THE POWER OF TRUE FRIENDSHIP, SHARED TRAUMAS,FEARS,WINS AND THE OUR SOUL UNITY.
Boxes of random screws, different sizes of screwdrivers. Different lamps and bulbs and fittings all over my floor in the living room. my bedroom filled with similar stuff,me stressed running from one thing and searching other. My friend Kayley trying to attach lighting into the 2 vivariums. Then both of us crying because we have tasted that very rare substance missed in these days in our world unconditional love mixed with joy that just hugs your own heart, when your heart explodes in your own chest at the same time and you cannot stop your tears and your friend's tears at the same time. Common goal to save a life and lastly but not least Kayley seeing me as a being with such a purpose and her recognising that she is part of this journey. And that was just yesterday. Therefore I know that the things we do, choices we make towards each other and mainly towards any form of life( animals we care for and share the earth with, insect that we feed our animals ( yes in this case beardies) with ( Iam always grateful to all my insect for keeping my rescue dragons alive), plants, the soil which has its own memory and we should be more in touch with all this. How we treat sources of our mother nature. That is what defy us, NOT OUR PAST.
We name them Nala ( my friend named the beautiful dragon girl as THIS DRAGON GIRL has a very special kind of sass😉)and Milo ( This name was on my mind for absolute ages and none of our rescue dragons came with such name). Me and my amazing friend Kayley Hutton and my son Philip spent traveling most of yesterday to rescue 2 dragons from poor conditions. I received a link from my friend on WhatsApp showing me an app from gumtree for 2 Bearded Dragons who are free to good home. My friend was obviously concerned by the state of the both dragons from the advert photos ( and so was I from what I seen) that she asked me if I could take these 2 poorly souls. I knew I am already at capacity and caring for 12 Dragons and some of them truly not well ( such as Pablo the poorly tiny dragon baby with abscess on the tongue and Muscular Dystrophy, Bolt with Muscular Dystrophy, Anthony and Beardie with severe advanced MBD. But I also knew that this is not something I can say no to ( I did have to say no to some dragons in The past though), but this was urgent. I just didn't realise how urgent. I don't drive and don't have a car. I asked my dear friend Kayley if she would be able to drive and she only asked if I could come with her. I said of course and it would not be any other way. I was already extremely grateful to her for doing the driving and agreeing to help me. Kayleyķ loves dragons and she has one herself and she has full understanding of the importance of correct and loving care for these stunning creatures. She never even hesitated. That's something I cherish and treasure in those few friends I have and also my family in Czech Republic. So off we went. It was a smooth drive, we laughed we talked and the day was sunny warm and just beautiful spring day.
We arrived in about 1 hour and 40 minutes to the address. We met the owner outside and he invited us in and took us to the enclosure where BOTH dragons were. There was a red sand as a substrate, a hide and a few bowls. The owner was happy for me to take the bowls and hide and also gave me some supplements such as calcium and some vitamins. We had a conversation about both dragons especially the dragon boy who is blind. The owner said that he never eats alive food and only salad. The ow er said that apart from his blindness he is "healthy" and complety ok.... only both me and Kayla could see otherwise. I carefully opened the vivarium and started talking to the dragon boy (Milo), before I even touched him so he would not get scared of me because he cannot see. I stroked his back gently, no reaction. I then carefully and slowly picked him up and he was searching for support for one of his legs which I provide with my hands. Then I placed him against my chest, close to my heart. I talked to him all the Time " you are safe, I will take you to your new home and I will care for you and I will love you ❤🦎❤". My heart just broke at that moment as I could feel no response and I could not feel his will to live. I gently placed him Into the box with super soft blanket and hot water bottle. I did the same with the girl dragon (Nala). She had more life in her and was following my friend's finger as she thought it was food. Nala seemed hungry and they both looked dehydrated. We placed her carefully into her carrier. We went back to the car and I have taken the box with Milo onto my knees . As we drove back home, I was checking all the time if he is still breathing. He did not move at all, only occasionally we could see his body moving when breathing. I stroked his back gently and asked him to hold on. I was scared he would not survive the journey, we both were genuinely worried about this beautiful dragon boy. I could see the UVB inside their enclosure way too high therefore none of the dragons received the UVB DOSAGE they needed to thrive. Kayley was so kind that she drove me into the both pet shops in Perth ( even after a long drive ) so I could get the proper UVB for the boy as I had one at home for Nala. I finally got the UVB in the second shop plus some pinkies for protein and also soft blanket and some locust and wax worms. We finally arrived home at the evening. I started putting stuff together to set up their new vivariums. I needed to do it fast as I needed to see if Milo will react to have proper UVB and proper heat. Kayley had a cuppa and then she left as she had her own plans for the evening and I was already filled with so much gratitude towards her kindness. Then after about 5 minutes of us saying goodbye, she called that her plans changed and she asked if I would like help to set up the 2 enclosures. I said that if she is ok with it, it would be great as any help is always much appreciated. So Kayley came back. We carefully carried both carriers with Milo and Nala upstairs where their 2 new vivs were. We were figuring up how to screw in the basking light for both vivs. After Kayley did a bit of drilling she made the basking light perfect for Nala and she also figured out how to have Milo's basking light held in place. Her sheer determination and the fact she stayed to do this, made me feel so humble and grateful, because it was 100% selfless act and that is unconditional love. Then we attached their UVB one T5 and the other T8, they both eventually will get T5. This had to be done fast and its not a permanent set up as they will need bigger vivarium. This truly was an emergency situation. Once we switched on the lights in both of their new homes we placed them under the lights Nala at the bottom Vivarium and Milo in the vivarium above her. I do not agree with cohabiting so each of our dragons has their own vivarium.
