Leo Dante Catalogo

The Becoming Of D.D. Duck FORWARD Some stories start, and from the beginning, you immediately understand the story will be special. Such is the story of D.D. Duck. From the first time D.D. waddled through our hospital, I knew I was in such a story. She had an innate, intrinsic magic that endeared herself to all. I was fortunate to have known her and any who come to know her story will too be blessed. I have learned what one can learn from a duck: LOVE Sincerely and Truly, Andrew Newman, DVM Dedication This book is dedicated to the life of D.D. Duck, who brought love and joy to unexpected people. She was my special friend and angel who taught me more about life and acceptance than any teacher ever could. D.D. was born in the beginning of the Easter week 2009. She passed away the end of the Christmas season 2011. Is not that fitting for a little angel? The Beginning 4/7/09 Sometimes things happen or you walk up on an unexpected incident so minute that you do not give it more thought than the present. So is the case with D.D. Duck. I arrived at my part-time job at Tractor Supply Company on Thursday evening and for some reason, I was drawn over to where the baby ducks were kept in the spring. I went right to their pen, bent down, and picked up a duckling that was stuck under the water container. She was in dreadful shape. Her neck was twisted and her legs went in two different directions. Her body was all contorted. It was not looking good for the baby duckling. As I held her in my hand, I1 knew I was keeping this little duckling. I was told by the assistant manager to put her in the back and let her die. I ignored the order. I took her to the back, cleaned her, and wrapped her up in a small red cleaning towel. I took her to the register and kept her warm. By the time my shift was over, the little duckling was sitting very still, but alive and breathing. I knew she could not return to the other ducks, as she was not strong enough to survive. After a few heated discussions, the little duckling went home with me. I put her in a small cat carrier with a towel for a bed and gave her some food and water. As I watched her, she closed her eyes and went to sleep. I turned the light off and hoped she would be alive in the morning. I arose early the next morning and the little duckling was awake. She had made it through the night. I was optimistic she would live. Very quickly, it was obvious that she was very weak on one side and was not able to stand or walk well. I was hoping she was just sore, so I cleaned her house and left her food and water that was easily reached from where she was sitting. When I arrived home from work, I went directly to see how my little duckling was doing. She was standing. When she saw me, she tilted her head up and to the side as if to say “"Hi.”". At that moment, I knew she began inching her way into my heart. The duckling was going to have a struggle to survive. I was hoping she was up for the fight. I took her everywhere I went. She went to the barn with me in the morning and the afternoon and to my part-time job at night. We practiced walking at the barn. Every afternoon I 1 would set her down and call her. She would walk slowly with a limp and have to sit down several times before she made it to the other end of the barn, which was 48 feet. It was then I noticed the determination in her expression as each day she walked further and further without a rest. When she finally made it up the isle without stopping to rest, she flapped her wings in delight and immediately flipped upside down. The more she walked the less prominent was her limp until it disappeared. As she got stronger, she began to run after me and go wherever I went. She began to flourish. Her dingy white lbeige down began to shed out to a beautiful golden color. The duckling was here to stay and she obviously needed a name. She needed a name to describe her. She was named Dumpster Diva alias D.D. Duck, as D.D. would have ended up in the dumpster on that Thursday night if I had not walked to the ducks on my way into work. I have often wondered why that night, I went by the ducks, as I never did. Yet because of that choice, one little duckling I thought I was rescuing was really rescuing me. Who would have thought a little duckling could teach you about life, let you look at your shortcomings, and face them? Through D.D.’'s struggle to survive, she revived a spark in me that had been missing. Most things had become a chore. I no longer took pleasure in my dogs or in the joy of riding my horses. I just went to work, put on a smile, and went through the day. Then here comes D.D. Duck. She made me smile and cry as I watched her fight for her life. I watched her struggle to live, never giving up, then find nothing but positive joy in living. Everything she did and saw was exciting to her. She was contagious. I1 began to feel better just watching her and unknowing to me, my enthusiasm began to return. I looked down at D.D. sitting on my lap watching the birds fly in the sky, she turned and looked at me with that look of amazement on her face; I knew then that D.D. was sent to me because someone knew I needed a different kind of angel. II As D.D. was a duck, she began to become more interested in water as she got stronger. I decided it was time for her to learn to swim. I set her in one of the water troughs and down she went as if she was were made of cement. I quickly pulled her out as she sputtered water everywhere. She looked at me with an expression as if to say, “"What did you do that for?”" A couple days later, we tried the water again. This time, I kept her in my hands and let her flioat. As she became more comfortable, she began to move around. D.D. preferred to be in water where she could touch her feet to the ground. So, a shallow pond was purchased for D.D. to play in the water. Each day, D.D. grew and flourished. She became my constant companion, never letting me out of her sight. She would help clean the stalls running in and out of the hay and follow me everywhere I went until the hose was turned on. Then, D.D. would play in the water and search for bugs. The other two ducks and one goose at the barn never allowed D.D. into their group. At first, she seemed to be saddened by this, but it did not get her down for long and soon she became friends with the barn cat. The cat would watch her swim and D.D. would follow her around the barn. At times, when D.D. would be in her little pond, the cat would sit on a chair by the pond;, D.D. would go over to the cat and look up at her as if inviting her to swim, and then she would turn and go back into the pond. The cat remained on the chair watching. D.D. was a self-amuser and had learned to play games. On one Saturday morning, I noticed that she was not in her pond and seemed to be gone. I started to call her when I noticed her and two young cats in the bushes. They would run out of the bushes together, turn around, and run back in. They seemed to be playing hide and seek as one cat or D.D. would come out of the bushes and the others would run after them and back into the bushes. They seemed to take turns. D.D. was full of surprises and never ceased to entertain you. D.D. went everywhere I went except to my full-time job as they did not allow pets. D.D. rode in my truck and sat on my lap. She would look out the window and delight in the cows in the pastures and the birds flying in the sky. In the evening, when the sun had gone down and she would see a plane in the sky, she would look up at the plane and turn her head, and put her beak up to my nose with a look of amazement. She would then turn back to look out the window and watch the lights of the plane until it was gone from her view. As I watch D.D. swim and play in her pond, I wonder how a duckling became a large part of my life. I had thought she would get better and go with the other ducks. D.D., however, did not do that. She is a breath of fresh air. When it is time to go home or to work, I would call her and say it is time to go, she would follow behind or we would race to the truck. Of course, D. D. would always win. At times, she would look back at the pond and cock her head to the side as if to say, “"Can I swim longer?"” I1 would tell D.D. to go swim and watch her swim for a few more minutes, then she was ready to head for the truck. In a sense, through her struggle to live and overcome her shortcomings, D.D. has given me courage to confront the things I could no longer deal with. She has shown me how to deal with being alone and making the best of it. I hope there is a time that the other ducks will include D.D. into their group as I see her look at them now and again with interest. Her not being a part of their group does not get her down;, she quacks and follows behind me in her unduck-like stride and enjoys her day. I will always cherish the time that D.D. remains my constant companion and if the day comes and the ducks accept her, I hope I have learned enough from her to let her go knowing she will always be my special angel and friend. Until that time, D.D. will just ride in my truck, go to work, sleep in her kennel at home, and be known as the web-footed swamp cat (a name of affection bestowed on her by one of the stockers at Tractor Supply Company) that always makes me smile. When someone said to me, that people would begin to talk as a duck is sitting on my lap while I am driving down the road. I laughed and said, “"Oh she is not just a duck, D.D. is my little angel and my friend.”" As D.D. and I would ride home or go on errands in the truck, she always loved to look out and see the world around her. When we would stop at a light, I would look at D.D. and