For more than five weeks, Alicia Miller, owner of Cayou Valley Stables in Deer Harbor, slept in an unheated barn with Chenandoah, her pregnant mare enduring 35-degree temperatures, waiting for “Channie’s” first foal. Since horses are usually born early in the morning, she didn’t want to chance not being there for the big event.
It came on May 3 at 2:30 a.m. Alicia awoke to the sight of Channie trying to give birth against the barn wall. It is very difficult to move an over 1000 lb. distressed animal, but somehow she did it. Friend and first time “midwife” John Gibbs soon arrived to help, but it was clear baby Pearl was not in good shape. She was premature, had her eye slammed against the wall during birth, and was extremely weak. Although she started to nurse, she couldn’t stand up or down by herself, so Alicia’s nights sleeping in the barn were not over yet.
For seven days, a 24-hour vigil had to be kept by Alicia, Abby Sale and other caring friends and relatives. Sale, a friend, student and employee put her own life on hold for five days. Every 15 to 40 minutes it was necessary to get Pearl on her feet to nurse, and then help her lie down for much needed rest. Linda Peth, Linda Gillespie and Anne Bredouw made little blankets from canvas and duct tape, since she was too small to fit in a regular foal blanket.
Even though island veterinarian Ron Schuler had tended to Pearl at her birth, by Monday, three days later, the little foal was still not out of the woods, so vets from Mount Vernon were summoned. They inserted an IV in her neck where antibiotics were administered three times a day along with two doses of plasma. She received antibiotics for her eye, a shot to boost muscle strength, and her mom was given medicine to bring on milk. Due to exemplary pre-natal care, around the clock attention, a very strong will to live and a lot of chutzpah, Pearl has become stronger and stronger, and is now a healthy girl. However, her medical bills have added up, and on Saturday, June 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. there will be a garage sale at the Cayou Valley Stables (right at the four-mile marker on Deer Harbor Rd). Drop in, enjoy some refreshments and meet Pearl – the little miracle horse.
