Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

An Eagle Named Freedom: My True Story of a Remarkable Friendship
An Eagle Named Freedom: My True Story of a Remarkable Friendship
An Eagle Named Freedom: My True Story of a Remarkable Friendship
Audiobook5 hours

An Eagle Named Freedom: My True Story of a Remarkable Friendship

Written by Jeff Guidry

Narrated by John Pruden

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

About this audiobook

From the moment Sarvey Wildlife Care Center volunteer Jeff Guidry saw the emaciated baby eagle with broken wings, his life was changed. For weeks he and the center's staff tended to the grievously injured bird. Miraculously, she recovered, and Jeff became her devoted caretaker.

Though Freedom would never fly, she had Jeff as her wings. And when Jeff was diagnosed with Stage 3 non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2000, Freedom returned his gift. Between sessions of debilitating chemotherapy, Jeff returned to Sarvey and began taking Freedom for walks, which soothed his spirit. Soon Freedom dominated his thoughts and dreams, guiding him to fight for life. Eight months into his battle, Jeff learned that he was cancer-free. His first stop was Sarvey to walk Freedom. Somehow this special bird seemed to understand the significance of the day. For the very first time she wrapped both her wings around Jeff, enveloping him in an avian hug. In March 2008, Jeff shared his remarkable experience with a friend-an exchange that would eventually circle the globe and touch countless hearts.

An Eagle Named Freedom is a tender story of hope, love, trust, and life, and an affirmation of the spiritual connection that humans and animals share.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateMay 4, 2010
ISBN9781400186235

Related to An Eagle Named Freedom

Related audiobooks

Nature For You

View More

Related articles

Reviews for An Eagle Named Freedom

Rating: 4.190476190476191 out of 5 stars
4/5

21 ratings19 reviews

What did you think?

