OurHummingbirdNest - Story of Hope

Nominate Emma For Person of the Week!

Many of you have expressed a desire (and have already started) to Nominate Emma for ABC’s “Person of the Week”

I must agree. What a great idea. I was curious though - – who should this person be? What should they have done? So I went to the website. The ABC Person of the Week page says: “It doesn't matter if they're famous or not; we're simply looking for someone who has made an impact.”

Emma has undoubtedly done this – and so much more. Not only has she made a huge impact on hundreds of thousands of people across the world, she’s made an impact on hummingbird research and rehabilitation which will hopefully save countless baby hummingbirds in the future.

Emma took in an orphaned, malnourished, dying baby hummingbird of another species, and treated her like her own. She didn’t skip a beat in providing the instant mothering that Hope needed in order to live. She saw no “mine” or “not mine” or “different”. She only saw a life in need – and did whatever needed to be done while we all watched her perform a miracle.

She’s a true hero in the world of hummingbirds, AND in our world. One of our viewers posted a great comment on Emma’s Facebook page today: “Emma has accomplished something rare and unique and you and Emma are two special girls, both with loving hearts and inspiring spirits. Emma worked so hard every hour of the day to make sure all 3 babies had plentiful food. It must have been quite an exhausting ritual for such a small bird to carry this out until she was sure they were ready to go out and explore the big world for themselves.”

I’ve been reading through the countless personal testimonies on Facebook, Shutterfly, and in emails I’m receiving. Emma’s nest has changed more lives than we’ll ever know. She’s been streamed in children’s wings of hospitals, provided comfort to military service people home from duty, provided learning to students in the classroom, provided adopted children/adults a special connection, foster parents have had a perfect tool to use while watching Emma’s nest with the children in their foster care, and Emma’s nest has brought tranquility to those receiving cancer treatments in medical facilities. Heck, a whole classroom of second graders even had a math test postponed when the birds began to fledge (leave the nest) during their test!

I think it would be so wonderful for even more people to know of Emma’s great example of true love, devotion and courage – and HOPE. This publicity could also provide much-needed public exposure about NOT trying to rehabilitate hummingbirds yourself (referring them to a trained rehabilitator) and/or not keeping them as pets.

WE’D LOVE TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT. PLEASE VISIT THE PERSON OF THE WEEK NOMINATION PAGE AT: http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/PersonOfWeek/story?id=64509

Also, if you haven’t already, please visit Emma’s Facebook page. It’s been flowing with some of the most heartwarming, amazing writings, photos and poems you’ll ever see. Here’s the link to Emma’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=131758716840583

Here’s Emma’s website, which also has wonderful, inspiring posts: www.ourhummingbirdnest.com.

Live cam is still streaming! We’re watching Emma and so far, Hope visit the feeder! We’re hoping to see Forrest and Iris soon! Join us! http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ourhummingbirdnest-com

Our Story of Emma... and "Hope"

She’s a true hero in the world of hummingbirds, AND in our world. One of our viewers posted a great comment on Emma’s Facebook page today: “Emma has accomplished something rare and unique and you and Emma are two special girls, both with loving hearts and inspiring spirits. Emma worked so hard every hour of the day to make sure all 3 babies had plentiful food. It must have been quite an exhausting ritual for such a small bird to carry this out until she was sure they were ready to go out and explore the big world for themselves.”

I’ve been reading through the countless personal testimonies on Facebook, Shutterfly, and in emails I’m receiving. Emma’s nest has changed more lives than we’ll ever know. She’s been streamed in children’s wings of hospitals, provided comfort to military service people home from duty, provided learning to students in the classroom, provided adopted children/adults a special connection, foster parents have had a perfect tool to use while watching Emma’s nest with the children in their foster care, and Emma’s nest has brought tranquility to those receiving cancer treatments in medical facilities. Heck, a whole classroom of second graders even had a math test postponed when the birds began to fledge (leave the nest) during their test!

I think it's wonderful for everyone to know of Emma’s great example of true love, devotion and courage – and HOPE. This story also should also provide much-needed public exposure about NOT trying to rehabilitate hummingbirds yourself (referring them to a trained rehabilitator) and/or not keeping them as pets.