say to her “"There is nothing better than a D.D. Duck.”" She would flap her wings and quack in delight. Fourth of July 2009 It was apparent that D.D. loved excitement and meeting new people. The fFourth of July was an exciting day for D.D. In the town where we lived, they have a parade celebrating the fFourth of July. Before the parade begins, gliders and air force planes fly overhead. The barn was close to the parade route and you could see all the gliders and planes clearly. D.D. has always been intrigued with things in the sky. She stood in amazement as she watched the gliders circle around the barn and perform tricks in the sky. She watched the fighter jets fly overhead. She would follow their flight in the sky and then look at me in amazement. At the end of the day on the way home, we stopped at the fireworks to let some people from my full- time job see her. I was not going to stay for the fireworks as I1 thought the noise would scare her. So many people petted her and wanted to see her that we did not get away before the fireworks began. She saw the fireworks in the sky and was amazed and just watched. All was well, until a very loud firework went off. As D.D. intended to see the fireworks, she stuck her head between my arm and my body and continued to watch, blocking out the sound until there were no more lights in the sky. People were amazed at her lack of fear and her interest in the lighted sky. On the drive home, D.D. climbed up ionto my lap, looked at the sky, settled down, and fell fast asleep. III Each day to D.D. was new and exciting. She was growing and turning into a young duck. She could run and play in the water. She never chose to go with the other ducks and goose and seemed happy and content to remain my companion. D. D. would sit in her pond and watch the butterflies in the plumbago. She never touched the butterflies but would follow them along the pond. She appeared to be taking in the movements of their wings. D. D. loved watching things in the sky especially birds. As her wings grew, she began to try to fly. She would run as fast as she could and begin flapping her wings. In the beginning, nothing happened. Finally, after several weeks of trying to fly, D.D. flew. She got about three 3 feet in the air and flew about 6 feet. She was elated and quacked showing her joy. D.D. practiced every day, but since D.D. was not the type of duck that flew, she had to be content with her short little journeys in the air. My regular job would take me out of town for a couple a of days a month and D.D. could not come. A coworker at Tractor Supply Company, Marty Burke, became her baby sitter. He had been present the day D.D. had been found and had always been one of her favorite people. I really do not think that most people who meet D.D. realized the aeffect that she has on them. Many people come back to see her at work and amaze at how friendly and inquisitive she is. At times, I think she recognizes people that who are regulars as she will greet them with different sounds and a tilt of her head. That is how it is for Marty. When she comes to work, she immediately looks for Marty. He has a wife and two lovely children. He has other ducks and chickens, but D.D. is not interested in them. She just likes to follow Marty and his kids around. On one occasion, Marty, his two kids, and D.D. were walking down the street to his in-laws. They live out in the country and their street was safe for walking. As the group headed down the road, a new neighbor got upset and stated that they would have to put a fence up if wild animals would be walking down the road. Marty could not help laughing, thinking that anyone could call little D.D. a wild animal. I wonder if Marty ever thought he would take pleasure in a duck who is of the opinion she is his friend. D.D. gets very excited when Marty says hello and delights in his attention. Marty has known D.D. since the beginning and has endeared himself to D.D. Marty always comes to see her at the store when he works when D.D. and I are there. He squats down next to her and makes a fuss over which D.D. delights in. At times, Marty lets D.D. quack on the speaker system and a “"duck”" in the back named Tim answers. When Marty is not working, D.D. seems to look for him and is a little sad that he is not there. D.D. affects people’'s lives in a very quiet, unobtrusive ways. You become amazed at her reactions and get involved in her response. Recently, while Marty was babysitting, D.D. was swimming in the ditch of water that runs on the side of Marty’'s property while Marty did some yard work. D.D. is very unaware of danger and depends on her friends to protect her. Marty’'s son, Dillon, came to see D.D. and his father and got in the water with D.D. His father told him to get out of the ditch. His son wanted to know why D.D. could go in and he could not. Before his dad could answer, Dillon grabbed D.D. out of the water and backed away. His father started to reprimand Dillon about grabbing D.D. so roughly, but Dillon looked at his father and said, “"There was a snake swimming toward D.D.” His father looked and saw the snake. A shovel was found and the snake was killed. The snake was a water moccasin, a very poisonous snake. Dillon’'s unselfish act probably saved D.D.’'s life. Dillon did not run away when he saw the snake to protect himself, he reached and picked up the unsuspecting D.D. and took her to safety. D.D. and I thanked him. Marty should be proud of the young boy who acted with more unknown courage than most grown men or women. Needless to say, the water on the side of the property was banned and D.D. and Dillon were not permitted to go to that area again. D.D. loved to go for walks and follow you as you did your chores. At times, the walks are long. When she gets back, she will get in her water dish and stand as if she is cooling off her feet. Then she gets a snack and tucks her head in her wing for a nap. However, if she sees you heading out to do something, she is up and ready to go. August 27, 2009 D.D.’'s life has come full circle. She laid her first egg on August 27, 2009, around 4:00 p.m. It seemed she was so astonished; she carried on until someone came to see her surprise. She was at her baby sitter, as I had to go out of town for work. I picked her up at around 6:00 p.m. and there. she was with her egg. She began to lay eggs daily. She seemed proud of her accomplishments. She again is aiding in the health of another. A friend of mine had a dog that can only eat duck. When Joey, the cocker, could no longer eat the eggs due to his continuous changing allergies, her eggs were set out for the wildlife to eat. Mother Nature'’s timing was right on time. D. D. had matured and laying eggs was a natural phase of a duck’s life. Unfortunately, for D.D., it would be the start of another struggle to survive. D. D. continued to lay eggs almost on a daily basis even into the winter months. None of these events seems to change D.D. She continues to find the world exciting. She finds and sees new things to amaze her. She still likes to ride in the truck and look out the window. D.D. discovered drive- through restaurants and soon realized that when you spoke into the speaker, ice tea would be around the corner. She soon began to quack her order when you pulled up to the speaker. So, if you stopped to get something to drink at a drive- through, you best order her a drink also. She will have the lid up and drink your drink before you turn back around. She would have tea and ice all over her and just be delighted with the whole process. She loves the ice and she loves ice tea. She enjoys the people she meets and savors every day. She continues to make me smile. As October 2009 neared, I observed that D.D. had become more independent and would walk around the barn in search of adventure. She had discovered doodlebugs and she spent a lot of time trying to catch one. She again began to watch the other ducks, and D.D. appeared for a time to begin to want to mingle with the other ducks. In October, I let her go out in the yard when the other ducks and goose were out. When the others ducks and goose got close, D.D. turned and began to run. She hid behind my legs. I1 guess D.D. still was not ready to go with the other ducks and goose. She never chose to go with the other ducks and never showed any interest in them again. She still liked her routine. She played in her side of the yard and in her pond during the day. She had her bed of towels to rest in when she wanted to sleep., At the end of the day, she was ready to go home, get in her bed, and dream of all she saw in the day. Unfortunately, some ducks never live to see the world but D.D. really lived and saw the world around her. She loved to discover new things and have you share in her excitement. D.D. had a temper at times. She would express her anger by placing her beak up to your nose and let you know by very verbal quacking that she was not pleased. When she was finished letting you know the problem, she was more than willing to be held and tell you she forgave you. She never held a grudge and always accepted your apology immediately. D.D.'’s facial expressions are what amazed most people. She was so attentive to those who spoke to her,; tilting her head as you spoke. She also observed everything around her with wide intelligent eyes. She never failed to include you in a new discovery by tilting her head and calling to you. Her expression would tell her joy and excitement in her find and a caring in her eyes would show she wanted to share her discovery with those she loved. D.D. loved a good joke and loved to dance. When we would be driving along the road and a song came on the radio that you