Tiny Tim's Diary

TINY TIM'S DIARY Please click on the thumbnails below to see a larger picture! *Photos may not be copied without permission.
08/13/08: RIP our little Tiny Tim. We love you - always. I BELIEVE by Diamond Rio Every now and then, soft as breath upon my skin. I feel you come back again. And its like you haven't been gone a moment from my side. Like the tears were never cried. Like the hands of time are holding you and me. And with all my heart I'm sure were closer than we ever were. I don't have to hear or see, I've got all the proof I need. There are more than angels watching over me. I believe, I believe. That when you die your life goes on. It doesn't end here when you're gone. Every soul is filled with light. It never ends and if I'm right. Our love can even reach across eternity. I believe, I believe. Forever, you're a part of me. Forever, in the heart of me. And I'll hold you even longer if I can. The people who don't see the most. Say that I believe in ghosts. And if that makes me crazy, then I am. Cause I believe. There are more than angels watching over me. I believe, I believe. Diamond Rio
Tiny Tim would like to ask all humans to please take care of the horses. He doesn't want any baby or horse to live in the filth he lived in or know the pain he endured. He is in a better place now but I am sure he is very proud of those that are helping with the shelter that is being built in his honor. As Tiny Tim would say - "GOD BLESS US EVERYONE!"
Some Fans of Barbaro (FOB's) have started a fund in memory of Tiny Tim. There are two babies here that were considered "throw away's" by others, Aaleyah Belle and Buttercup. These babies are being raised by Aaleyah's mom, Momma Sue. The 3 of them have become a family unit and it is warm and refreshing to watch them interact. Aaleyah has undergone extensive surgery for a wry nose. She has a huge will, like Tiny Tim did, and determination, to live. She has overcome many, many odds. Read about her, Buttercup, and Momma Sue by clicking here. Momma Sue and the girls have been living in the barn and the barn paddock. Momma Sue and Aaleyah have a 12 x 24 birthing stall - what we call the "suite." Buttercup has a 12 x 12 stall across from them. But the girls are growing each day and this family unit needs their own place. It is becoming increasingly unsafe for them, and the humans, at the barn. We have a 2.5 acre pasture for them but it has no shelter. Tiny Tim's House fund is meant to provide a 24 x 24 shelter for Momma and the girls. Once Tiny Tim's House is built, a plaque will go on it that will list the names of those that helped to make it possible. This House will be filled with love and compassion. If you would like to help you can make a donation through our "Donate" page and we ask that you also send us an email or call us to let us know that the funds are for Tiny Tim's House.
Our sincere appreciation goes out to everyone that sent prayers, good thoughts, and donations to help this little guy. And to those that networked for us and sent out updates - thank you for putting up with us at all hours of the day and night. We made a great team - with the best interest of the horse at heart. We didn't have the outcome we wanted but we all know we gave it our best. Our final act of love was the hardest - but the kindest.
Caring professionals with a passion for helping horses that we were very blessed to have worked with. They wanted, just as bad as we did, for Tiny Tim to have an opportunity to live a long and pain free life. Thank you Roy, Stacey, and Sue.
08/13/08: Tiny Tim’s team came out to change his cast and take x-rays. After the x-rays were taken, they proceeded to remove the cast. Tiny Tim had developed an infection that had overtaken his leg and spread out towards his skin. At no time, did he have a temperature and this was not expected at all. After consulting with 2 vets we knew that there was nothing more that could be done for him, the infection was too extensive. Tiny Tim crossed "Rainbow Bridge" at 5:45 pm surrounded by his mom, his medical team, me, and my family. He knew the soft touch of loving hands, soft whispers of kindness and the compassionate hearts that tried to grant him the future he so deserved. This decision was not taken lightly and everything that could be done was done for him. Unfortunately, an infection that was unknown to all had begun and showed its face. His body had been fighting a very bad case rain rot and sores from the very unsanitary conditions he had been living in before he came to BH. This baby loved life and did not want to die. I felt his last breath on my cheek and my hand felt his last heartbeat as I held him tightly while he crossed. Five times I thought I'd felt his last heart beat. It would stop - but in a few seconds it started again - then there was a pause - 5 times. This little guy wanted to live. He deserved to live. Tiny Tim lived the majority of his life in pain yet he was full of curiosity and brought smiles to our faces. He never got to run and play with other babies. He was a bundle of joy and love and certainly did not deserve to suffer or to die. Even though Tiny Tim has left this earth, he will remain forever alive in our hearts. He is now buried on Frosty's Knoll beside our sweet Nicky.	We love you, Tiny Tim, always.