Our nest update: Mar/Apr 2011 (The details of this clutch)

As we near the fledge of these three beautiful babies, I'd like to thank all of you who have been part of this amazing journey... Thank you for your friendship, and for caring about these sweet little babies I sometimes like to call "mine" even though I know they belong to ALL of us. I appreciate each and every one of you more than you'll ever know. You've each brought something special and unique to our wonderful room. We're more than just a "Ustream room". At least for me, we are.

This has been an amazing place of sharing, caring and miracles.

To Forrest, Iris and my sweet orphan baby Hope: Before you leave me, I want to wish you a long, productive, wonderful , safe, joyous life. Please create happiness and special miracles for others, won't you? I love all three of you so much, and will miss you... ♥ ♥ ♥

Come back soon, Emma... ♥

4.17.2011

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As of 3/30/2011, we have THREE baby hummingbirds in the nest (which is very, very unique). We have Emma's two "natural" babies and one orphan. Because hummingbird fostering/surrogacy is not a well-documented event, we have many researchers and rehabbers watching our site and we have been asked to keep track of the happenings here. For your reference, here is a brief introduction to our babies:

FORREST: Born 3/25/2011 9:27am PDT / Fledged 4/19/2011 11:55am

One of our Room Moderators, Maw2, named our first baby "Forrest", after her beloved Dad, who sadly passed away from cancer. His love of hummingbirds helped him during his battle with cancer. During this time he would sit out on the porch to watch the hummingbirds, and they would fly around him, sometimes even landing on his shoulder. It is the room's honor to give Maw2 this opportunity to carry her father's name forward with this sweet baby! <3

IRIS: Born 3/26/2011 (pre-dawn) / Fledged 4-19-2011 12:57pm

Another one of our Room Moderators, Hummyluv, named the nest's second baby "Iris" after Hummyluv's favorite flower. Here's a quote from Hummyluv about what this name means for her: "I am a survivor (emphasis on survivor!) of childhood abuse. I'm now an advocate to help other survivors. My healing journey has taken me down paths I never expected. But the Iris is one of the first flowers to bloom in spring here in Indiana, and symbolizes a new beginning and that despite the hard, long winter that that life sometimes throws us, new life ALWAYS returns. And so it is with Emma's nest! New life!"

HOPE (orphan): (Estimated DOB: 3/28/2011) / Fledged 4-19-2011 1:10pm

Hope's nest was accidentally cut down in another yard in the same city as our Host Family. The momma then was unable to find her baby and she was orphaned. After 24-36 hours of the baby being abandoned/not fed, CALadyDi was called by the homeowner to come and rescue the very sick baby. CALadyDi went and got the baby with plans to deliver the baby to a local Hummingbird Rehabilitation Center located nearby.

While CALadyDi was in route, and on the phone with the rehabber, givng her assessment of the baby's age (approximately 2-3 days old) and condition, the rehabber said the baby's chances of survival, even in the rehab facility were slim due to her very young age and "disgestion issues". After the phone conversation, they decided Emma fostering/adopting/surrogacy of Hope would provide the best chance for Hope to live. So CALadyDi took cold, listless lil Baby Hope home, and with the help of her husband, warmed it and finally got her to respond after about 20-30 minutes. Hope was fed sugar water and heated throughout the night. The next morning (3/30/2011), after miraculously surviving the night, CALadyDi then placed Hope in the nest after Emma awoke from "torpor" at dawn.

CALadyDi is in constant contact with the rehabber and with the consult of many, is monitoring this entire nest family. We are optimistic based on Emma's immediate fostering of Baby Hope, but still ask for your prayers and we move through this endeavor. Please know that in the event of a change for the worst, the nest, Emma, Forrest and Iris will NOT be compromised. If it is determined that Hope is jeopardizing anything, she will be removed from the nest. So far this is NOT the case. Things in the nest are going AMAZINGLY well! (Insert clapping here!) As mentioned earlier, your continued prayers and positive attitude are GREATLY appreciated!

OurHummingbirdNest - Story of Hope

Our Story of Emma... and "Hope"

Our nest update: Mar/Apr 2011 (The details of this clutch)

Emma!

Baby orphan Hope :(

Three for dinner...

Three healthy babies!

We miss you! <3

"Hope" by Alexis (Age 9)

Single picture frame

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