could tap your foot to, D.D. would become attentive to the music. She would start moving her head and neck up and down with the beat. When you started mimicking her, and say, " “D.D. is dancing,”" she would become more animated. She would spin around, quack, and tug your shirt sleeve. At Tractor Supply, music played in the store. When Daisy was at work, she would set D.D. on the counter and D.D. and Daisy would dance to the music. The more Daisy laughed, the more D.D. quacked and danced. At the end of the song, D.D. would look up at you with a quizzical face and sparkle in her eye, showing her delight. She would then drink from her cup of ice and water, splashing all that were around. The customers enjoyed D.D.’'s and Daisy’'s dancing and would sing and laugh with them. D.D. also loved to pull your pant leg when you turned around and bent over. Everyone who worked at Tractor supply knew this was a D.D. prank. Therefore, when someone would bend over and D.D. would pull their pant leg, they would jump and make a noise. D.D. would quack, flap her wings, and tilt her head to the side as though she was smiling at her prank. Christmas 2009 As D.D. is home at night, she was around for tree decorating. She at first sat in her house and watched. Her curiosity got the better of her and soon she was running under the tree, rooting through the boxes of ornaments and quacking in delight. She was amazed at the lights and tilted her head to look at the tree. As decorating was nearing the end, D.D. flapped her wings, and as D.D. was molting, two of her feathers went up in the air and landed on the tree. I set them on a branch that was not decorated and D.D.’'s feathers remained through the Christmas season. Her feathers are packed away with the decorations and will be part of the Christmas decorations for future years. What Christmas would be complete without a visit to Santa Claus. The local Petsmart had several Saturdays and Sundays in December set aside for photos with Santa Claus. I decided that I would take D.D. to see Santa Claus. She had been in Petsmart many times when I purchased food for the cats and dogs, so she was familiar with the surroundings. I brought her early in case she became afraid. Silly me, D.D. afraid! She delighted in the whole event. She had her picture with Santa Claus and with almost every child and animal in the store. She had a great morning. What I thought would be a quick trip turned into hours with D.D. as the star. D.D. also enjoyed traveling at Christmas time in the evening as the Christmas decorations and lights were out. She loved looking at the lights that moved. She would watch out the window with an expression of joy, looking from house to house. Christmas Day was fun watching D.D. help unwrap presents and run through the discarded wrapping paper. As the day drew to an end, you found D.D. sound asleep in her bed of towels. III Everything lives and then dies. It is what you do in your life in between that matters. D.D. always gave her all to all those around her. At work, she charmed the customers and made new close friends. As time went on, Tim, the assistant manager at Tractor Supply, became enamored with little D.D. When D.D. was in the store, Tim would come from the back and quack, a loud comical quack that D. D. would answer until he came to see her at the front of the store. He would sit with D.D. and, give her treats and ice water or tea. He helped her get her treats out of her food. D.D. had a special place in her heart for Tim. She always looked for him when she came to work. When he came by to say hello, she would rub her head up his arm and sometimes she would get rambunctious and take little love bites. It was obvious to all thate D.D. had a crush on Tim. She also had a best friend, Daisy, and when Daisy was at work, D.D. would wait for Daisy to come and set her on the counter. She would eat her food and drink her tea as long as Daisy was doing the feeding. She would let Daisy hold her and as she was held, she would set her head on Daisy’'s shoulder. As D.D. was an honorary employee, Daisy made her a vest with pearls. D.D. also had special customers that came on a regular basis that she would greet with joy. An elderly couple would come almost weekly to get bird seed. They always stopped to see D.D. and she would quack and carry on a little conversation as they talked to her. A while had passed and I had not seen the couple in the store, when one evening the husband came into the store alone. When he came to the register with his purchases, he looked down at D.D. D.D. remained quiet and gently looked up at the man. He reached down to D.D. and said, “"You know, don’'t you?.”" D. D. rubbed her head up his arm and remained quiet. He turned away and told me his wife had passed away. He paid for his purchases and turned and petted D.D. D.D. lay down in her house and appeared to be saddened, grieving for her friend’'s loss. D.D. was aware of when you were sad or happy, but she also was aware of inflictions. A family came into the store and everyone wanted to pet D.D. I set her on the counter and everyone took turns petting D.D. I1 noticed that D.D. was looking at a little boy in a wheel chair that who was looking longingly at D.D. I asked his parents if I could bring D.D. over to him. His mother said okay, but was afraid D.D. would get scared when he tried to move. To the contrary, D.D. remained perfectly still as the little boy’'s mother guided his hand to touch D.D. His smile was reward enough. D.D. never failed to amaze me with her knowledge and ability to understand your feelings. D.D. loved her time at Tractor Supply. She loved the workers and the customers. She never minded when the mowers were brought in or the floor was mopped. However, D.D. did not like brooms. One evening when the store was closing, one of the workers started to sweep around the register. D.D. jumped out of her crate and started quacking and running from the broom. I picked her up and calmed her down. It was decided sweeping could wait until D.D. left to go home or was in another area of the store. February 9, 2010 On February 9, 2010, D.D. and I went to the barn in the afternoon as usual. D.D. ran to the barn and waited for me to open the gate. She went to her favorite spot to forage. I1 put the ducks and goose to bed and fed the barn cats. I went to see Harvey, who was my horse. I had had Harvey’'s mother and father and had bred him and watched him be born. He was the horse I1 rode and had shown in dressage. He had just had a physical on February 8 and passed. The only thing recommended was to give him some electrolytes in his feed. I went to his stall, played with him, and kissed him on his nose. I fed the horses in the barn and gave Harvey his snack, as I was going to take him for a ride. I walked to the other barn to hay the horses and heard a thump. I called back to the two mares to quite fussing. I1 then heard D.D. make a very morbid- sounding quacking noise. I turned and ran back to the barn, afraid that something had gotten D.D. As I approached the barn, I saw D.D. standing in the aisle in front of Harvey’'s stall looking at the stall. As I neared the stall, I saw Harvey dead in the stall. I am not sure what happened next. I know that I opened the stall and went in. It was confirmed, Harvey had died. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see D.D. standing at the edge of the stall. I called a friend and told them Harvey had died. Unfortunately, they were three hundred miles away. They called someone closer who came out to the barn. D.D. followed behind me everywhere I went. I1 covered Harvey and made arrangements for him to be buried. The people who had come out to help marveled at the way D.D. stayed by my side. As I1 left the barn that evening, I picked my little friend up and carried her to the truck. I set her inside and thanked my friends for coming and helping. I got in the truck and began to drive home. D.D. got in my lap and put her little webbed foot where she could hear the beating of my heart and laid her head on my chest to comfort me. She drove all the way home like that, never quacking a word. D.D. realized my pain, acknowledged my loss, and gave me comfort to work through the pain. D.D. continued to comfort me for many days after, allowing me to accept the loss of my friend. True love can come from anywhere, and D.D. embodied the meaning of true love. My dogs will greet me, want to go out, have their dinner, and go for a walk. Then they find a quiet place to lie down for the night. Not D.D. Their passion was at a different level than D.D. She was devoted to me and the people that she loved. There were no conditions attached to her love. She greeted me and stayed with me, never wanting to leave. She remained with me all her waking hours. And when she did go to look for bugs or take a swim, she knew exactly where I was. Until D.D. closed her eyes at night, she was my constant companion. D.D. shared in my joys and knew when I was sad. As I looked at D.D. in her pond on the days that followed Harvey’'s death, she would gaze up with expressive eyes as if to say,. “"Are you okay?”" I knew that D.D. would always own my heart, that she truly was special and truly my angel. She made me laugh, cry, and eased my sorrow. As I watched a bird fly across the sky, I thanked God for bringing D.D. Duck into my life forever how long. D.D. continued in her daily antics and play. She had discovered new things, always to share her findings. As Sspring neared, D.D. celebrated her first year of life. Her life had been full of love and sharing. She shared her heart with those who were sad and her joy with those who celebrated. Her expression allowed you to