Son Silver Lace Rooster Gerard and friend Cuckoo Hen Pearl check the fragile condition of dear Gold Lace, often times Mother Hen, Sarandipity. A flock elder who’s one of two surviving first born progeny, the other White Hen Katia, to founders White Rooster Shinnecock, Gold Lace Hens Cleo and Chloe.

Her family as her son exhibits in this video clip, friends give her reason to continue life despite illness that would be life ending for most. She persists, despite swollen eyes and mouth since August 2: why we hand feed and give her water three times a day because withholding care causes death. Medicines since May 16: a rollercoaster ride of ups when they effect her to be well. And sudden downs: today she’s struggling to breathe. Uneasily we watch her endure a suffering condition, that, personally we’ve always said we would rather die then endure.

Do we still think so? Sarandipity has decisively fought to stay alive: it’s not our choice to challenge hers. A decision similarly made when she was born.

But, it wasn’t till this moment of filming her son Gerard lovingly clutching her head feathers to keep her awake, breathing - that I understood they aren’t ready to lose her from their lives - either.