To stand for something

Though fearful of humans, it is not this that has robbed Joan of Arc of her power over her limbs. Although now rid of her fleece, it was not its weight that stifled her desire to rise—though it does point to her once “forgottenness”.

And it is not parasitism that dampens her spirits; rather, a mysterious illness, elusive to veterinary science and blood tests alike, has claimed her mobility.

But not her spirit. No, that is very much alive. One only needs to look into her eyes to see its vitality.

Since recently arriving at sanctuary, Joan’s days are now filled with what was once absent in her life: patience, kindness and a tailored rehabilitation plan. While our lines of discovery are in full force as Joan’s veterinary team dig deeper and research further, we are beginning to see some glimmers of hope. Although it’s still too early to declare success, Joan shows a dogged determination to rise above it all.

She too is telling us so much about herself. Her apprehension of humans is laid bare in the way she twitches on our arrival. However, this is slowly melting away as that once wide-eyed gaze now has softer hues. And her pleasure in lush green grass cannot be concealed by the way she seizes mouthfuls large enough to feed an entire herd. A joy that is mirrored in our eyes as we watch on.

“Come on, Joan. You got this, girl,” we gently encourage her as she begins to infuse life into her otherwise lifeless limbs.

With Joan’s journey towards healing woven with love, determination and multiple rehabilitation sessions, we trust our mutual resolve will be rewarded on the day she stands and walks on her very own.

And there are hints of this.

They come in the small wobbly steps Joan can now take, albeit on her knees. They are present in the moments when someone shouts, “Did you see that? Joan just stood!” They come as Joan turns her head, and curiously sniffs the face of one of her caregivers as they help her to stand — the warmth of that moment is one of our favourites. Yet all of these lift our spirits, as they clearly do hers.

In our Joan of Arc, we see an echo of her namesake. The courage to stand against the odds, to embody a spirit that refuses to be defined by frailty or societal norms. Her quiet resilience reminds us of a profound truth that can often be overlooked. A truth that says courage is not merely the absence of fear but the strength to rise in spite of it.

Through her struggle and that of her kind, Joan calls us to our better selves. She embodies an anthem we all should strive to live by, that courage, the courage to rise—is a power that can set us free, not only from physical limitations but from the outdated ways of thinking.

We stand for Joan, and for all those Joans who may never know kindness. We stand for a more just world for all.

Will you come stand with us, for Joan and all of the forgotten ones?