know she cared. She would look up at you with eyes showing the knowledge of your pain or joy. She shared all you went through and gave you a part of her heart to help you heal. August 1, 2010, D.D. Duck goes to the hospital Sunday started out as a regular Sunday. D.D. went to the barn as she went every morning. She seemed fine all day and in the evening even ran to the truck. On the way home, I noticed she was clucking like a chicken, but did not seem to be in any distress. About 8:30 p.m., when I was getting ready to put D.D. to bed for the night, she began to show signs of difficulty breathing. She did not want to go into her house. I1 called the Eemergency Cclinic only to be told they would not see a duck. I called another clinic about 30 miles away; they said they would see a duck. I called a friend to see if they would come with me, as I did not know my way around that area. We were on our way. D.D. sat ion my lap now really laboring to breathe. We finally arrived, and D.D. was escorted to the back. She was immediately taken to a cage with oxygen. The veterinarian on call indicated that she was not an avian veterinarian and did not know much about ducks. A call was made to the University of Florida Veterinarian Teaching Hospital in Gainesville to get advice. The time ticked by. D.D. had arrived at the clinic at 10:40 p.m. It was now 12:30 a.m., and the teaching hospital finally called back to discuss the case. D.D. was beginning to have more trouble breathing. Surgery was needed. The veterinarian came in and indicated the need for surgery and that she had never worked on a duck. Without surgery, D.D. had no chance of survival, and with the surgery; it was 50/50. The avian veterinarian, Dr. Paige Brocok, would be talking her through the surgery and x-rays would be faxed to her. I went to see D.D. She still had that determined look on her face that always showed she would succeed or, in this case, survive. The veterinarian indicated she was willing to try to help D.D. I gave the consent. It seemed hours while waiting for word. A friend asked me later if I prayed for D.D. I said I prayed to keep her safe and free of pain more than anything, but let it be known, I also prayed to let my little friend stay with me. I was not ready to let D.D. go. I could not leave the clinic. I had to stay. I1 knew that D.D. was going to need me. The time went slowly by. Finally, the veterinarian came out; her face told me something was wrong. D.D. had started to bleed from an airbag. I went to see her. She was lying on her side, intubated. She looked so small and fragile. I petted her not knowing what to say or do. I felt her strong heartbeat and knew that D.D. was still trying to survive. The Eemergency Vveterinarian asked me if I wanted to talk to the veterinarian at the teaching hospital. I said yes. I walked away from D.D. still watching her. The veterinarian introduced herself as Dr. Paige Brock. Dr. Brock told me that D.D.’'s x-rays showed three broken ribs that were an old injury and her legs were displaced. She had an egg in her canal, inflamed lungs, and a swollen uterus. I1 told Dr. Brock that at two days, D.D. had been seriously injured and that no one had given her a chance to survive. I took D.D. home with me. I1 told her that I had felt from the moment that I picked D.D. up in my hands that she would survive. Dr. Brock was amazed that at that age she had survived those injures and indicated that she needed to rethink her strategy. She felt that D.D. was a tough little duck and it was worth the chance to re-sew her airbag, give her a high dose of antibiotics, and wake her up. The decision was mine. I thanked her, handed the phone to the Eemergency vVeterinarian, and walked back to D.D. The Decision I had to decide whether to euthanize D.D. or to wake her up. I believed in D.D.’'s strength and willII to survive. I wanted to give her every chance to live but did not want to cause her pain. I put my hand on D.D. and listened to her heart. The eEmergency Vveterinarian asked me if I had decided to euthanize her. At that moment, under my hand, D.D. began to tremble then kick her legs. My decision was made. I looked up at the veterinarian and said to give her the antibiotics and wake her up. Tears came to the veterinarian’'s eyes. I bent down and kissed D.D. on the top of her head. I1 whispered to her that I knew she could do this; then, I had to leave. It was over an hour, when the veterinarian reappeared. She was smiling and announced D.D. was breathing on her own and appeared in no distress. I went to see her. She was wobbly but doing well. I left at 4:00 a.m. to take my friend, who was asleep in the truck, back to her house and to let my dogs out. I took a shower and went back to transport D.D. to an avian veterinarian. The Eemergency veterinarian came out and said that D.D. had gotten into her heart and she just did not want to see her die. I thanked the veterinarian for all that she did and proceeded to the avian veterinarians. D.D. was transported in an oxygen cage and accompanied by a tank of oxygen. Here I was in rush- hour morning traffic, driving very slowly for fear the oxygen tank would fall over. We finally arrived at the clinic. They rushed D.D. to the back and I to a consult room. After what seemed hours, D.D. was brought into the room and the veterinarian came in shortly after. He introduced himself as Dr. Andy Newman and indicated that I had made the right call. D.D. could get through this. He stated that she probably did have something blocking her windpipe, which came loose when she was intubated. But, her real problem was the egg. You see, D.D. is what is known as a chronic egg layer and this causes physical problems. Her uterus was enlarged, causing her to have an infection, which was serious. She also possibly had a bacterial infection. She had to stay the day. The egg was compressed for her to lay it. She did pass the egg and was started immediately on antibiotics. As with every place D.D. goes, she endears people to her. Her resilience to survive is uncanny. When I picked D.D. up at the end of the day, Dr. Newman indicated what a great duck D.D. was. Workers at the clinic wanted to know about her. Even as sick as D.D. was, she still charmed the people around her. The Journey Begins D.D. returned to the avian veterinarian on August 13, 2010, for a recheck. Sadly enough, D.D. began to lay eggs about three days before, one a day. It was decided that she would have to go on hormone therapy and remain in a dark room for 12 to 14 hours a day. As D.D. was in good spirits, when she settled down for a day at the clinic, she had people from all parts of the clinic coming to play with her. She got to go swimming and she was carried around the clinic. D.D. as always made the best of her day with her new friends. She would have to return for her follow- up visit and another hormone shot on August 27, 2010. I dropped D.D. off in the morning for her check up and hormone shot. She had not laid any eggs since her last visit. When we pulled up, D.D. knew where she was. When checking in, I opened up her house and she quacked, letting everyone know that she was there. D.D. received a good bill of health. D.D.’ 's blood work showed no more signs of infection and she was doing well. She had gained weight and there were no eggs in her canal. When I came to get D.D., she quacked in delight and we headed home. On the drive home, D.D. sat on my lap and fell asleep. It was apparent that D.D. had a busy day and was now dreaming of her day. It amazed me again how this little duck could entwine herself into the hearts of so many. Even Dr. Brock at the teaching hospital had called to check on D.D.’'s progress and indicated that she was available for any advice needed. D.D. had survived another narrow escape with death and seemed to be more determined to discover more of life. Her life style had to change to stop the egg laying but that is okay with her, as she has found new ways to entertain herself. She had to remain in a dark room for 14 hours, which is her regular nighttime, plus four 4 hours. In the evening, she can go to the barn, swim, and run around. She will still be able to go with me to my part- time job and see her friends. Even though D.D.’s life style had to change and she could no longer go with me in the morning, her brightness and zest for life never changed. She continued to amaze me as she watched the birds in the sky, settled in the pond, and followed a butterfly on the flowers around the pond. On D.D.’'s first day back at my part- time job, customers and fellow workers greeted her with enthusiasm. She was delighted with their conversation with her. Many people wanted to know how she was doing and her prognosis. On the way home from work, D.D. settled in my lap and set her head on my arm. I still wondered why this tiny little duck remained so close to my heart. Then I watch her and the answer is clear. Since D.D. had been so sick, she would have to stay at the veterinarian clinic when I went out of town. Marty would no longer be able to babysit D.D. In case she got another infection, it was felt that it would be better for her to stay at the clinic. As D.D. spent time at the clinic, she became a favorite. She was allowed to walk in the treatment area whenever she wanted. She had her own room where her food, water, and bed were kept. She could go in and out of the room as she pleased, eating and drinking when she wanted. It was also the room she had to stay in when her time in darkness began. She seemed to enjoy her the days she spent at the veterinarian clinic, but was always happy to come home. D.D. was doing well and she appeared to have her egg laying under control. D.D. had