The Miracle of Re-Birth
Good news: it’s been three weeks since the attempted murder of Rufna, and she continues to dwell among the living!
After loads of eye care, foot washing, antibiotics, food and vitamins, she has gained weight and is learning to find food and water by herself. Her remaining eye looks normal again but is still blind (I was hoping for a miracle), and the place of its former pair seems to have reached its majority in terms of healing–no eye, but no skin, either. Just a weird, green spot surrounded by red skin that looks not unlike a tiny sun-dried tomato.
But that does not prevent her daily forays into the garden where she walks around with her head craned forward to “feel” where she’s going, and from exhibiting other persisting chicken qualities that seem to evidence a contented life.
I’m still surprised, and slightly in awe of this traumatized chicken who is satisfied to reside indefinitely on my studio porch. Shiny, happy chicken.
And so far, Velma the Rascally Whippet has not been the nuisance I was afraid she might be, but instead, a proud example of a bird-dog in defiance of her own natural instincts (save for one minor incident involving a tail feather. That was still attached to Rufina.). Perhaps Velma knows they are kindred spirits, she herself having survived a scary encounter with the Great Beyond earlier this year.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed free chicken advice, food, ER and vet consults, and even a couple of adorable, surprise chicks* (!) to keep Rufina company.
*Chicks will unfortunately be dispatched to some other venue because they are exploiting their sighted advantage: stealing food out of Rufina’s mouth, crowding the water dish, and mocking her by constantly blinking and sticking their tongues out. Also, they are filthy little creatures that walk in their own poop and then jump on me.
And finally, what’s in a name? When it became clear that chicken might live, I thought I should name her, and Rufina was the first thing that popped into my head. A few days later, I googled it to see what came up. This is what I found on Wiki:
Saints Justa and Rufina (Ruffina) (Spanish: Santa Justa y Santa Rufina) are venerated as martyrs. They are said to have been martyred at Hispalis (Seville) during the 3rd century.
Their legend states that they were sisters and natives of Seville who made fine earthenware pottery for a living, with which they supported themselves and many of the city’s poor. Justa was born in 268 AD, Rufina in 270 AD, of a poor but pious Christian family. During a pagan festival, they refused to sell their wares for use in these celebrations. In anger, locals broke all of their dishes and pots. Justina and Rufina retaliated by smashing an image of Venus.
The city’s prefect, Diogenianus, ordered them to be imprisoned. Failing to convince them to renounce their faith, he had them tortured on the rack and with iron hooks. This method also having failed, they were imprisoned, where they suffered from hunger and thirst.
They were then asked to walk barefoot to the Sierra Morena; when this did not break their resolve, they were imprisoned without water or food. Justa died first. Her body, thrown into a well, was later recovered by the bishop Sabinus. Diogenianus believed that the death of Justa would break the resolve of Rufina. However, Rufina refused to renounce her faith and was thus thrown to the lions. The lion in the amphitheatre, however, refused to attack Rufina, remaining as docile as a house cat. Infuriated, Diogenianus had Rufina strangled or beheaded and her body burned. Her body was also recovered by Sabinus and buried alongside her sister in 287 AD.
Saint Rufina, by Velázquez. See the likeness?? She’s even carrying a giant feather!
Just another name? Perhaps. Or: a dark-haired Spaniard and a Italian-New Mexican, two Christian potters separated by centuries, a saint, a chicken, and an ordinary human united in an extraordinary coincidence of the undead.
Live Clay 
You’ve just put a HUGE smile on my face! Thank you.
Here, i feel this song is in order. Listen carefully to the words, and who is singing them.
Perfect! Thanks for sharing this John, I’ve listened to it a couple times now and it’s definitely a good soundtrack for this story. I’m glad you replaced the only other song I’d thought of — Florence and the Machine’s “Girl With One Eye,” — Which is totally inappropriate except for the title!
🙂 Haha. Well, your girl was never really a battery hen, but it’s so nice to see such a fighter find such a wonderful home. I’m in awe of your awesomeness!
Hi Laura, Rufina is one lucky chick! I love reading your stories. Thank you for sharing! Tina
Oh, thanks so much Tina! Writing (and saving things) is that much more fun when there are others to share stories with…
Behold the force that is Spirit Chicken!
Really glad that she’s doing well, and that you keep on enjoying each others company!
Spirit Chicken… good one. The image of a Native American in profile with wavy hair, feathers, and a unicorn in the background just popped into my head
Honestly, I’ve had that exact same image in my head since I typed that!
(Except it wasn’t a Native American in my image.)
(It was a proud and noble chicken.)
(Yes, it’s being that kind of day.)
I think you just design my 2013 Christmas card, Guap…
“Spirit Chicken sends you YuletiBKAW!!!de greetings.”
