Meet Rocky, the paraplegic sheep with an impressive underbite. Rocky was born with paralyzed back legs. Due to this birth defect, his parents decided to send him to the slaughterhouse. But the sanctuary I worked at in Texas intercepted him. Rocky spent his short few years of life frolicking in the pasture, where he taught himself to walk by balancing on his back legs. He was by and far my favorite patient.
This sheep taught me so much about perseverance. It was in Texas that I contracted then undiagnosed Lyme disease. When I became too weak and painful to carry food buckets through the pasture, I still snuck away every day to spend time with him.
It’s on days like these, when my joint flare-ups have me struggling to open jars, that I remember all that this innocent, woolly soul taught me. If a paralyzed sheep can learn to walk, then there is nothing in life we can’t achieve.
All this time I thought I was taking care of Rocky, but really he was taking care of me.
Stacey Venzel 
I remember Rocky! He was special. If Stacey walked into a room of 100 dogs, and one of them had a handicap, that would be the dog that she gravitated to.
You know me so well! Handicapped animals are my favorite. They teach us so much!!
Reblogged this on Nothing Gilded, Nothing Gained-Author Adrienne Morris.
Thank you so much for sharing, Adrienne! Nice site you have there. Best of luck in your future writing endeavors and growing family! 🙂
Stacey, you are a special soul to reach out to those who need a few minutes more. Seems Rocky got as much love from you as you got from him, as well as the will to keep on moving on.
BTW, I came here via Adrienne Morris’ blog. And what a special soul she is.
Thank you for the kind and thoughtful words, Sharon. 🙂