an innate sense of what people were feeling and when natural occurrences would happen. D.D. had a strong maternal instinct and felt it was one of her jobs to nurture. On one of the occasions, she was at the veterinarian clinic. D.D. began following around one of the technicians that who was pregnant. Every time the technician would sit down, D.D. would make a nest under were she was sitting. She continued with this behavior all day. Everyone kidded the technician that she was going to have her baby. Well, D.D. was right; the technician had her baby that weekend. Christmas 2010 As D.D.’'s second Christmas came around, D.D. had her own stocking with the other employees at Tractor Supply. D.D. celebrated with helping decorate the tree, but the most fun came during wrapping the presents. D.D ran through the wrapping and ribbons. She had ribbon everywhere and all over herself. When the presents were wrapped, D.D. helped with cleaning up by pulling all the scraps of ribbon out of the box. She looked so silly, standing in the middle of ribbon and paper with ribbon draped all over her;, you could not help but laugh which got D.D. quacking and flapping her wings. When cleaning up was successfully completed, D.D. was ready for bed. The next day, D.D. went to the local Petsmart for pictures with Santa Claus. It was the Sunday before Christmas. D.D. and I went over to where the pictures were taken and we waited for her turn to see Santa Claus. It happened that the Ddistrict mManager was in the store, and seeing D.D. with Santa Claus, he asked if he could send her picture to the other stores in the district. Of course, D.D. said yes. People asked if they could have a picture with their pets and D.D. As long as the pets were gentle and contained, D.D. was content to pose for the camera. It was a long day, and on the way home, D.D. slept contently on my lap. When D.D. would climb onto my lap, there was always a feeling of warmth that would envelope you. She always had a scent of warm cotton candy. She never had a wet smell or scent that you smell from down pillows. Her scent was fresh and gave you a warm feeling. There was a feeling of security whenever she sat oin my lap. As 2011 approached, the hormone shots stopped working and D.D. began laying eggs. The darkness alone did not stop D.D.'s continuous egg laying. She received another series of hormone shots but the results were not as successful as the first shots. She only stopped laying eggs for a very short period. Another series was administered, which appeared to be working. D.D. continued with her normal routine. D.D. would turn two years of age on 4/7/11. She had filled her two years with a love for life and making friends everywhere she went. She had customers at Tractor Supply that who would come on the days she was there, just to visit with D.D. She would enjoy their visits when they came in the store and when they checked out at the register. One special couple always came by to see D.D. when they were in the area. They had first met D.D. when they had come down from up north to see their son and daughter-in-law. Their son stated that when his mom and dad come into town and it is a day that D.D. is at the store, they came straight from the airport to say hello. As they were not regular visitors, it amazed everyone to see that D.D. remembered them each time they came. D.D. had a special greeting for her special friends so it was easy to see she remembered. 5/5/11 On May 5, 2011, D.D. began to get sick again. She started losing weight and again had a bacterial infection. D.D. had to stay at the veterinarian clinic for treatment. Even when D.D. was ill, she stayed happy, enjoying her friends and each day. I never failed to marvel at her strength. She was so vibrant and alive;, it was hard to believe she was so ill. In the time D.D. had been alive, her life had been filled with the joy she has given to all the people she has met. As I write this, I thank God for my time I have known D.D. and pray that there would be more time to share with my little friend. I have never looked forward to seeing any pet daily as I do her. I take joy in her daily antics and her amazement and love in all that her life has given her. She gives you strength just to watch her practice flying or watching the planes in the sky. She makes you smile as you watch her tilt her head and look at you with eyes expressing her joy and love for all she sees and those she knows. She is my angel and coames to me when I really needed her. She has been a blessing I cannot describe. Hopefully, D.D. will stay with me for a longer time. As I wrote these thoughts, D.D. was in the hospital fighting to survive. I could hear her quack as I talk to Dr. Newman about her progress. D.D. was able to come home on Saturday, May 7, as Dr. Newman felt she would better recover at home. On the way home, she began to have trouble breathing. I immediately called the clinic and Dr. Newman wanted her to come back. We drove back to the clinic. Upon arriving, D.D. was taken to the back. When Dr. Newman came back out with D.D., he stated that they could find nothing wrong. When another veterinarian stated that he felt that she just wanted to go home, she started to quack. It was apparent D.D. had gotten a little excited so we began the drive home. D.D. arrived home, settled in her bed, and fell fast asleep. The next day, we went to the barn, D.D. could not wait to get out of the truck and run to the barn. She checked out everything, it seemed, just to make sure all was still there. Then she settled into an eating and cleaning frenzy. She prospered at home and continued to get better. The following morning, she walked into her travel house, peeked out the door as if to say,; “"Let’'s go.”" D.D. always is an optimist and struggles to survive. Even though her hospital stay was difficult this time, she had bounced back. She began to gain back her weight and was in good spirits. IV All seemed to be progressing well, and D.D. continued to remain in good health through most of the summer. The days were longer, so at night she was able to stay at the barn longer. She had more time to swim and forage for bugs. She still remained close to where I went and would come and get me when she felt it was time to go home. It had become part of her routine to stop at the McDonald’'s on the days we did not go to Tractor Supply to get a drink. We would pull up to the speaker and D.D. would quack her order. The employee that who worked most nights, if he was there, knew the order was an ice tea sweetened in a large cup and one small cup with ice; the large ice tea for D.D, the small cup for me. D.D. loved to talk to the employees in the window till the ice tea came, then her attentions wasere turned to other endeavors—-playing in the ice tea and eating the ice. When we would arrive home at night, and it was still light outside, D.D. had discovered a Ppalm Ttree on the side yard and loved to spend time catching the bugs around the tree. She sometimes would remain there till the light began to fade and night time was approaching. A new manager had come to Tractor Supply Company, and it was not anytime at all before he was enamored with D.D. Duck. When reviews were given, D.D. scored the highest scores in friendliness with the customers for the second year. Around July of 2011, D.D. began sitting on imaginary eggs. Marty had a goose that had laid eggs, and one of the goose eggs was given to D.D. to sit on. The goose egg was a little larger than her eggs so she had to figure out how to get the egg in the right place. The first time she went to sit on the egg, it came out behind her. She looked at the egg, pushed it in front of her, then sat down and rolled the egg under her with her beak. She would come out to bathe, eat, and visit every day, but would not leave the egg. She began putting her food in front of the egg and talking to the egg as if trying to get the egg to eat. D.D. sat and visited with me every day, but wanted to stay at home to care for her egg. She stayed on the egg for about 28 days then pushed the egg aside. On the 28th day, she got in her carrier and was ready to resume her regular routine. D. D. began to go to the barn and travel around again enjoying her time. She had molted earlier in the summer and her new feathers had a brilliant gold with white edging. Everyone at Tractor Supply Company was glad to see D.D. and she was glad to see her co-workers and friends. Unfortunately, D.D. began showing signs of another infection as she again began laying eggs. She did not have to go to the hospital and was treated at home. She stopped laying eggs this time on her own and was back to good health. All through the Ffall, D.D. saw her friends at Tractor Supply and began going to “"Ducky Day Care”" at the Vveterinary Cclinic every other Wednesday. This was also a precautionary measure so Dr. Newman could check on her, assuring that she was doing well. The Final Chapter On November 11, 2011, D.D. and I went to the barn in the morning. We fed the horses and waited for the equine veterinarian, who was coming to look at a horse with some problems with her stifles, which is the horse’'s knee joint in the hind legs. D.D. was out in the back playing in her pond when the veterinarian arrived. I watched the examination for a while and went to check on D.D. who was now out foraging in the barnyard. I went back and watched the examination for a little ilonger then went back to check on my friend. When I called D.D., she walked over hunched over. She immediately walked to a pile of hay and settled down. She appeared to be trying to lay an egg. After about 10 minutes, she got up and moved away from the nest. She still