again his eyes would say, “I think I can, I think I can”….!!!! I told my self I’d better not fall in love with this little guy in case he does not make it. That feeling lasted about 2 seconds,… I was smitten with so much love for this struggling little boy. He was already in my heart and that’s when I said to myself, “I think I can, I think I can.”
Since Bridget had delivered her baby prematurely, at the Equine Hospital under vet care, we decided to name this precious bundle of love Mister Big Money. It was costing us a fortune for Bridget and Mister Big’s hospital stay but you can only imagine how this duo captured the hearts of everyone there. He got tons of attention but still slept most of the time. A week later the staff told us they felt they had done all they could do and thought taking them home we could care for them with the help of our barn cams. Joe and I left with our precious cargo driving ever so slowly to take them both home hoping they would beat the odds. We had our hopes but I must admit we had our doubts as well.
For two weeks we bottle fed Mr. Big every two hours around the clock with Joe and me taking 8 hours shifts. Mr. Big was not feeling well and his legs were swollen so big he could barely walk. Fearing the worse the vets came to the farm, drew blood, took x-rays, and checked him out from head to toe. Nothing appeared to be seriously wrong other than he was still premature, a bit low on protein but nothing really wrong. After they left I wrapped his little back legs, began massaging them and by the next day he was standing and walking more….his eyes and the determined look on his face were saying, “I think I can, I think I can.” Bridget, too, began to perk up and eat and drink. The making of a MIRACLE was unfolding before our very eyes. I must give credit here to all the Mare Stare viewers that helped us watch Bridget and Mr. Big 24/7 for 3 weeks. We had people all over the world praying for Bridget and Mr. Big and believe me these viewers have a straight line to heaven. Praise the Lord!
Bridget and Mr. Big are doing excellent now and spend their days out in the paddock enjoying sunshine and the company of other donkeys. We still bring them in under the cams and we still are feeding Mr. Big 16 ounces of milk every 4 hours in addition to him nursing. Bridget’s milk continues to flow so all is well with his feeding. It is now 3/7/10 and you can see by looking at his pictures that he is truly healthy and happy. There are no signs of his struggle to live and we absolutely adore the ground he walks on as he follows me and Joe everywhere we go. Think imprinting has set in…..what an honor he thinks I am his momma and Joe is his “momma” too.
A big 'thank you' to our personal vet, Dr. Greg Harris in Chapel Hill, Tennessee, and The Tennessee Equine Hospital in Thompson Station, Tennessee, and all the vets that attended but especially to Dr. Matt Povlovich and Dr. Jessica Smith.
Video and photos taken on March 5th, 2010
