Honestly

When we met her less than 48 hours earlier, she epitomised the fragility of life itself. At around two years of age, her body was little more than bone draped in lousy wool. And way too much of it. Every rib was visible and every vertebra pronounced beneath her wrinkled Merino skin. She had become a haunting silhouette of what a sheep should never become.

And then there was the fly strike. One of the worst cases we had ever seen.

What struck us most was not simply the severity of it, but the undeniable truth that someone had already seen it. Yet whatever treatment had been given was nowhere near enough. Someone knew she was suffering. Knew how desperately thin she was. And knew maggots were eating her alive.

And still, she was left.

Honestly, that is the part that stays with us.

Not that she was sick or dying. But that somewhere along the way, her suffering stopped mattering to the very someone it should have mattered to most.

Yet Lavinia herself had not given up.

Despite everything, she remained gentle, trusting and quietly accepting of our strange hands and unfamiliar care. And because she was still trying, so would we.

Carefully, we clipped away the heavy fleece that had hidden her necrotic wounds. Alas, nothing could hide the smell. We removed the slithering maggots from her fragile body, administered antibiotics, pain relief and intravenous fluids, and waited.

And then we wondered: could she stand? With the gentlest of hands helping her, Lavinia answered and she stood.

Her legs trembled beneath her, but she stood. Then slowly, she began to eat. Hope flickered into the room so suddenly it almost took our breath away.

Today, we carried her outside to feel the sun upon her face and the fresh air in her lungs. Perhaps for the first time in a very long while.

And then, gently, ever so gently, Lavinia let out her breath one final time.

Though her life was brief, her suffering was immense and in the end, she left this world not abandoned in a paddock, but held in kindness.

And honestly, every sheep deserves at least that.

Lavinia, we are so sorry you could not stay longer. And though you are in a better place now, we shall always find you in our hearts.

RIP, brave one.