appeared to have difficulty walking. I looked in the hay and there was an egg that was probably doublie the size of her regular egg. She wanted to sit in her water and seemed relieved as she settled in the water. I immediately called the veterinarian clinic. Dr. Newman was not in, but another veterinarian felt that D.D. had disturbed the nerves in her oviduct, which was causing the paralysis. He said it should pass in a couple of hours. If D.D. did not appear to be improving, call back and he would see her. I1t was about 10:00 a.m. at thate time and as noon time came around, D.D. was no better. I called back to the clinic to tell them D.D. and I were on the way. We got to the clinic and were taken back to an examination room. As D.D. had not gone to the bathroom, she had to have a rectal examination, basically to relieve the pressure so she could go to the bathroom, which she did immediately. This appeared to relieve her. The veterinarian felt her symptoms should be gone by morning. D.D. still could not walk in the morning, so I rushed her back to the clinic and dropped her off as Dr. Newman would be in and would see her. As soon as Dr. Newman arrived at the clinic, he called to see what had happened. I1 explained about the very large egg and the paralysis after laying the egg. He called back as soon as D.D. was examined. It appeared D.D. had another very large egg in her canal and would have to stay the day. D.D.’'s condition had not improve and her blood work showed another infection. The egg would have to be compressed for D.D. to lay the egg successfully. She would have to stay the night at the clinic. Dr. Newman called at the end of the day and indicated that D.D. was resting comfortably. She had been given antibiotics for her infection and some pain medication for her discomfort. The night was a long night without D.D. First thing in the morning, I called to see how D.D. was doing;, she was resting comfortably but still had not passed the egg. The day passed by slowly as I waited to see how my little friend was doing. Around 3:00 in the afternoon, Dr. Newman called and indicated that D.D. was starting to pass the egg, but her condition was not good. He told me that if it were any other bird, he would not give them a chance to survive. He stated that D.D. was a tough girl and he felt that if any bird had a chance, she did. He indicated that I should come to the clinic to see her. I called Tractor Supply to tell them I would not be in that D.D. was in critical condition and I was leaving to go to the veterinarian clinic to be with her. I left work immediately to go to the clinic. On arrival at the clinic, I was put into the examination room and D.D. was brought into the room. She looked tired and sad. When she saw me, she quacked and hobbled over to say hello. I sat on the floor and she climbed onto my lap. One of the technicians brought her some water with crushed ice in case she was thirsty. D.D. sat on my lap and closed her eyes. I sat with her and petted her as she rested. Dr. Newman arrived back at the clinic about an hour later. In that time, D.D. had begun to fight again to survive. She had pushed out much of the egg and had shown interest in the water and ice. When Dr. Newman came in, she greeted him with little quacks. He was happy to see that D.D. was again greeting people, as she had not all day. He left to attend to other patients, and D.D. and I remained in the exam room. D.D. returned to my lap. Another veterinarian, passed by the room and peered in. I heard him comment to someone else in the hall, how much D.D. must love me, and that kind of love could help her to survive. As the hours passed, D.D. became livelier and began to move around. Several technicians came by to see how D.D. was doing. As she moved around, more eggs began to come out. She appeared more alert and livelier. When Dr. Newman came in at the end of the night, he was pleased to see that D.D. had perked up and was up and moving around. He was assured by her change in behavior and believed my time with her had helped her turn the corner. D.D. was taken back for her night medication, and I went home relieved that D.D. had started to improve. D.D. stayed at the clinic all day on Friday. Periodic phone calls from Dr. Newman let me know that D.D. had passed enough of the eggs that they could now help her get rid of the rest of the eggs. He indicated that D.D. was not out of the woods yet and they were unsure if she had any more eggs in her canal. By the end of the day, D.D.’'s condition had significantly improved, and Dr. Newman wanted to release her on Saturday morning, as D.D. always seemed to improve faster at home. She still had to stay the night to ensure she did not have another setback. On Saturday morning, I arrived at the clinic as soon as they opened to get my little friend. Dr. Newman brought D.D. into an examination room and she immediately began to greet me and seemed excited about going home. Dr. Newman stated that they could feel no eggs in her canal and she was given a hormone shot to see if this would stop D.D. from laying any more eggs. He indicated that he wanted D.D. to do whatever made her happy. On D.D.'’s arrival home, she went immediately to her bed and fell fast asleep. While D.D. rested, I went to feed the horses for the evening and came back home to get ready for work. Saturday night was one of D.D.’'s favorite nights at Tractor Supply as everyone worked that day and she could see all her friends. When I arrived home, D.D. was awake and eating. When I was ready to leave for work, D.D. got in her traveling crate ready to go. D.D. left for Tractor Supply. When we arrived, all her co-workers wanted to know how she was doing. D.D. greeted all her friends, then settled down to rest. Many of her friends came by that evening and wanted to know how she was doing. D.D. greeted all her friends. She rested between but got up for all her favorite people. On the way home, D.D. settled ionto my lap, content and sleepy. When D.D. and I would drive home from the barn or work in the evening, she always would sit on my lap. She would take a drink of her water and climb ointo my lap. I would always say to D.D., “"I love you.”" I would repeat it to her several times. Many times, D.D. would respond with three soft one-syllable sounds. I always felt that D.D. was telling me that she loved me also. As we drove home, her warmth and cotton candy smell woulid make me smile. I was glad to have my little friend with me again. D.D. continued to improve and appeared to make a full recovery. She was busy at the barn, catching bugs and swimming. She spent more time going with me as I cleaned the stalls and set out the hay. She ran through the hay and practiced flying. D.D. once more had fought through her illness and made a full recovery. The week after Thanksgiving, I had to go out of town for work for one night and D.D. had to go to the veterinarian. She was in good spirits on Tuesday morning when I dropped her off. I called to see how D.D. was doing as she was still on antibiotics and still sick. I was told that she was doing good and was wandering around the clinic. When I arrived to pick D.D. up on Wednesday afternoon, I1 was told that I needed to come into the back. I froze afraid that D.D. had taken a turn for the worse. Quite to the contrary, D.D. had decided to take over the care of a cat that had come into the clinic that day. When she was let out of her room in the morning, she went directly to the cat’'s cage and sat in front of the cage talking to the cat. The technicians put D.D.’'s food and water and a towel in front of the cage. D.D. settled down for the day talking to the cat, and soon the cat and D.D. were eating together and the cat appeared to be a little perkier. D.D. had a very nurturing nature and she knew the cat needed her special kind of attention and care to get on the road to recovery. When the cat went for treatment, as he had to have his multiple abscesses drained and cleaned, D.D. would leave the cage in search of Dr. Newman. As soon as the cat came back from treatment, D.D. resumed her post outside of his cage. When I came to the back of the clinic, D.D. greeted me with her usual greeting of tilting her head down and quacking in soft tones to say hello and I missed you. She then proceeded to turn toward the cat and tell me all about him. She then settled in front of his cage and resumed her watching over the cat. The cat was taken back for treatment and D.D. and I left for the hour ride home. D.D. had had a long day at the clinic. She watched over the cat, as she knew he was ill and needed her special care. D.D. talked on the way home, telling me about her day. She seemed happy and content. When she finished her chatter, D.D. climbed onto my lap for the rest of the ride and fell fast to sleep. As D.D. recuperated, she could not go out in the evenings and look for bugs. I knew how much D.D. loved the bugs around the palm tree, so I volunteered to forage for her and bring her the bugs. Each night after I got home, I would go to the palm tree and catch bugs for D.D. When I would come back to her room with the bugs, she would look up and see what the hunt had brought. I would dump the bugs in her water and watch her catch them with the enthusiasm I had learned was D.D. When she was done, she would look at me and tilt her head and her beautiful expressive eyes said thank you. The next couple of days, D.D.’s condition again improved and she was off doing her regular daily routines:; going to the barn in the morning and returning home till I came back from work and then off to the barn to play in the pond and forage for bugs. The next week, I1 had off from work. D.D. and I