Yay Rufina! Interesting coincidences too!
whoop! Please share with your chicken-y friends, Heather! And I hear you are joining the backyard brood gang….
You’re such a healer, Laura! And so full of wit and wisdom!
Oh, Niya, you are very kind. Thanks 🙂 Great to see you here… I always think of you when I’m around animals, or sculpting them (attempting)!
Rufina! Rufina!
Hooray! Not going to let the man bring her down.
Love this – just read the original post – loved that too. Is it bad that I sometimes sympathize with animals more than humans?
I don’t think that’s bad Mike, I mean, how could you not? They are so innocent and defenseless. Children are that way, of course, but grown humans …. that can be a tough one at times. Thanks for being in the cheering section for this one!
Rufina channels the spirit of her patron saint. Thanks for posting the painting of St. Rufina with her feather pen. She brings hope to our blind world.
By the way, your sister has found a happy new home for the baby chicks who are taking the food from her mouth.
Oh, great! Where are they off to? They ARE cute… filthy little creatures.
This is great! You forgot to mention the projectile pooping–also a sign of vigorous health. And, I found two takers for the chicks—either Sr. Joan Brown, who will add them to her North Valley menagerie of tail-less chickens and ducks, or Mary Jo Picca. Stay tuned.
wahoo! Shonda also said she’d take them… if we’d exhausted all other options. So, she’ll be relieved that she’s off the hook! Projectile pooping isn’t a visual I wanted included here, miss.
Note to self: do not invite baby chics into the house for any reason. May you and Rufina live long, happy, and excrementless lives together. =)
Absolutely correct about chicks! Don’t let your kids wear you down around Eastertime… little demons. I mean the chicks, not your kids 🙂
So glad to hear that Rufina is doing well. Years ago, my beloved and elderly cat, Mariah, went blind, but she went on to happily live for another 4 and 1/2 years, occasionally bumping into things, but adapting quickly. Wish I was close enough to take those little chicks off your hands. Chicken roam all over parts of Tampa. 🙂
P.S. I’ve missed you. Let’s catch up soon!
Hey CCLMSP (your names combined… who doesn’t love a meaningless acronym?!) Was on a lovely unplugged vacay, but now am back. Thanks for the Cheers in Rufina’s direction. I’m so proud of her, learning to be blind and turning back into a more or less normal chicken. (Like your kitty– how’d she go blind, anyway?) She is currently vacationing with a friend who has a few other hens, so we’ll see how she likes it there. Might be time to let her be 100% independent now (cue Born Free) to maximize her flocking-animal happiness 🙂
Yeah, catch up! I’ve been an exceedingly lazy blogger for months, both reading and writing. I’ll hop over and see what you’re up to these days.
Mariah lost her sight due to undiagnosed high blood pressure – damn vet (whom we promptly fired since we’d brought her in just weeks earlier – before she lost her vision – and he failed to take her blood pressure though her symptoms were consistent with same). Fortunately, she managed to adapt pretty well, but the pain of knowing she couldn’t enjoy her life in the way she had for over 13 years still bothered me. A lot. However, I noticed that our other cats tended to give her space. Cinnamon was protective of her while our male cats were younger. Though Mariah couldn’t see them, I think they still sensed that she was their elder and to not fuck with her. Like yourself, I took some time off. We had to pack, move and unpack. I needed to focus on my other writing, so I’ve only posted a couple times in the past month, but I’m back. You’ll have to let me know when you’ve got an hour free and we’ll chat. You’re such a blast to talk with, my friend!
🙂
Sorry to hear Mariah’s issue was a result of vet incompetence… wow. That sucks. But, I really do believe that if animals don’t want to continue living in an “altered” way, they won’t. Thankfully, they also don’t tell themselves stories like we do, only making things worse, “Damn vet, my life is so different now… If only I could still see…. Why am I being punished… who can I sue??!” Living in the present, yeah.
Can chat anytime — weekends more free these days than weeks. Glad you are settled into the new place with all your flying, blood-gorged friends.
Well she’s definitely grateful for getting a second chance 🙂 I would be content too
Thank you for your thoughtful comment! I hope she’s content…
How old do you think she is? And how is she doing today? 🙂
I’m really not sure how old she is, but she was laying about 5 eggs/wk until the Sept (I’ve read the shortened days can halt egg production), so she can’t be THAT old. Today’s post is an update. She seems to be doing just fine, thanks!
Good blessed Rufina and you are blessed to have that sweet little hen in your life. I’m so glad that you have given her a nice home.
Thank you so much! I figure that as long as she wants to live, I’ll provide a home and some friends 🙂
You are her hero. I hope you’ll remain a cat person when she passes on.