Hi, PAt! Thanks for ending this on! As a teacher, what a great story to read to my students! Thanks so much!!!
Elizabeth --- On Mon, 12/29/08, OKreationz™ <[email protected]> wrote: > From: OKreationz™ <[email protected]> > Subject: [Chihuahuas] *Now this is inspiring - Disabled duck inspires > To: "addictionhelp" <[email protected]> > Date: Monday, December 29, 2008, 4:12 PM > > Disabled duck inspires > > PORTSMOUTH, R.I. - For more than two years, Laura Backman > has cared for a little one with a neurological disorder - > feeding her, changing her diapers, helping to teach her to > move with a walker. > > Now that baby is getting around with her own webbed feet. > > Lemon, a Pekin duck, has been physically disabled since she > hatched in the kindergarten class Backman used to teach in > Portsmouth. > > Backman, 39, has now turned Lemon's life story into an > illustrated children's book, "Lemon the Duck," > to teach tolerance and inspire hope in children, disabled or > not. > > After Lemon hatched, her balance problems were immediately > apparent. She couldn't walk on her own - and she still > can't, because of a neurological problem her > veterinarian suspects could have been caused by temperature > or humidity problems during incubation, or by viruses or > other infectious agents getting through the shell. > > The handful of other chicks hatched in the kindergarten > class incubator all went to pre-arranged homes, but Backman > agreed to take on Lemon and all the tender care she would > require. > > > "That's one of the things I'm trying to give > her, is a ducky life, even though she can't live outside > with the ducks," Backman says. "I know it probably > sounds like I'm obsessed with her. And I am. But > it's a good obsession." > > Backman said she's always loved children's books > and thought Lemon's life was worthy of print. Her > publisher agreed. > > "We just thought it was a fantastic inspiration story, > what she's done with this duck," says Meghan Nolan, > editorial director at Lobster Press, a Canadian kids' > book publishing company that put Lemon's story in print. > "The messages were really nice for kids, about > acceptance and embracing difference." > > The book - Backman's first - describes the true story > of how children come to understand Lemon's disability > and rally around her, devising ways to help and taking turns > feeding her. > > > By the end of the book, Lemon mucks around in the grass > with other ducks thanks to a feeding harness. Backman's > character - called Ms. Lake in the book - tells her students > Lemon will always need them. > > "I think we need her, too," says one student as > he hugs Lemon. > > In real life, Lemon is cuddly, sociable and never shy. Her > disability is obvious: When Lemon attempts a movement, her > neck twists around until the bottom of her beak is facing > skyward and the tuft of white feathers on her crown is > pinned to her breast. Sometimes she gets herself untangled. > More often, Backman gently pries loose her head. > > But Lemon goes right back to eating or pushing herself > around in a specially designed walker. The > "Lemobile" is about a foot-and-a-half-square > contraption made of white PVC piping, a sling and > smooth-rolling wheels. Lemon kicks her feet, wags her > tailfeathers and propels herself forward or in circles. > > > "She's very feisty. She has a real zest for > life," Backman says in an interview as Lemon quacks > contentedly in the family's airy, waterfront home in > Portsmouth. > > Because Lemon can't control her bodily functions, she > has to wear diapers that Backman changes six times a day. > Backman bathes her every morning and carts her almost > everywhere she goes. Lemon has been with Backman to dentist > appointments and relative's sonograms. > > Backman was introduced to ducks by her father, who kept > them as pets when she was a child. He developed multiple > scleroris, and she and her family had to help him with every > need. > > "My dad couldn't do anything for himself, but we > didn't let that stop him from having a full life," > Backman said. > > In her book, Backman names one of the kids Richard, after > her father, who died about a year before Lemon hatched. > > A couple veterinarians Backman consulted questioned > Lemon's quality of life and implied she might consider > euthanization. But that was never an option for Backman, in > part because she was assured Lemon isn't in pain. > > "She really does spoil and love this duck, and > she's a happy little duck," said Kimberly Link, > president of the Majestic Waterfowl Sanctuary in > Connecticut. Link's organization is receiving some of > the proceeds from Backman's book, as is the Rhode Island > Multiple Sclerosis Society. > > About 10,000 copies of the book are currently in print. It > costs $19.95 and can be ordered online through Lemon's > website, www.lemontheduck.com, or through traditional online > booksellers. > > Baker Books, in Dartmouth, Mass., recently hosted Lemon and > Backman for a book reading. > > "Lemon is to die for," said Gretchen Baker-Smith, > who helps run children's events at the store. > "She's very tolerant of kids, and lots of people > having her, and being in the middle of pandemonium." > > Lemon only rarely quacked, which made kids jump. > > "Kids are used to being at the local park here," > Baker-Smith said. "You can see the ducks and the geese. > Some of them are really, really aggressive. I think some of > them were thinking that's how she was going to be, but > she wasn't." > > Since Pekin ducks can live a decade or longer, Lemon could > have more years of book readings - a sequel is in the works > - entertaining school kids and having her beak and feet > rubbed, which she loves. > > "She's very happy," Backman says. "Every > morning she just wants to go, go, go." This is a true > story > huggles > Pat in OK > > > > > ________________________________ ------------------------------------ " Lets talk about our wonderful little friends! Join today! " Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chihuahuas/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chihuahuas/join (Yahoo! 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