A Lesson from a Deer

"A wounded deer leaps the highest" 
Emily Dickenson

A few days ago, a deer walked out into the middle of a shallow point in the Maumee River.  It has been unseasonably warm here, and the ice on the river was breaking up.  Unfortunately, after he got half way across, the river refroze around him and he became trapped in ice up to his knees.  Local rescue groups could not help him; they didn't have the equipment needed and it would have put lives at risk to make the attempt.  Food was thrown to him but birds got it before he could.  It was agonizing and heartbreaking to watch his struggle and to see him get weaker.  The situation seemed hopeless.

The next morning however, much to everyone's amazement and happiness, the ice became slushy, and the deer was able to break his way free and make it to shore.  After 36 hours of no food and standing in freezing water, the deer somehow mustered an inner strength and saved himself.  My husband texted me: 

"Even with great struggle and despair, there can be hope!" 

That deer and my husband's words sort of symbolized what it is like to live with dysautonomia. Somehow watching the deer struggle under the most dire of conditions, and knowing the inner strength and resolve it took for him to fight for his life gave me a feeling of renewed hope at a time when I had started to lose it and  to think that this ordeal with POTS will never end.

I have been thinking of that deer a lot since then and telling myself to "Buck up!" (pun intended!) and re-focus on what I CAN do and quit feeling sorry for myself because I have a chronic illness.

I tried to come up with a clever line about how a deer and my dear (husband) have inspired me here but I have POTS brain tonight and nothing is coming to mind! 

If you are feeling low, I hope you'll remember this deer's story and be inspired.