Tap to rate

Review must be at least 10 words

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Great book. Frequently when I read true stories I get a little bored but I was completely captivated start to finish with this book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I read this book in one sitting. I laughed, I cried. I had a wonderful time reading it. It brought back memories of my husband's cancer, as well as many others. I had my dog to help me through. Not as cool as an eagle, but helpful, and loving, nonetheless. Well worth reading, and I will do so again.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A heartwarming story of the rehabilitation of a wild eagle and how the human-eagle connection helped inspire the author to struggle through difficult cancer treatments. The book includes touching stories of other wild orphans, including a squirrel, and a black bear.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    What a great and moving autobiography and I was fortunate enough to win a copy on Library Thing. I liked that the book was short and sweet, but packed full of such a beautiful friendship between Freedom & Jeff. Often I cried happy tears while reading this book. I loved the pictures and the author’s description of certain settings just blew me away. I finished the book with a greater appreciation of the countless volunteers who work in shelters to help rehabilitate animals.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The story of a man and his love for an injured bald eagle, An Eagle Named Freedom was easy to read and for the most part enjoyable.While it is not enjoyable to read of someone dealing with cancer it is told with simple honesty and triumph.Mr. Guidry volunteers for an organization that rescues wild animals and he forms a special bond with a juvenile bald eagle that is brought in one day. The poor eagle is so badly hurt that it will never fly again so it is trained to be a teaching eagle for demonstrations for the center and for pow wows. The relationship between the two is so strong that caring for Freedom (as the eagle is named) helps to pull Mr. Guidry through his battle with cancer.I enjoyed reading the book and meeting the people that keep the Sarvey Wildlife Center running. Without dedicated people to help wild animals where would we be? Animals can form bonds with humans and be there in ways that other humans can't.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a wonderful story. Jeff Guidry's friendship with a wounded eaglet grows into a life changing relationship. The two have a bond that sees them both through illness, pain and loss. A heart-warming and inspiring story. A must read for nature and animal lovers. Also included are the laughable antics of a "domesticated" squirrel! Thank you to all those who, like Guidry, volunteer their time to help return injured wild ones to where they belong.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    One thing is eminently clear in this book; the author and Freedom profoundly love and respect one another. That Freedom is a wild-born American bald eagle adds another level of wonder to this incredible relationship. From the moment Jeff Guidry lays eyes on Freedom, he knows she is special. The two form an intense bond as she struggles to survive her numerous injuries and adjust to life as a flightless raptor. Guidry's love and support of Freedom is returned when he faces eight grueling months of chemotherapy and Freedom becomes his touchstone and spirit guide to overcoming cancer. This story is told in a heartfelt manner. Guidry is passionate about raptors and saving all wildlife but he doesn't preach about it, assuming that his audience shares his point of view. He does a good job of showing his readers the benefits of saving and rehabilitating 'wild ones', as he calls them, and doesn't shirk from describing the pain and disappointment when things go wrong. Yet, for all its passion and sincerity, the book stumbles in two ways. Guidry has a habit of telling us the highlights of the next chapter and then goes through the events after that. It's like telling the punch line of a joke before the joke itself. I don't want to be told what is going to happen, I want to watch it unfold as he describes each step. The second downfall is the way the book jumps around. Guidry will go into details about an event, skip several months or even years, and then later go back to right after the event and talk about the impact from it. A firmer hand in the editing department would have made this a much stronger book. I also would have liked to know more about the staff at the rescue center. Except for lavishing praise on Bob and Kaye, Guidry barely mentions the other volunteers and staff members, and yet without them the center would not survive. In sum, this book is a touching story hampered by a novice writer and an absent editor. Well worth the read, but could have been better.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book combines two of my favorite genres: medical survivor story and animal story. The author combines his unique relationship he develops with an American bald eagle with his own tale of surviving non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.I enjoyed reading the book, which I received from LT as part of their Early Reviewer’s Program. My review is not early, as I moved, and it took a while for the book to catch up with me. Better late than never, though, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about animals, which is the primary focus of the book. The author works at a wildlife rescue center in the Pacific Northwest, and in addition to telling of how his relationship with the eagle develops, tells other compelling tales of wildlife rescues involving bears, squirrels and several types of birds, especially raptors. He feels very strongly that his relationship with Freedom, the eagle, helped him conquer his cancer. Hey, whatever works. His story has brought encouragement to many others fighting cancer.I save my 5 stars for “OMG, you HAVE to read this book.” I give it 4, it’s a quick, enjoyable read. Some of you may have to read it. It also contains a good picture section, which I really appreciate in a book like this.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I received this as an Early Reviewers book. It was very enjoying, and I loved reading about the effort and care put into injured animals at Sarvey Wildlife Center. We forget sometimes the strong bond between ALL-human and animals. It brings to mind a favorite saying, "Am I the student or the teacher." In this story-Mr. Guidry was both. Well done.