Owls and Alzheimer's

 

By Nancy Cowing Umphres

 

In the January edition of Zapata Wild I told you about a barn owl named Kevin who had been caught on a barb wire fence. The damage to his wings looked serious to the two Texas Parks & Wildlife game wardens who came to his rescue. It was dark when I arrived on the scene, and I must admit it looked very grim. We had to cut the wire on both sides of the owl, and I rushed him to Dr. Sam Bottenfield.

The barn owl was very lucky and had very little damage to his wings. A few weeks of hospital care and antibiotics, plus another two weeks of outside rehabilitation, and Kevin was more than ready to go. He had been the perfect patient during his hospital stay. He tolerated his twice-daily medication and wound care with quiet dignity. At night I could hear him hooting for his mate and freedom.

Within a month, Kevin was ready for release, and was becoming more agitated as his health improved. He knew he was ready and let me know it on his last examination. As I sucked the blood from the angry nip he had given my finger and prepared a pet taxi for his release, I received a call from the Falcon Lake Nursing Home.

My father has been a resident of our local nursing home for the past two years due to Alzheimer's disease. Having to put him in a nursing home was one of the most difficult decisions our family has had to make, but thanks to the compassionate staff and the excellent crew at the Zapata emergency clinic, our lives are a lot more bearable.

The nurse had called to tell me my father had fallen and cut his head. He would need stitches and x-rays. As I rushed out the door, I promised the owl that I would return soon for his release. He gazed at me with large yellow eyes and calmly proceeded to eat the mouse I had given him.

It's impossible to reason with a person with Alzheimer's, so trips to the emergency room and doctor's visits can become quite an ordeal both physically and mentally, and this trip was no exception.

We battled the demons of past war trauma, childhood memories, and overall rage while trying to get the medical attention he needed. The patience of the entire staff, who have become very familiar with my father's needs over the years, finally paid off, and we were able to complete all the medical attention he required.

My father and I were both exhausted and were recovering in our little curtained cubicle from the last round of combative x-rays. I stood by his bed and held his hand. We made eye contact and gave a long mutual sigh and both burst out laughing till the tears came. It was a strange surreal moment of communication that hasn't been repeated, and sad to say, probably never will.

The next morning, I left early with Kevin in his pet taxi. I needed to rush to get back to the nursing home. My father had a doctor's appointment in Laredo and I was going to ride in the ambulance with him. I returned near the spot where we had found the owl, and opened the door to the cage. It's always a glorious sight to see an animal return to the wild. but somehow this one seemed special.

The years of dealing with the trials and tribulations of Alzheimer's seemed to fade away for that short moment as I indulged in the sight of the barn owl disappearing into the distance. I felt somehow refreshed and rejuvenated. I turned the truck around and headed back toward reality, ready to face the next round.

In the years my father has been a resident at the Falcon Lake Nursing Home, he has been treated with respect, kindness, affection, and patience by the staff. The atmosphere is close and caring, with the welfare and happiness of the residents their top priority.

A day doesn't go by that I am not thankful that we have such a home in our town. The dedication it takes to work in a nursing home is immeasurable, but to make it more like a home environment is true commitment.

 

(The Zapata Wildlife Rescue Center can be contacted by mail at 6812 STOP 68A, Zapata , TX 78076-2913 , by phone at (956) 765-8526, or e-mail at dreams@zapata.border.net. Those interested in visiting should call ahead for directions.)