Honoring Rehabbers

FAWN, the rehabbed Red-Tail Hawk

Since, hawk watch this year, Jimmy has been getting worse and worse with a myopathy, which was eventually diagnosed as a second Statin induced auto-immune disease, which caused his immune system to attack his muscles.   Once diagnosed, it is a rare disease, called Polymyositis, which actually is treatable if recognized soon enough.  It was a long 8 months while they performed all the tests, and began the treatment.  The original treatment is high doses of steroids for a month, then tapering to get him off of them. But in some people it causes an additional Myopathy, and such was the case with Jimmy, as we learned when we read the notes from the hospital and his specialist, which are just now coming up online.

The Rehab Staff at
 Soddy Daisy Life Care Center
with Alix Parks and rehab hawk, Fawn
Notice Fawn's strong Comma's just past the wrists,
crisply contrasted against the broad white breast and wing undersides,
 typical of Red-tailed Hawks.  But notice how she lacks her
red tail. Light colored eyes also denote her youth.  Her large size helps
us recognized her as a female bird without actually knowing otherwise.
In the background is the Rehab Wing of the facility.
 Can't help but love all the symbolism in
this event.

 The result was Jimmy went to a near invalid stage in a matter of 3 weeks, and was hospitalized for an entire week while they observed and tested and gently brought him back to a state where he could go to a rehab center for further muscle strengthening.  While in the hospital he received 5 infusions of a medicine which uses the healthy immune systems of people donating blood, to prepare a replacement of sorts, of his own "out of control"  immune system.  That process in itself made him feel sick and weak, but as some of you may already know, it was about 18 hours and we noticed a remarkable improvement in his strength, for which the only explanation was the IVIG infusion.  He may be required to have these infusions about every month going forward; we are waiting to see the doctor's recommendations in about 2 weeks.

 
In the mean time, Jimmy has been at the Soddy Daisy Life Care Center, where after a few bumps in the road,( and having a virus on top of possible side effects from taking a potent antibiotic), he is now feeling like a million dollars in comparison to several weeks ago.  Just this past week he has gone uphill at a rate similar to how he went down hill in that last 3 weeks before the hospital. 

Today he was able to walk over 400 feet in the halls, with a walker as rehab tags along for safety, at this point, not having to hold his belt the whole way, anymore.

 

 He is also to a point where he can do all of his personal care, as well as taking sit showers alone.  They expect to possibly release him in about a week, to some form of continued rehab just so he doesn't go backwards, and also to continue strengthening his muscles closest to his body which are still in recovery from near atrophy.  At least with Polymyositis, the prognosis is good, that he can find a place of full function, although he may not regain full use of his muscles to 100% of a year or more ago.

Residents and Rehab patients were able to come out to view this hawk up close.

In recognition of the work the rehab staff has done to get to know and understand the needs of his disease as it pertains to him as an individual - recognizing that pushing him too far when exercising can actually do harm rather than good, and helping him not to push beyond what will sustain recovery- Jimmy had begun to talk regularly of our hawk watch with thoughts of rehabbed hawks on his mind. He told them how we had Alix Parks from Happinest Wildlife Rehab to bring hawks they had rehabbed, to release on our watch site at times.  So to honor the work his rehab staff was doing, he asked me to contact Alix to see if she had a rehabbed hawk ready for release. She did and we arranged that staff, patients, residents, and families could view the release to freedom of this beautiful bird on Tuesday afternoon this week.

The Bird Alix brought was an immature Red-tailed Hawk, a gunshot victim, brought in from Rising Fawn, GA. This young female, named Fawn at her rehab,  is still not showing a red tail, and won't until her molt, but has recovered from the wound in her wing, to a state of strength and feistiness which will serve her well in the wild.

 Alix allowed numerous of those gathered to touch her feathers, take pictures and hear her story, while many in wheelchairs joined us for the event. Alix and Jimmy gave bits of info on identification, and  the care of the bird, etc.  There were a lot of smiling faces from young and old alike.  Alix said she loved having a group of enthusiasts which included people of all ages and also from those who would benefit from encouragement that rehab can sometimes give new life when it seemed all was lost.

A round of applause went up from the group as Alix released the large healthy hawk, which flew over the Rehab Wing of the building and into the distant gulf beyond where habitat is excellent for birds living there now, as evidenced by the numbers and variety we have documented from Jimmy's room.  Once later in the afternoon, I saw Fawn flexing her wings from a limb in the distant trees.  Her whiteness made her shine in the sun.

  Enjoy the pictures, and if you have time, perhaps you can set up an event for a Life Care Center in your area as well.  It was certainly a moment of brightness in a series of dull rainy days for all of us. 

Once again, I want to recognized the rehab staff who have worked with Jimmy, and thank the Activity Director, for allowing us to make this happen.  Blessings to them all, and to all the residents and patients who are struggling with their own rehab situations every day.  Thanks to them for taking this few minutes out of their day to join us on this wonderful occasion.


And THANK YOU, once again Alix!

There is no time like the present to
KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!

HAVE A WONDERFUL LIFE, DEAR FAWN!!!

The large arching petal shaped wings opened wide to help her gain lift, and demonstrate the strength her rehab has given, as the large pumps on those wings lift her to eventually fly over the roof top beyond.