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How an Unlikely Bond Formed Between an Adorable Duckling and a Nurturing Dog

Mackenzie Freeman




Life truly does work in mysterious ways. Even in the face of such great tragedy, all hope is never lost. Every now and then, tragic circumstances can even pave the way for something beautiful to form.

Such is the case when a duckling and a dog entered each other’s lives.

To better understand their story, it helps to go back to the day when Tommy Bentsen stumbled upon a nest of duck eggs. Upon spotting the nest, young Tommy told his family about his find.

The Bentsens then continued to keep a close watch over the nest, hoping to see the mother eventually return. However, the mother duck never returned, per this article from Little Things.

With the mother duck nowhere in sight and the eggs becoming cold to the touch, the Bentsen family knew that they had to take action as soon as possible. In an effort to save the ducklings, the Bentsens looked up ways to hatch the duck eggs and put them into action.

What followed would be an agonizing 28-day wait to see if their efforts to save the ducklings were enough. Unfortunately, they were unable to save all of the ducklings. Only one of the ducklings managed to survive after being abandoned by their mother.

Brody the Dog Steps Up to the Plate

With no parent to watch over her, it would seem that the young duckling would have a hard time adjusting to the world around her. However, it also seemed that the Bentsen family dog had a different idea and he was not about to just abandon his newfound friend.

Brody, the family dog, decided that he was going to take a shot at nurturing the duckling. Mother ducks and male dogs don’t seem to have a lot in common, but Brody certainly seems to have those maternal instincts.

Speaking to CBS New York, Cindy Bentsen said that their dog Brody took on a “mama duck persona” as he watched over the duckling.

No Parting Necessary

At this point, the Bentsen family knew what they had to do. With the duckling nurtured to good health, they knew it was time for them to give her a chance to survive in the wild.

The Bentsen family had a canal conveniently located near their home and they would use that as a way to introduce the young duckling to the animal world. Tough as it may have been for duckling and dog, it seemed that the time was right for the former to move on.

Things didn’t exactly work out that way however.

Not long after the Bentsens released the duckling into the wild, she returned. The Bentsens observed how the other ducks were reacting to the one they helped raise and they noticed that she was having a hard time fitting in. They suspect that it may have something to do with the fact that the duckling was not raised in the wild.

Instead of moving away from her first home, the duckling decided that she wanted to stick around and be around the Bentsens and their dog Brody. It’s an arrangement that Brody is overjoyed about.

According to Ashley Bentsen, Brody likes to follow the duck around and keep a close eye on her. Whenever the duck goes into the water for a little swim, Brody will be close by at the dock to serve as her guardian.

There is no denying that the young duck the Bentsens found and eventually helped hatch had a rough start to life, but those circumstances did not prevent her from finding a loving family. Thanks to the Bentsens and their dog Brody, this young duckling is sure to have a beautiful life.



A Lost and Treasured Diary

Leslie Tander



Luis Martinez was doing some routine cleaning when he found something potentially valuable among all of the trash. He was clearing away the garbage in a truck, but there was also a little book there. It’s always a good idea to examine something like that before throwing it out, even when cleaning a truck that already has plenty of genuine garbage in it. 

Some people may have thrown out the book anyway, since getting a truck ready for an automobile auction can be time-consuming enough as it is. Fortunately, Luis Martinez decided to take a look inside this apparently discarded book. His curiosity may have changed everything for the people who may receive this book in the future. 

After taking a few quick glances at the content of the book, Luis Martinez found out that he had discovered a diary. The book featured a lot of natural handwriting, and it was clearly written by someone who had a lot of deeply personal things to say. 

People have discovered very important historical artifacts in the same way. Many individuals may think that all of history’s treasures were carefully preserved for years or famous in their own time. While plenty of art pieces and architectural creations are like that, it isn’t always the case.

Some lost paintings have been found over the years, and they were later confirmed to be the works of some of the most famous artists in history. People have discovered written works in the same way at different points throughout time. 

Many of the most important historical artifacts have been the journals, letters, diaries, and essays that were written by the people who were actually alive in a given historical period. Professionals tend to turn to these documents in order to more accurately understand the attitudes, beliefs, and experiences of people from specific eras.

