The belief that angels exist is something that I have never questioned. They are as much a part of my life, and as familiar to me, as members of my own family.

The earliest memory that I have of my own guardian angel occurred when I was a young child. The bow I was wearing in my hair caught fire because I got too close to a burning candle at the dinner table. The adults panicked, doing everything from throwing water on me to covering me with a towel. But I sat quietly watching and listening to the "beautiful white lady", (that's what I have always called her) with the big wings, reassure me that I was protected and would not be injured. Angels are my constant companions. I see them everyday in one situation or another. The following is a true story.

There was a time when I was very involved in the business of breeding thoroughbred horses. Anyone familiar with the horse breeding business, especially thoroughbreds, knows that from February until June, you become a zombie. It is especially busy, but also a wonderful time of year.

Horse moms think the best time to bring their bundles of joy into the world is in the wee hours of the morning. One particular night we were visited by the "horsey stork" 3 times. I had finished up at the barn and stumbled to the house to try and get at least an hour of sleep before having to get up for the day.

We had installed a camera in the foaling stall, with the monitor set up in our bedroom. Exhausted, I fell asleep almost immediately, only to be awakened with the words "Wake Up!" echoing in my ear. I sat straight up in bed. Sleepily, I gazed at the TV monitor. What I saw had me blinking and rubbing my eyes.

The mama to be, who's name was Classy, was staring right into the camera. "Help me," she said. It was then that I saw the angel. She was superimposed over the flanks of the mare. Her wings nearly covered the entire stall. Not trusting what I was seeing, I woke my husband and asked him to look at the TV monitor and tell me what he saw. "There must be something on the camera lens," he said. "It looks like an angel is in the stall with Classy." he replied sleepily. I felt a slow panic engulfing the mare. "Something's wrong, please call the vet" I said to my husband. I headed to the barn and once inside, I felt a warm, loving glow. The angel was still there.
I began communicating with Classy that she must trust us humans as well as the angel who had come to help her. I had a deep sense of "knowing" that everything would be fine. Classy wasn't so sure. The vet arrived in time to witness the normal birth of Classy's foal. What followed was anything but normal. As the vet entered the stall he looked up and said "I think we need a little angelic help here". To which I replied "we've got it." He nodded in agreement. I was totally connected to the mare and I felt her body go cold. She was very still and there was a blackness within her. The vet said that she had gone into shock and was bleeding internally. It would take a miracle if she were to survive.

I continued communicating with Classy, assuring her we were there to help her. She must not give up. She's always been a fighter. Our angel was still there, and more visible than ever. Suddenly I could feel Classy's body relax as her blood pressure and her body temperature began to rise.

Without warning, she jumped up and began taking care of her foal as if nothing had ever been wrong. The veterinarian just scratched his head, "I've seen a lot of things in my day" he said," but I know now, I've seen it all." Mare and foal were doing fine. Before I turned out the light and left the barn I said, "Thank you, angel, thank you Classy, thank you Doc" to which the vet added, "That goes for me too!!!"