I brought a cup with lukewarm water with Reptoboost mixed in it ( it has electrolytes and its like an energy drink for reptiles) .
I started dripping water on Milo's nose , no reaction at first so Kayley suggested trying to squirt tiny bit of water inside the side of his mouth. I carefully did it and his bottom lip is quite loose which is a sign of MBD also his tail was showing signs of dehydration. and malnutrition.
I noticed that at the side of Milo's mouth was gel like substance with grains of the red sand. I taken out all the gell like substance and cleared his mouth of it. Then started checking his mouth and looked better after removing it. I started to slowly dripping water onto Milo's nose. He didn't respond. I spoke to him, I asked him to drink and gently stroke his chin to bring up his swallowing reflex. He started swallowing but still didn't take in any of the water. Kayley was sitting beside me and talking and reassuring Milo too.
The crucial moment came and Milo started to drink. I broke down in tears and a little bit of relief because he was drinking. It meant so much in that moment, because he showed us he wanted to live. My hands started to shake because my heart just exploded from happiness and worry while dripping water onto Milos nose ,so Kayley taken over and started giving him water. Milo drank and drank and drank for absolute ages. Me and Kayley
were both crying and I said that this is why am doing this. For these precious moments are going to be always with us and it is a reminder that if we all unite to save a live , we can absolutely succeed. At this moment we both connected for the same purpose on the higher level of our own consciousness. Both of us wanted Milo to show us the will to live and even though his eyes are shut and filled with dried up skin,I am sure we both felt that he still has a fight in him to want to be here. After he drank he lifted his head and supported himself with his own arms and stood proudly and with that spark of light you normally see in beardies eyes. I am sure both me and Kayley felt Milo's spark of light getting stronger and spreading through his body. I then carefully placed Milo on my chest and another precious moment came when Milo started to crawl up on my shoulder and on my back. I felt him really pulling himself up. Me and Kayley both were stunned, both our hearts filled with joy and surprise of the sudden change in Milo. Like our wish became true. We then tried to offer water to Nala but she only taken a little bit . She seemed like she didn't know what to do. She has taken a little bit of water though she kept coming in and out of her new enclosure. Nala is a very intelligent and bright dragon girl and she has that spark of light in her eyes, which is unique in each living being. We then made sure both dragons were safely inside their new homes and we switched of all the lights as it was too late and was past their bed time. Then I finally switched of my other 12 vivariums. All of my 14 dragons were all safely sleeping then.
It was a such a long time since I was just laughing while swallowing tears at the back of my throat. All my emotions just came out as one . I felt so much gratitude for Kayley being there and her seeing the truth about the reality of what am doing and how messy it can get. These were the most authentic moments and we both were as real as we could be towards each other and towards Milo and Nala. That is when I realised that Kayley is one of those rare beings who knows what unconditional love means and I have seen in her how much she values every single life form, however small it might be. I did express my gratitude for the sheer fact that she was driving for most of today and then stayed and helped me from around 12:30pm. till around 11:30pm We stood in the garden to distress and I explained that it's a huge thing she did for me today. Kayley said that she did nothing much except for driving. I explained that if she didn't drive me there, I would not be able to rescue Nala and Milo. There is 100% not a single drop of doubt that if Kayley didn't drive me to get those 2 poorly souls, Milo would die or he would go to someone who would not know how to help him. Kayley is the only reason Milo and Nala has now a fighting chance to live and thrive instead of just existing and slowly dying. There is not enough words to express the amount of gratitude I hold in my heart for my friend. So THANK YOU Kayley from the deepest place of my heart and soul. What we experienced today , will always stay with us and no one can or ever will take this away from us. Milo and Nala are here BECAUSE of you Kayley.
There are people around me who are kind and selfless and givng. In this post I would also like to thank Karen Swindale for taking my golden dojo Loaches and giving them a new, bigger and more enriched home. Karen also brought me and gave me a bottle of Repashy Beardie Buffet which is going to be a nice treat for all the beardies. Karen is another kind soul I had the opportunity to connect with.
I would also like to say huge thank you to Sharon Clark for buying 400g of Emeraid, Which is quite expensive ( this stuff literally saved a life of few of my dying dragons). Jazzi Holt ² has helped me the same way in the past also. These are another kind and selfless souls I have been blessed to connect with. I also want to thank my best friend who luckily lives next door to me, for being there for me and listening to me when I needed. Elaine Howard is my best friend and another kind soul in this world. There were others also who donated enclosures, food, supplements, decor , feeding bowls...ect I am eternally grateful to every one of those people.
Then I would like to say a VERY special "thank you" to my incredible mum, my amazing sister and my kind, funny and completely selfless stepdad. ❤ My mum helps me financially whenever she can. my mum actually believes in all am doing, she believes in my whole idea and all my plans for this rescue project. My mum also believes in my talent for my art. But mainly my mum believes in me as a being and that, I will always treasure in my heart and soul. Its so much easier to save lives or help others, when you have the one person who gave you life and guided you through it to this point, and still has faith in you and all you are doing. I know and I sense that my mum is my true guide on earth.
And so it continues? The struggle. The lack of funds at times, the stress of seeing some of my dragons and their disabilities and their determination to climb, run or just simply feed through their physical or emotional difficulties. Then there is their progress in their health towards the better end of the spectrum. There are these precious moments, when your dragon who never eat greens eat a leaf from your hand. There are moments when your beardie cuddle up and falls asleep on your chest for the very first time. The moment when your beautiful dragon start trusting you and feel safe in your presence. So this is exactly why I am doing this. I hope you all understand how important it is to help each other and to protect all living beings ( including plants). The best way to know what to do,is to make choices from unconditional love. What would love do?
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