My little hero, Pokey - his story - finally

 
Once again, here is my little hero, Pokey. He's the one on the left having a visit from a friend of his named Frankie.

Finally, I'm going to tell you why this little guy is my hero.

I was diagnosed with Secondary Progressive MS in January of 1998. I became very ill very fast. I went from being a relatively healthy woman who walked and exercised and danced every day to someone who could barely stay awake from the excruciating fatigue and weakness and pain of the onslaught of the MS.

I was depressed and felt sorry for myself. I had reached a point where I pretty much stayed upstairs in my bed. Going up and down the stairs was too much for me.

And then somewhere in that time frame (about 8 years ago now), Pokey came into my life.
His "mom" wrote in on one of my bird email groups I am on looking for a replacement mirror for him. I wrote and asked her what type of mirror she wanted.

She wrote back and told me of his story. Pokey is an old Cockatiel. He's had a bit of a rough life until he got back together with his original mom. He has arthritic and deformed little feet. He had a right to give up and just die if he wanted. But no. You see, Pokey had this mirror he used. Not just any mirror. It was just perfect for what he needed it for. It was surrounded with yellow plastic and had just enough of a "lip" on it that Pokey could climb up on it and stand. He would use his beak to push the mirror around his cage floor and it took him awhile but once he got it to where he wanted to go, then he would climb up on it and stand and watch the world.

His mom, Sherry, tell this story far better than I do. But suffice it to say as I was reading her story about Pokey and his courage, tenacity, and will to live, it struck me like a bolt of lightning.

Suddenly I felt humility and shame. How could *I* give up so easily and not try to go on and make the best of things in my life when this little trooper in feathers was conducting his life proudly, bravely and succesfully on top of a 4x4 piece of glass and plastic?

Well, needless to say, we all did some scouting around and found Pokey a new mirror. And me? I decided that day that I was going to dig deep within myself and become known for being resourceful and for having the attitude as Oprah used to say , "Keep on Keeping On".

We all have our crosses to bear in this life. Some more than others, some sooner than later, but at some point we all face our foes.

Pokey made me realize that as long as you have breath in you, you can't just lay down and give up. There were people dying of cancer and other illnesses. All I had was MS. I just had to find *my* "mirror".

Pokey is obviously much older today and I am happy to say is still with us at age 26. I say with "us" because there are some of us who have adopted him into our hearts. I'm one.

Pokey gave me courage and a new attitude by his example when nothing or no one else had been able to. He was sent by God, of that I am certain.

But then, I believe that Cockatiels are angels hidden in feathers, so there you are.

Pokey, you will always be my hero....