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    An Eagle Named Freedom is the inspirational story of a man who helps to rescue and rehabilitate an eagle, and then later relies on his relationship with that eagle to inspire and strengthen him in his battle against cancer. My favorite parts of this story were those that related the details of the Sarvey Wildlife Care Center and the work that they did to rehabilitate the eagle named Freedom. The book also included details of several other animal rescues which I also enjoyed reading.The author recounts how he relied on Freedom as a source of comfort, refreshment, and inspiration in his battle against cancer. Those who have had special relationships with animals are sure to understand the comfort and stress relief that comes from the innocent love of an animal - an experience that he does a good job of describing.His experiences were also heavily influenced by Native American spiritualism, and he mentions quite a few instances of coincidental occurrences that he thought were evidence of interactions from the spirit world.I only had a couple of issues with this book, the first was that at one point he talked about living for the eagle, and I was thinking, "What about living for your wife?" Like I said, it was a tiny point of contention and only has to do with a couple of pages in the book. Here is the quote: Fighting a deadly enemy for the sake of someone else is life-affirming. Freedom was my someone else. I wanted to see her mature. I needed to see her mature. . . . I needed to live for her. (P. 101)The other issue I had was the author's sense of feeling that powers of healing were emanating from Freedom to the author. If I think of it as metaphorical I'm okay with it, but I also realize that, not having been in this situation, I have no basis for judging what the author's experience was like. He addresses the topic a little bit in this passage: I felt ripples of healing and reassurance coming in from Freedom. I'd think of a pebble falling into a dark pool and ripples of light traveling out in tiny waves - ripples of survival and trust from Freedom to me. Freedom's dreamtime visits carried me through the chemo months, and eventually I knew she was with me always. I wasn't some off-the-planet visionary, some guy sitting around in a fancy robe hearing spirits' voices. I worked when I had the strength to, rode my bicycle when I could. . . . And, as the infusions progressed, I knew that Freedom accompanied me every step of the way. (P. 102)Other than these few pages I quite enjoyed An Eagle Named Freedom, and thought it was a wonderful story about the ways that humans and animals can affect each other, and how wild animals can be rehabilitated.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This memoir is a plainly written account of a man and his relationship with a rescued eagle. The central message is one of mutual healing through the special relationships humans can forge with our animal brethren, combined with conservation of land and wildlife, and respect for the wild. This book is well, and simply written, but slightly disorienting as it flips back and forth from the author's illness, Freedom's struggles, and various volunteers and animals at the rescue center. It will be appreciated by animal lovers and nature enthusiasts, and there really are some interesting factoids regarding wild animals and how rescue centers help rehabilitate and care for them.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I was fortunate enough to get this book through a LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway. Mr. Guidry's autobiography about the time of his life when he volunteered at Sarvey Wildlife Center, a shelter for injured wild animals, was very touching. It was very interesting to read about the various animals in the center and his interactions with them, especially a young eagle that came to the center with two bad wings (the bird would never fly) named Freedom. This bird helped Mr. Guidry through his cancer treatments. A very interesting story but I wish there was more information about the other people at the center.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book is so much more than a story about an eagle named Freedom. It is a story about the importance of taking care of our planetmates (animals), and it is a story about how they can take care of us. The author discusses the value of respecting all creatures for what they are, and what they are is more than some object flying or running around out in the wild. Those with a scientific mind may be frustrated with the absence of the anthropomorphism discussion in the book, but this book was not intended to be a scientific story. This book is not concerned with the scientific facts of how animals and humans bond, it just shows that it can be done and the benefits obtained by all parties by doing so. The author does not advocate humans running out to the forest to grab a bear, squirrel, eagle, or some other wild animal to bond with. In fact author discusses the importance of letting animals stay in the environment they are best suited for, which is in the wild. In some regrettable circumstances, however, this is just not possible. It is in these times, when helping animals in crisis, the bonding can occur and our lives will be forever changed. This is a fantastic book about the benefits of helping those we share the planet with, and how those we share the planet with can help us.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is a beautiful story of a man and his bonds to the animals or 'wild ones' of our planet. It is an easy book to read, but not necessarily simple. Some people may be turned off by or scoff at the truly spiritual connection the author feels with the eagle he helps to rehab, but who is to say what is or is not unless they go through the same trials. It is more than just the story of Freedom the eagle but also a storyof the wildlife center where the author volunteers and many of the furred and feathered and human spirits he encounters that help to shape his life as he in turn effects others. It reminded me to stop and considered all the earth has to offer and not take anything for granted. The end of the book may be a bit heavy handed for some in terms of the author's call for changes in how humankind is handling the stewardship of our planet, but it's hard to argue with his as oil spews into the Gulf of Mexico with no good solutions immediately forthcoming.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A story of life and death, respect and love, pain and healing, spirit and dream is what you will find in this remarkable story of the special bonding between an eagle and a man. As readers we are asked to open our spirit to experiences and lessons of the wild. This author has several to share. Badly damaged very early in life Freedom, an eagle, is brought to a wildlife rehab center in Washington and with special nurturing chooses to live. Bonding with the author Jeff Guidry, a volunteer at the center, Freedom becomes a resource for education and hope. Guidry’s calling is caring for and understanding not only eagles but all wild things. A force that crosses over the boundary of animal/human experience is the will to live for others. Guidry’s battle for survival from cancer finds a strong ally in recognizing Freedom’s need for his continued care. This experience culminates in a rare expression of love. A beautiful moment.Like all animal lovers and those who are passionate about a harmonious earth environment, Guidry has a philosophy to share. He hopes to direct the reader to “change course”, i.e., take the time to observe, listen, understand and protect the wildness of animals.