Tuesday 10th November............back to the vets. He was pleased and surprised that Freebie looked so well and had put on weight. We were however all still very sceptical about if she had any sight. Her right eye was half open, and her left was still tightly shut. We agreed that as she was doing so well we would carry on as we were for the moment - the hope being that if the left eye did open, it may have some sight. We went home smiling that day.

  Later in the week l recieved a call from Judy, a lady who had a lot of experience with hens and wanted to reserve four from the next rescue on December 5th.We got to talking about Freebie and amazingly this lady offered her a home and a companion in that she has a tiny fragile hen who lives in her conservatory. Wonderful news and definitely worth serious consideration.
  I thought about it for some time and also discussed it with Robert before asking the vets advice. He was of the opinion that this would be Freebie's best chance. That evening l tried to get in touch with Judy but wasn't able to, so decided to call the next morning. Unfortunately everything had to be put on hold because overnight the right side of Freebie's face had ballooned and so we were off to the vets again.

  He decided her only chance was to keep her in and try to remove as much pus as possible from both sides of her face. It was a very long day but at 4pm we arrived back at the practice to see what had happened. Freebie's cheeks were both cut open -the normal pus had been drained from the right side of her face and a solidified mass removed from the left. We were to take her home and keep the wounds open to allow any more pus to drain out. Easier said than done when the little hen did not
want us to do this.... and who could blame her! We did our best though.

Now it was time to get in touch with Judy and expain what had happened.
  She was already aware of Freebie's walking problems and the fact that she has little or no sight. This new turn of events meant that Freebie's future was even less certain because she could well have to have this procedure on a regular basis. I could not believe Judy's response. She was still willing to give Freebie a home. In fact this had endeared her even more. Judy had already told me Freebie was meant to be hers because the rescue had been on her birthday!

  Freebie's next appointment at the vets was on Friday 20th. Judy was going to come with us and if all was well, she would take the little hen home with her. The vet was happy with her face and showed Judy how to keep the wound open.
 
  So this wonderful lady to whom l shall be forever grateful now has our beautiful Freebie in her care. She will be posting updates in "The Further Adventures of Freebie". So, if you would like to know more please look at Freebie's topic on the FAL forum. I for one cannot believe that there has been as happy an outcome to this story as there has been. I still have the picture in my mind of that awful day when even my determination to do something to help little Freebie seemed just a desperate empty hope.

Miracles do happen.....sometimes!!!!!!!!!!!!

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