Däumelinchen

In our living room, there is a framed photograph of a goat. She is the first face of our healing herd you might see when you enter our home, and in many ways, she was the very first healer we truly knew. Her name is Däumelinchen, and her story is the foundation of our journey.

Born in 2021, she entered the world as a tiny, premature kid with a spirit that far outsized her fragile body. Her legs, which we lovingly called ‘frog-legs’, splayed out from under her, and she couldn't stand. To save her from being outcompeted by her stronger siblings, we brought her inside, making her our very first bottle-kid. We fashioned a small box to keep her hooves beneath her, hoping she would find the strength to rise.

Around the same time, another goat named Popcorn was showing signs of floppy kid syndrome and was brought inside for treatment. Typically, floppy kids can return to their mothers after a day or two. However, in Popcorn’s case, her mother refused to recognize her once she returned, as some of Däumelinchen’s droppings had smeared onto Popcorn’s backside.

Thus, Popcorn joined Däumelinchen as a bottle-kid, and a sacred sisterhood was formed. Popcorn, the calm presence, and Däumelinchen, the determined go-getter.

Their bond was the medicine she needed; with her sister by her side, Däumelinchen finally found her footing and began to walk. They, along with a few others, became our first "house herd," a joyful, mischievous pack who would come running from anywhere to the sound of our daughter Lisa's call: "Bokkie Meh... come Bokkie Meh."

Däumelinchen’s unique behaviors began to surface. Due to her sticky eyes, she habitually lifted her snout high to see us, and she continued doing that even when she was grown and her eyes were clear - it was a quirky habit that only made her more endearing.

As weak as she began, Däumelinchen’s spirit was forged in fire. She became one of the few goats capable of standing straight on her hind legs to reach the highest branches—a sight that filled our hearts with awe. She had transformed from a weakling into a pillar of physical and mental strength.

What we didn't realize then was that her strength was not just for her. It was a gift she was meant to share.

During a particularly dark period of depression for our daughter, Däumelinchen became her anchor. It was an instinct, a deep knowing within her. She didn't need to be asked; she would simply seek Lisa out in the goat garden, offering her quiet, unwavering, loving presence. She was a beacon of light who effortlessly lifted the shadows, not by doing anything, but simply by being everything Lisa needed in that moment. She was the first to show us the profound, innate healing power held within these incredible souls.

She grew into a magnificent mother herself, giving birth to a beautiful daughter who was her mirror image in every way—gentle, loving, and fiercely independent. Their bond was palpable, a connection that resonated with a pure, uncomplicated love.

Yet, fate dealt a cruel and swift hand. Däumelinchen was one of the first to pass away in the October 2023 tragedy, a catastrophic event that claimed so many from our herd. To lose her—our pioneer, our fighter, our daughter's anchor—plunged us into a darkness that felt bottomless. Those dark days stretched into weeks, our hearts refusing to accept that our beloved girl was truly gone.

To compound the grief, just a few months later, her beautiful daughter vanished mysteriously during a walk in the bush, leaving a second, aching void where their bright lights had been.

It is never easy to recount this story; the loss is still a heavy weight in our hearts.

Däumelinchen was more than our first bottle-kid; she was the first to teach us about the profound, innate healing power these animals carry. She was a beacon, a healer, and a cherished member of our family.

Her spirit lives on in every corner of this sanctuary, and our love for her is eternal.