#hilightseveryonefollowers Reflections of a Caretaker

To anyone who has ever wondered why we do what we do:

Today, I find myself sitting in the quiet, thinking of all the beautiful animals we have lost over the years. I think about the profound impact they’ve had on my life and the lessons each one left behind. Even though it is difficult, the knowledge I’ve gained from them is something that can never be taken away.

Being responsible for an animal’s life is never easy, and to be honest, it never gets easier for me. I still find myself haunted by questions: Could I have done more? What if I had tried something different? This past year was truly my most challenging yet. There is a specific kind of heartbreak that comes when you sit with a sick animal day and night for weeks, finally seeing that small glimpse of hope—that feeling that everything is going to be fine—only to find they’ve passed away the next morning. But then, you get the patient you’re certain won’t make it, and they surprise you. They pull through. Those miracles are what make this work an amazing, if often exhausting, experience.

A few months ago, I received a call from Ezemvelo about a Samango monkey sitting alone by the side of the road. When I arrived, she was easy to catch—a sign of how much she was struggling. Back at the sanctuary, I realized she was completely blind and in significant pain. The vet confirmed my fears: she was very old, likely around 25 years, with worn teeth and arthritis.

We made the difficult decision to euthanize her. She couldn’t return to the wild, and she was hurting. But even in that sadness, there was something incredible. I got to hold her. I knew she wouldn’t die alone. She had a full tummy because, in her final hours, she ate so well, sensing that we were there to help.

I called her Ouma. Even though I only knew her for a day, she stayed in my heart. She lived a full, long life in the wild, built a future, and stayed safe until the very end. To be the one to give her a peaceful goodbye—that is what makes this work worth it.

They are never forgotten. Every single one of them has a special place in my heart.

#freespiritsanctuary#HelpOurAnimals#wildliferehabilitation#smallactsbigchange#southafrica#NPO#sodwanabay