When someone you love becomes sick, it can leave you feeling helpless and heartbroken. It’s hard to watch them in pain, and it's even worse when you find out that the diagnosis is more dire than you'd been hoping.
Corrine DiLorenzo, who volunteers at the EARTH Animal Sanctuary, recently experienced this when her rescued, nine-month-old pot-bellied pig, Bentley, had a seizure that led to complications and extended hospital stays.
Bentley was diagnosed with a very rare bacterial meningitis and was only given a 10% chance of making it through. Miraculously, Bentley beat the odds and fought off the meningitis, but the virus had left him blind.
Although his struggle was not yet over, Bentley had already managed to overcome the crippling illness, and Corrine was not willing to give up on him. Bentley was due for surgery, but the loud hospital made the newly blind pig uneasy and Corrine needed a way to soothe him so that he would be calm and ready when it came time for the surgery.
To drown out the unfamiliar and alarming sounds in the hospital, Corrine decided the best thing to do was sing to Bentley. The video of Corrine’s lullaby gained a lot of attention, and the YouCaring site created for Bentley raised over $22,000 to help out with the hospital costs, ultimately allowing for Bentley to come home after he'd healed post-surgery.
Corrine was overwhelmed by the generosity of everyone who raised money and gave words of encouragement during her hard time and says that Bentley has taught her to always be strong and to never give up.
Please SHARE Bentley's story with the animal lovers in your life.