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A true story of an injured eagle and the man who helped rehabilitate him. This book really describes how the wildlife volunteers work to save injured animals. Just a great story.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    An Eagle Named Freedom is Jeff Guidry's heartwarming, and often heartbreaking, 10-year memoir of his incredible life and bond with a Pacific Northwest American Bald Eagle named Freedom. In 1998 while Jeff is volunteering at Sarvey Wildlife Care Center in Washington State, a female baby eagle is brought in with two broken wings and is severely emaciated. She is only 3 feet tall, and weighs just 10 pounds. Jeff and coworker Kaye Baxter transfer the hurt bird to a veterinary clinic where they set and bind the wings hoping for the best. Freedom is brought back to Sarvey and undergoes months of healing. Initially showing no hope of recovery, she inches her way toward trust when Jeff shows her patience, love, and security, with his soft voice and protective care. Yet although she slowly gains her weight back, she never regains full use of her wings and will never take flight again. Sarvey's staff however is thrilled that she lived and decide to keep her for educational training, allowing Jeff to take on that task. Jeff begins the slow process of glove training Freedom. Bird and man quickly bond, showing incredible patience, intuition, and love for each other's needs to make this attempt work. Jeff's eagle adapts easily and quickly graduates to being held with anklets and jesses. Soon this dynamic pair begin touring the local educational road-shows to educate the public about wildlife. Freedom and Jeff entertain Boy Scout troops, Native American Indian pow-wows, schools for children, and various other public awareness groups that need to learn about protecting the natural world around us. But as life has it, good times don't usually last forever. Two years later after Jeff and Freedom are introduced, Jeff is diagnosed with type 3 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. A lump on the side of his neck is instantly biopsied and pronounced malignant. The next 8 months are the most difficult Jeff will ever spend as he undergoes the hellish treatment of Chemotherapy that will nearly kill him. What saves Jeff's life, what keeps his flame burning and the will to live strong, is the unconditional love and kinship he receives from Freedom. This book is a tender sweet story of Jeff's deep love to heal his eagle, and the return gift that eagle hands back to him full-circle. When 8 months later Jeff's treatments show his body cancer free, he head's straight for the Sarvey center to let Freedom be the first to hear the good news. Taking Freedom out of her cage, the birds' keen insight knew Jeff was well and wrapped her giant wings around Jeff's shoulders in a loving protective embrace as if to say " we did it!" In addition to the precious story of a man and his bird, the reader gets to enjoy many endearing stories of the other animal residents at Sarvey. Some tales humorous, some sweet, some heartbreaking, but this is not a book full of tear-jerking sadness. It is a shining light and dedication to those in the world who volunteer to keep our wildlife friends safe from harm, and assist in their well being in times of need. This memoir is about hope, never giving up, persistence to attain your goals no matter how dire life can be, and to treat our animal friends with as much love and respect we would our own family members. This is may be a short little book, but it is filled to the brim with a plentiful helping of inspiration for all of us that have a deep love and admiration for animals. An Eagle Named Freedom is written from the heart, penned well, and accompanied by wonderful color photographs of Jeff, Freedom and their friends at Sarvey. Nice story!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I’m a sucker for animal stories so, of course, the picture of a magnificent eagle (along with author Jeff Guidry) that adorns this book jacket drew my attention immediately. What I received upon reading this book more than I bargained for. I not only learned about wild animal rescue, but I also entered the private world of Jeff Guidry. The story he tells is simple in words but profound in experience. It traverses the spiritual world, the customs of Native Americans, and the companionship of individuals who devote their lives to helping wild animals in distress. In a sudden bout of misfortune, Guidry also tells of being diagnosed with cancer and having to endure its gruesome treatment. I marveled at how an eagle named Freedom became the symbol of life for the author.Maybe I’m a bit too sensitive, but I was getting teary-eyed at both the happy parts of this book as well as the sad parts. I loved the color photographs of the more interesting “patients” (and their humans) at the Sarvey Wildlife Care Center in Washington State. My only wish for this book would have been to have the few specific animal terms (for example: bating, green, flight--when used to mean a cage) explained when first used. To animal lovers and those who respect the natural order of the world, I must say that you’re in for a treat with what Guidry has chosen to share. My hope is that this book will evoke your compassion and a bit more understanding of wild animals and help you to make some good decisions should you encounter any wild animals in distress in the future. In the meantime, grab a hankie and begin to read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    An Eagle Named Freedom is a true story about a man's remarkable relationship with an eagle; but more than that, it is a glorious story about life, the will to live, and living in a meaningful manner. The narrator, Jeff, becomes interested in wildlife and eagles in particular, and begins working at a sanctuary for "wild ones" that have been injured. He is able to form relationships with some special wild animals - a mountain lion, bears, a squirrel, and raptors including Freedom, the eagle. Freedom is brought in to the refuge in a very weak state, and Jeff helps her regain her will to live. She in turn teaches him about fighting for life when he is diagnosed with cancer. The story is beautifully written, bittersweet, touching, funny and thought provoking. It is captivating -- I read it in one long evening because I couldn't put the book down. It is a gorgeous story and I hope that it will stay with me, reminding me to be a better caretaker of this beautiful world & its wild ones.