08/09/08: Today a named was chosen for this precious little colt that had such a strong will to live - Tiny Tim.
We learned that before arriving at the rescue on August 6th, Tiny Tim had gone for days with a broken leg before a vet was called in. Then, when the vet examined him it was determined he needed surgery - the other option was euthanization. The owner said he did not have the money for either. So mom and baby were tucked away in a stall of filth for days. We were alerted to the situation the very day that a local rendering service was scheduled to pickup the baby in the afternoon - after he would be shot in the head in front of his mother. Someone that knew of the baby before we did, alerted us to the situation, and asked that the baby be turned over along with his mom. They arrived only a couple of hour later. Tiny Tim had been born in a field with other horses and cows. It's likely possible that his mom broke his tiny leg while defending him from the other horses. No matter how it happened - leaving this baby in pain and suffering for any amount of time when something could have been done was unacceptable.
08/08/08: The baby was bright eyed this morning and seemed to be in good spirits. Roy and his associate, Stacey, arrived and we went to work. We looked at the leg after reviewing the x-rays and consulting with a vet. The soft cast from the day before was removed. There was some swelling which was to be expected. After assessing the leg it was rewrapped in a manner to give him a bit more support as well as use of his knee. We took advantage of the time and cleaned and treated his many sores and rain rot. His poor little body had lived in a stall full of poop and pee and no shavings for a few days before he arrived here. When he woke up he was still a bit groggy and we didn't pester him but we did keep a close eye on him to make sure he was ok. We decided to try casting the baby and then removing the cast in about 4 days. X-rays would be taken to once again assess the fracture. The fracture had compromised the growth plate so we hope and pray that casting will help and surgery wont' be necessary.
Roy and his associates would return the next day and apply a hard cast. We had a team put together to work for this baby and we were all determined to help him. Prayers were answered.
08/07/08: We went to the hospital bright and early. There was an emergency ahead of us so we had to wait awhile. In the afternoon the doctor came out to tell me what to expect. He took me to a waiting area where I could watch. The baby was put under anesthesia and they doctor tried to reset the fracture. He came out and told me he was able to manipulate some but not enough. He offered to euthanize the baby then. After thinking about some of the research I'd done beforehand and some real life experiences from other horse owners, and following my gut instinct, I asked him to wrap the leg back up and get him and his mom ready to go back to the rescue. If nothing else could be done I at least wanted him to leave this world surrounded by love and knowing kindness. I wanted him to have at least one opportunity to be turned out with his mom without any cause for alarm by other horses. I wanted him to lay in the grass and enjoy the sunshine for just a bit. While waiting for them to be loaded into the trailer I did some praying and asked for help - then it came to me. I called someone and asked them to search the Ocala area for a company that does prosthetics for horses and one was found! That gave us hope. This little guy is full of life and curiosity.	Arriving at the hospital. Trying to reset the broken leg.
Something that we won't do is keep a suffering horse here, on this earth, for our sake. Nor will we take the life of a horse for the sake of what other humans may think or say. Facts are needed to make a decision and we didn't feel we had all of the facts to euthanize this little guy - it just wasn't right. I spoke with the owner of the company, Roy, and felt that indeed, we did have another path to try. We made arrangements for him to come out the next day to look at the fracture and see if he could offer another course of action.
08/06/08: We received a call today about a 2-week-old colt that was going to be shot. He had sustained a broken leg many days before that went untreated. We offered to pay for him to be euthanized by the vet vs. shot in front of his mom by the local rendering company. The owner offered to let us have the baby and borrow the mother. They arrived at the farm looking worn for the worst. The mom is a big girl, and the baby is a very little colt. He was full of rain rot and sores all over his body - even his face. His disposition was good despite his condition. His mom was filthy - she still had remnants of afterbirth on her. It was apparent that the baby had not had much handling by humans, or if he did, the handling had not been kind or gentle. We had our vet come out and examine the baby to see how bad the fracture was. His leg had been broken at the bottom of the canon bone.
Word went out to the Fans of Barbaro and other groups and support came pouring in. What a blessing it was to have the peace of mind knowing that we had the ability, with the help of many caring people, to help this baby. We opted to take the baby into the hospital the next morning to see if the fracture could be repaired. Based on x-rays that had been taken a few days earlier by the owner, the vet thought the leg would be able to be reset and put in a cast to heal. We were advised it would likely cost about $2000 and he had a 90% chance of full recovery.
This plaque is on display IMO our Tiny Tim and to thank those that helped building "Tiny Tim's House" to protect other horses from the elements. And our many thanks to Zan Enterprises for making and donating the beautiful plaque.