spent every day doing things together. We left in the morning and went to the barn. She would play in the pond and forage for bugs while I rode my horse, Jack, who had been given to me after Harvey had died. After I put my horse away, D.D. would come in the barn and we would spend the next hour together. Sometimes I would just hold her in my lap and other times I would watch her clean and groom herself. On one of the nights at Tractor Supply Company, D.D. was presented with a sock monkey. She immediately began talking to the toy and pushing it around. She was so enamored by the toy;, I purchased the sock monkey for D.D. She would quack at the sock monkey and I would make it follow her. When she was done playing with the sock monkey, she would take him by the arm and sort of toss him in the cornmer of her room, only to go get the monkey. and I would set it against the wall by the tree until she wanted to play with the toy again. As the week came to an end, we went for her yearly visit on Saturday to go see Santa Claus for her Christmas picture. When we arrived at Petsmart, the photographer smiled at D.D. and said," “I thought you were not coming this year.”" I told her that D.D. had been ill but was doing better. I knew how much D.D. liked to come for her visit with Santa Clause. Since she had been doing well, I decided we would come to get her picture taken. She enjoyed her visit and was delighted with all the people that who visited with her at Petsmart. After the visit, we went home and D.D. ate her dinner, settled on her bed of towels, and slept. The following Wednesday, December 21, 2011, D.D. began to lay eggs. She did not appear to be having problems, but I knew she could not continue to lay eggs. On Thursday evening, D.D. began to limp, and by Friday morning, she began to have trouble walking. We immediately went to the clinic. D.D. was given medication for the pain and antibiotics as she again had the beginnings of an infection. Dr. Newman indicated that he did not feel that D.D. could survive much longer without surgery. It was major surgery and complicated. We decided to give D.D. another hormone shot, put her on antibiotics, and set a date for surgery. He told me to let D.D. do anything that made her happy. So, D.D. continued on our regular daily routine. D.D. enjoyed her Christmas Day running through the wrapping paper and getting her picture taken under the tree with the Christmas toys. She had not laid any eggs and appeared to be in good spirits. She went back to the clinic a couple of days after Christmas and her infection appeared to be gone. She would still remain on the antibiotics until surgery. D.D. found and ingratiated the beauty of life and she always wanted to share her discovery with those she loved. Whatever the discovery was, D.D. would look up at you with her soft expressive eyes, inviting you to share in her find. Through her discoveries, she was teaching me and others to remember the beauty of the simple things that life had to give,; to marvel at the beauty and mystery of the birds high in the sky, and watch in appreciation the soundless flight of the butterflies. She was reminding you to take the time to remember all the simple things that had given you pleasure. It was as if D.D. knew her time with her friends was short. She never wasted any of her time. She wanted to share her special knowledge with those she loved. She always found joy in every day. Each new day brought new discoveries and time to be with her friends. D.D. had an undaunting love for life and an indomitable spirit she offered to share. As I began to follow D.D.'’s lead, I began to find the beauty in the simple pleasures in a world that had become too busy to find the time to appreciate. D.D. slowly brought the world back into focus, and the beauty D.D. showed me became alive. On Thursday, December 29, 2011, D.D. and I went to work at Tractor Supply. It seemed that everyone that D.D. knew came into the store. When hearing about the upcoming surgery, many customers patted her and wished us good luck. One of her favorite customers came in that night. He always came to see D.D. as she brightened his day. He had some physical problems and always said that D.D. gave him the courage to keep going on. After all, if a little duck could fight her illnesses and keep quacking, he should be able to continue on with life. He and his wife took pictures of D.D. as she stood on the counter so he could pet and talk to her. She rubbed her head up his arm. When Tim left for the night, he bent down and told D.D. to take care and he rubbed her head. He leaned over and told me to take care of his little friend. D.D. enjoyed her night and, as always, climbed ontoin my lap for the ride home. I told her I loved her and she softly quacked her three one- syllable sounds in response. December 30, 2011 The following morning, we left early for the barn. D.D. played in the pond and looked for bugs, while I fed the horses. Then we left and headed for the clinic. We arrived at the clinic around 7:30 a.m. D.D. was in great spirits. She quacked talking to all her friends at the clinic. She kissed Tawnya, the veterinary technician, on the cheek. Then it was time for her to go and prepare for surgery. She was scheduled for 10:00 a.m. D.D. set her head on my shoulder and kissed my cheek before she left, which was customary for her when she was staying at the clinic. It was as if she was saying, “"I'll see you later.”" I watched her go back behind the doors and turned to leave. It would be a long tedious day waiting for news about my little friend. Around 10:00 a.m., the clinic called saying that surgery would not start until around 1:00 p.m. as another surgery was taking longer. They would call as soon as the surgery was to begin. Around 2:30 p.m., Tawnya called to let me know that the surgery was just beginning. I1 prayed for D.D. during the time of the surgery, asking that she would have no pain and be safe. I do not think;, I breathed until the call came around 3:15 that D.D. had made it through the surgery and was standing up. Dr. Newman indicated that the surgery was more complicated. D.D.’'s oviduct was enlarged, infected, and the very vascular. There were eggs in the oviduct and outside of the oviduct. The next 48 hours were crucial. D.D. was not out of the woods. I prayed to ask God to let me see my little friend again. Dr Newman called around 4:00 to let me know that D.D. was resting well. He would call before he left for the evening. At 5:30, Dr. Newman called and said that D.D. was holding her own. He felt that she should go home tomorrow, as D.D. always seemed to recover faster in her home environment. December 31, 2011 When I called the clinic, the veterinarian on call for the weekend said that D.D. was up and could be released. I arrived at the clinic and waited in one of the examining rooms for D.D. When she came in the room, she instantly did her greeting and got in her traveling crate to go home. When we got in the truck, D.D. wanted out of the crate and sat beside me. She never stopped being D.D. D.D. did not make it home;, we had to go back to the clinic as D.D. began to have difficulty breathing. She went back into the crate and was rushed back to the treatment room. It felt like hours had passed before the veterinarian came into the room. When she told me D.D. had passed away, I1 felt my heart tear. My little friend and angel was gone. Tawnya brought her into the room. I held her and cried. Tawnya told me D.D. had died on her own. D.D. just had to say goodbye. The clinic (Tawnya) made a coffin for D.D., and she was wrapped in a baby quilt. D.D. is buried at the barn by the gate where she loved to hunt bugs. A plumbago bush is planted on the top of her grave so the butterflies can visit her grave. That evening when I fed the horses and walked alone into the barn, I1 stopped and looked at D.D.’'s grave. When I looked up, I1 saw D.D. in the isle with her head cocked to the side. I could not move. She slowly moved away. I completed my chores and left the barn. On my ride homrne, as I turned down the road leading to my house, I1 felt a pressure on my leg. I could feel the warmth and the cotton candy smell that was D.D. D.D. was going home. I cried, then smiled; my little friend was telling me it was okay. She was giving me comfort in the same way she did when Harvey passed away. I knew D.D. would be okay. D.D. was finally homrne. There is nothing better than a D.D. duck A Feather Ffor My Friend To D.D.'’s true form, she would only want the best for those she loved. In writing D.D.’'s story, the last chapter was very difficult. It seemed, I could never find the right words to finish her story. I questioned if what I1 was doing was right. I sat quietly in front of the computer and looked at D.D.’'s picture. I asked D.D. if this was what she would have wanted. I1 needed to know if it was okay. It was Sunday night 2/25/12. I shut down the computer for the night. I had long since cleaned and vacuumed my truck, and the only signs of D.D. were the three feathers that where always clipped to the visor. Saturday night at Tractor Supply, I had gotten a long sleeve shirt to wear in my office, as the office was always cold. I had folded the shirt and left it on the front passenger seat. On Monday morning, I got in the truck and as I was leaving to go to feed the horses, I looked over at the passenger seat with the shirt. There was a golden and white feather on top of the collar of the shirt. The three feathers were still attached to the visor. I picked up the feather and could feel the warmth and smell of cotton candy that was my little friend. D.D. was letting me know it was okay to tell her story. I knew the