~ On the 31st March 2018, it broke our hearts to say goodbye to our beloved Marybelle ~
Below are some special words for a very special donkey...
This is without doubt one of the hardest posts we've had to compose... we have truly dreaded writing these words. We make no apologies if the following seems a little over the top, we can assure you it doesn’t come close to articulate how we are feeling...
It is with deep sadness that we have to tell you we said goodbye to Marybelle yesterday morning, our special lady, our matriarch of Flicka, it is an understatement to say she has been a joy, a privilege and right now we cannot believe she isn't with us anymore...
Marybelle came to us in 2008, just a few weeks after we lost our wonderful founder Mary Berryman. The name Marybelle was in her memory. She came at a time when we were questioning whether we had the heart or emotional stamina to do animal welfare, the fight was dwindling and we felt jaded with all that we dealt with, then along came a little donkey so weak and frail a breeze would have knocked her off her feet, but she had something inside, an inner strength that glowed. She was so ill; we took each hour at a time, if we ever left her side for a moment we never knew whether she was going to quietly slip away. But she didn’t and she fought to be here. Her acceptance of all that had happened to her, the treatment she endured and that wonderful stoic nature was awe inspiring.
Marybelle reminded us why we do what we do, however much something hurts our hearts it is not about us, it’s about them, it’s not about our feelings it’s about their welfare, their comfort and well-being and if they can take what life meets out to them, the least we can do is make it better, improve it from this point onwards and put aside how it grieves us and hurts us to see them suffer. It wasn’t for us to indulge our emotional pain, it was for us to do something positive and make a difference to one life. Marybelle’s courage and character taught us so much. She epitomises Flicka and we are going to find it incredibly hard to accept The Flicka Foundation without her, but we know there is another Marybelle just around the corner and, because of her, they will find sanctuary with us.
In 2016 Marybelle lost her bonded soul-mate Primrose, it was hard and we feared how it would affect her, but what helped was having Jasper, a friend to both girls, Marybelle’s attachment to Jasper grew and she seemed happy again. Then tragedy struck again in 2017, we lost Jasper, he was a very elderly boy in his late 40’s... this loss was devastating for Marybelle, she went off her food and we were very worried she would not recover. Lonely was there in the wings and although she followed him everywhere, we always felt Marybelle never fully recovered from her grief, there was always an air of sadness about her.
After her latest veterinary procedure on her teeth, which we had no choice but to have carried out, it was as if she had had enough, the fight was gone, there were other physical deteriorations, her poor body was worn out. The only comfort we can take is she is now with her special soul-mates Primrose and Jasper. We can never fully know how deeply they grieve, just like people, there is no time scale, but we have felt for quite some time now that Marybelle carried heartache with her every day.
It is with deep sadness that we have to tell you we said goodbye to Marybelle yesterday morning, our special lady, our matriarch of Flicka, it is an understatement to say she has been a joy, a privilege and right now we cannot believe she isn't with us anymore...
Marybelle came to us in 2008, just a few weeks after we lost our wonderful founder Mary Berryman. The name Marybelle was in her memory. She came at a time when we were questioning whether we had the heart or emotional stamina to do animal welfare, the fight was dwindling and we felt jaded with all that we dealt with, then along came a little donkey so weak and frail a breeze would have knocked her off her feet, but she had something inside, an inner strength that glowed. She was so ill; we took each hour at a time, if we ever left her side for a moment we never knew whether she was going to quietly slip away. But she didn’t and she fought to be here. Her acceptance of all that had happened to her, the treatment she endured and that wonderful stoic nature was awe inspiring.
Marybelle reminded us why we do what we do, however much something hurts our hearts it is not about us, it’s about them, it’s not about our feelings it’s about their welfare, their comfort and well-being and if they can take what life meets out to them, the least we can do is make it better, improve it from this point onwards and put aside how it grieves us and hurts us to see them suffer. It wasn’t for us to indulge our emotional pain, it was for us to do something positive and make a difference to one life. Marybelle’s courage and character taught us so much. She epitomises Flicka and we are going to find it incredibly hard to accept The Flicka Foundation without her, but we know there is another Marybelle just around the corner and, because of her, they will find sanctuary with us.
In 2016 Marybelle lost her bonded soul-mate Primrose, it was hard and we feared how it would affect her, but what helped was having Jasper, a friend to both girls, Marybelle’s attachment to Jasper grew and she seemed happy again. Then tragedy struck again in 2017, we lost Jasper, he was a very elderly boy in his late 40’s... this loss was devastating for Marybelle, she went off her food and we were very worried she would not recover. Lonely was there in the wings and although she followed him everywhere, we always felt Marybelle never fully recovered from her grief, there was always an air of sadness about her.
After her latest veterinary procedure on her teeth, which we had no choice but to have carried out, it was as if she had had enough, the fight was gone, there were other physical deteriorations, her poor body was worn out. The only comfort we can take is she is now with her special soul-mates Primrose and Jasper. We can never fully know how deeply they grieve, just like people, there is no time scale, but we have felt for quite some time now that Marybelle carried heartache with her every day.
You are so, so special Marybelle. It is easy to talk about ‘broken hearts’, but there is an ache that will never go away, the ragged edges and rawness of loss pales, but we will carry your spirit and legacy always. If love and tears could have kept you with us, you would be here forever. Dear darling sweetheart, God bless you and keep you safe, you deserve nothing but the best and you have surely secured a front seat in heaven. We will miss you every day - always. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
~ Marybelle enjoying sanctuary life with her special bonded friends Primrose, Jasper & Lonely ~
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~ Marybelle enjoying a sunny day at the sanctuary - relaxed, happy and content. ~ |