Historians tend to be thrilled when someone finds an old diary or something similar. It’s the sort of primary source that can make a huge difference in any form of historical survey research. Many historians tend to be enthusiastic about the people who manage to help preserve some of these works themselves. 

The diary that Luis Martinez found could be considered an important historical piece one day. Of course, it’s still a diary that is important in this time period, which is something that Luis Martinez certainly recognizes. 

Some of the people in his situation would have just gotten rid of the journal, since finding anyone connected with the journal would be difficult. Luis Martinez, on the other hand, is interested in making sure that the journal is brought back to where it belongs. 

The writer of the diary was in her early nineties. Her name was Lola Maxine. Depending on how old the diary is and how long ago everything was originally written, it’s possible that Lola Maxine herself could want the diary back. 

However, she was often specifically writing to Arabella Raine, her granddaughter. It’s possible that Arabella Raine should be the person to keep the diary. Lola Maxine’s other family members could also want it. However, it’s possible that the diary could become a treasured possession for the entire family. 

Luis Martinez is interested in bringing the diary to them, one way or another. It’s possible that they will find out about it the same way other people online have, making things easier for Luis Martinez. A lot of people have managed to find things that they have lost that way, even if they didn’t know that they lost them. They just need conscientious and kind people to find them initially. 

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Mackenzie Freeman









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Pregnant Women are Concerned With New York Hospital’s Banning Birth Partners

Mackenzie Freeman



It is an unnerving time for everyone, especially pregnant couples. With the healthcare system being overwhelmed due to the Coronavirus, many couples are wondering how their birthing plans will be impacted. One New York healthcare network has decided to ban birth partners from the delivery room. This has become a controversial topic that is worrisome to women across the country that their hospital could also adopt this policy.

New York-Presbyterian recently announced that it is banning visitors including birth partners. This means countless women will experience the labor and delivery process without the support of their loved ones.

This also means fathers will not be able to see their newborns until the babies are released from the hospital. There are temporary exceptions to the rule for the imminent end of life and specific patient’s needs. This is not comforting to most mothers who will be bringing their child into the world under these stressful and strained conditions.

New York-Presbyterian is taking a significant step in protecting expecting pregnant couples due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Unfortunately, this move is not calming the fears of women. The policy is certainly jarring considering the World Health Organization determined that the role of birth partners is crucial.

Birthing partners provide informational support during childbirth and liaise gaps between women and clinical staff. Companions also provide practical support, like encouraging women to be mobile during labor, provide non-pharmacological pain relief like meditation and massage, and offer emotional support.

Companions are advocates for women, addressing her and her preferences. Labor companions can help women build their confidence through praise, reassurance, and having a supportive presence while allowing them to feel in control.

Chief of Obstetrics at Columbia University, Dena Goffman, MD, notes that New York-Presbyterian’s decision was difficult, well-considered, and not taken lightly. They decided to ensure all potential visitors, including partners, remain safe. The hospital group also decided to test all incoming pregnant women for COVID-19, regardless of their symptoms.

This decision came after doctors noticed numerous women without symptoms or atypical symptoms later testing positive for the virus. Unfortunately, many labor symptoms mimic some COVID-19 symptoms, so these women were not identified by the usual screening method, testing processes, and infection prevention and control. Therefore, the virus protection practices were never implemented thus exposing staff members.

By implementing this new policy of testing women in labor, doctors can isolate newborns who may have been exposed. This is a significant preventative measure to stop an outbreak within non-infected baby nurseries. With such a huge number of cases in New York, this is an important step.

Dr. Goffman further noted that the hospital network is investigating other options for allowing birth partners and loved ones to be included in this special moment. The most promising idea is using technology. The hospital recognizes the need for additional family support for moms and mom and baby pairs when at the hospital.

While the WHO’s position on child partners has remained the same, they believe all pregnant women, including those with confirmed viral infection, are entitled to high-quality care throughout the entire pregnancy.  

The new COVID-19 world is unknown, unpredictable, and scary with situations evolving by the minute. However, planning and flexibility allow women to have a normal birthing experience. Also, consult your medical team with any concerns or questions you may have about the pregnancy or COVID-19. Hopefully, technology will be able to play a bigger role for family and friends in the future so the mother and birthing partner can continue to have and provide support before, during, and after the pregnancy.

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