words would find their way to the page. My eyes filled with tears as I thanked D.D. one more time. From the Friends of D.D. Duck Believe it or not I was never fortunate enough to meet D.D. Duck in person. Even so, I will never forget her. I first heard of D.D. when she presented to an emergency clinic several hours away. She was struggling to breathe and she was too far away to make the trip to the hospital where I worked. I discussed the case with the emergency veterinarian who was on duty where D.D. was. We worked together on trying to discover what was causing her to struggle to breathe. It was already quite late, but through the evening, I received calls updating me on how D.D. was doing and as test results came in. Fortunately, D.D. began to improved somewhat as the sun came up. It was as though she knew that many people still needed the unique friendship that she offered and that her work was not done. As the months after that dreadful night passed, Kathy kept me updated on D.D.'s progress. It was clear D.D. was a unique patient. I told my technicians and the other doctors at my hospital about D.D. and it was not unusual for the technicians to ask if I had received any recent updates. I think this just speaks to the way that D.D. was able to touch the lives of people both near and far, even some who never had the opportunity to meet her. Sincerely Paige Brock DVM D.D. Duck was an amazing creature. From the moment I met her I knew there was something special about her. There was this sparkle in her eye that held a special secret, like she knew things we humans did not know. She would always have a “"Quack”" to say when I was talking. When I would laugh about something, she would laugh right along with me like she got the jokes as well. If I was having a bad day, she always had a feather or two to lend to dry my tears. I would hear people say, “"Oh, it’'s just a duck,”" but D.D. was more than just a duck. She was a friend to all. She had a big personality and a heart bigger than Texas. I would kneel down and always tell her, “"You're one in a million!”" I will truly miss her deeply for years to come. I know she now has her angel wings in her pretty khaki/caramel color. She is watching over us all now. Daisy Weston, co-worker (Tractor Supply) D.D. was special. I started to realize this when hearing from Kathy about her behavior. However, any doubt that lingered were was dispelled when I met her. It was uncanny to see her respond when Kathy introduced her to me. She turned her head and looked at me as if she was evaluating me. Soon, she seemed to agree with Kathy’'s thoughts of me and she wrapped her head and neck around my arm greeting me. She appeared to be paying attention as I spoke to her. I realized that she was that special friend that Kathy needed at that time. Miss D.D. was indeed special. I will never forget her. It was a privilege to know her. Maria Valladares, friend. I have fallen madly in love with D.D. Duck and I love her history. I am highly grateful that you gave me the opportunity to lend my talent to your vision. Words, typed or spoken, cannot express how sorry I am that D.D. is no longer with us, but she most definitely lives on through this book and in the hearts of those who were blessed to have known her. Her picture hangs on the wall and looks over me, like a guardian angel (who quacks). Again, thank you for bringing D.D. into my life. Marcus Robinson, illustrator/friend I cannot think of words adequate enough to describe the sadness I felt in hearing of D.D.'’s passing. She had more personality than anything else her size. I1 will miss her dearly. Raphael, technician D.D. touched many others and me with her toddler- like enjoyment for life. She greeted everyone with an open heart. She would look up at you with this sweet face, gentle smile and you could not help but feel the love in her eyes-—like you hung the moon and sun just for her. She knew right where her bed was and she would put herself down for a nap after doing her daily rounds curiously checking on all the different species and sick animals at our hospital. I am sure you can see why I enjoyed taking a moment out of a hectic day to de-stress and just be with her and waddle around the room together. She is greatly missed by all at the hospital. Tawnya, technician Please accept my most sincere sympathies regarding the loss of D.D. Duck. There never has been, nor will be, another like her. She was fortunate to have had such a loving home. I was fortunate to have known an angel. She will be missed. Andy Newman, DVM To D.D. Duck, I'’m so glad that you were a part of my life. I will always remember the nights at Tractor Supply. No matter what mood I1 was in when your mom, Kathy, would bring you in, you would always make me smile. It was so funny to watch you play in the water that my daughter would bring to you to drink. I will never forget you, D.D. Duck. Thanks for all the great memories. Love, Emily, Bruce, Kristin, Nicholas and Kyle Emily Cottrell, co- worker and friend D.D. made a difference to me because I never had a connection with an animal since I was a child. My dog, Shadow, found me just like D.D. found Kathy. Just like Shadow wanted to be with me, D.D. wanted to be with Kathy. When I first met D.D., I spoke to her in Spanish. At first, she looked at me and then to Kathy as if to say, “"What is he crazy?”" but she finally began to understand and know me. She would let me give here snacks and water. It made a difference in the store when D.D. was there. Xavier Martinez, co-worker and friend D.D. was nearly dead when I first met her. Kathy had come into the store for work and had gone to the ducklings and saw one duckling in trouble. D.D. was squashed into the bedding of the cage under the gallon water jug. I did not think she would make it through the night. Many others shared that same opinion, but Kathy had faith and hope in her heart and took her home and nursed her with love back to health. Everyone was amazed to see her and she became bedrock at the company-—people came in to see D.D. more than any of the other employees. I had the blessing to duck-sit on occasion. My kids would walk D.D. around the yard, especially after a summer rain when the swales would fill with water. D.D. loved to play in the water as much as my kids. My son, Dillon, selflessly saved her life once when a water moccasin was in the water. He ran and quickly took D.D. up. I was about to chastise such rough treatment of D.D. until he told me there was a snake, and sure enough, he was right. D.D. tended to inspire such acts, you know, the selfless ones that makes the heart feel good. One of my all- time favorite D.D. Duck stories was on another such walk. New neighbors had just moved into the neighborhood a few houses down. They had complained to my mother-in-law, who lived across from them, there were wild animals around, like pigs, deer, and raccoons. They were from the city and they must have really felt out of sorts in their new environment. I put on my cut-off jeans, put my hair in a ponytail, and proceeded down the road with D.D to introduce myself. The woman’'s jaw nearly hit the ground, but she partly recovered and managed to stammer out introductions. Then D.D. and I1 left. My mother-in-law came to dinner later and told me that I scared that poor woman. We laughed. I then informed her that what our neighbor was really scared of was my web- footed swamp cat named D.D. Duck. There was more laughter. The next day, our new neighbor had a crew put in a nice 6-foot high fence around her yard. I wonder if she ever figured out that ducks can fly and that 6 feet might not be enough. It was hard to figure out what to write about D.D. She would look with the same wonder that a young child would at the soaring flight of birds and planes. She watched in amazement at the thunderous display of fireworks on the fFourth of July. I have never seen a more wonderful animal. She is an inspiration, and it hurts my heart to look at a world she no longer is part of, but it warms my soul to have been touched by her spirit and that is a very good thing. Marty Burke, co-worker and special friend Epilogue Time has passed since D.D. Duck has passed away. There remains a sorrow and emptiness in my heart for my constant companion. When I held her on her final day, I prayed for a miracle to bring her back. People who knew her, customers and workers, when they found out about her passing, cried or became silent. One gentleman, who I do not know his name, came into the store and asked how little D.D. was doing. He was shocked when he heard she had passed away. He turned and began to walk away but turned around and hugged me. He said I will never know how many lives little D.D. had touched. He told me there are some pets you love and there are those special ones you are in love with. She was special. He looked at his birds differently since he met D.D. Duck. D.D.’ 's life was a miracle. She struggled to survive, but never let you know. She gave her heart to all that she loved and you could not help but to leave a piece of your heart with her. Through all her struggles, she never stopped being D.D. On the day D.D. passed away, I prayed for a miracle. In my prayers, I learned that the 2 1/2 years that D.D. was with me was the miracle. D.D. was the miracle I prayed for. I1 was fortunate to have been able to share in her life. There is not an end to D.D.’'s story. She will continue to live in the hearts of all those who knew her. Her legacy was not her golden feathers, but the love, strength, and compassion she gave to others. There is nothing better than a D.D. Duck., Until we meet again. I love you and thank you D.D. Duck. Kathy Branen