Lenore gave a loud yelp of pain in the middle of the night as she tried to get up from her dog bed, and then another, louder one later. I looked at her paws and legs, they looked fine and were not sensitive, but I noticed she was having trouble lifting her head. When her chin is touched, or her head turns, it is clearly very painful for her. We’re going to the vet this morning to have it checked out. Labs, like border collies, are stoics, but I can tell she is a very unhappy and uncomfortable dog. More later.
Simon got a happy holiday surprise this week when a bunch of New Year’s cards arrived from the second graders at the Lincoln Elementary School in Rockaway, New Jersey. Each of the kids drew a picture of Simon and sent a message. “Dear Simon” wrote Sophia, “I’m glad you are safe. I’m also happy that you are healing. You have a very nice home, Simon. I’m happy that you are with Red. Have a happy new Year. Love, Sophia.”
Maryann Medore, a teacher at the school, came to one of my readings when “Saving Simon” was published. She told them his story, and they began to follow Simon on the blog. Ms. Medore said the thought Simon and Bedlam Farm made for a creative way to get the children connected to farm life and animals, not always easy in suburbia. So they all made up some New Years cards, several of which I read to Simon, who tried to eat several.
The card were beautiful, filled with colors and feeling and imagination. Many of the students said they were very glad Red was around to keep an eye on things. Wise people. Thanks so much to them, I invited them all to come up and meet Simon any time they wish, I hope they decide to come.
The first text message from Ken Norman came in at 7:02 p.m. – if you have never seen Ken cursing at his old Iphone, you have not grasped the legacy of Steve Jobs in our time – and it said simply, “evening.” We started going back and forth. The surgery went well, he said, the pain management team was at his bedside.
I asked Ken if he was walking around yet – I would not have been the least bit surprised – and he said he won’t get the chan ce until Tuesday morning, when Ms. Popvitch, his rehabilitation specialist, came in to help him get up and start moving. I asked him if he could come and trim Simon’s hooves.
I can imagine him cursing a bit at that. At 8 p.m., he sent me a photo of his new knees dangling off of the side of the bed. Ken is as ornery as he is hard-working, he will be back at work in a month or so, I believe. He declined to Simon’s hooves and we are now calling one another unprintable names. He did text me to say “I’ll come and instruct you and watch you trim him. I’ll even take a picture.” Deal, I said, I can do it with my eyes closed. “Ha,” he said.
Well, I can curse as well as he can, pretty much.
Ken is already texting and joking, he will be moving around soon. He is now one of the more famous farriers of the world, he helped save our donkey Simon, but that was nothing compared to now. He is getting gets fan mail from everywhere and people from everyplace are making donations to his gofundme site, the one he started to help raise funds to help him and his family and farm (and horses) get through several months without any income.
It was great to hear from Ken, he is in good hands and doing well, especially just nine or ten hours after surgery for two knee replacements. I imagine the next couple of weeks will be a challenge for him, he is up to it. So many people appreciate him and the work he has done, he has raised nearly $30,000 for his project and he can use every penny of it. Ken originally asked for $17,600 on gofundme, a crowdsourcing site and he raised that in a day as animal lovers, horse people, farriers all rushed to help him.
Ken has a wife and daughter, a farm in Pawlet, Vt., and more than 30 horses, many of them rescues, to feed. He has known me since I came upstate, he knows the good and the bad, although he never refers to it, just chuckles sometime at the memories. Ken is one of the things I most love about where I live, good and independent people living their lives generously and in service to their communities. Nobody who knows Ken hesitated for a second to contribute to his fund, and that is a pretty high compliment in challenging times.
It is wonderful to see that Ken has the resources he needs to get through this winter, it is also very uplifting to think of him living and working without pain. He has been in a lot of pain for a very long time. Watching him tend to Simon and his twisted legs has been a powerful experience for Maria and I. Ken cares about the animals he works with, I doubt Simon would be alive if Ken had not rushed to help him when he was in so much distress.
Ken is taking a photo of mine of our donkey Fanny into rehab with him, I am proud of that. Fanny will watch over him.
Ken has reached his goal, he is not asking for more money, but I knew he could use any contributions people wish to give, he is always there to help a horse or donkey – or human – in need. We will always be there for him, and thanks to those of you who helped.
I send my good wishes to Ms. Popovich, she is going to earn her money in the morning. My advice to her is to yell, loudly and continuously.
