After MJ died, I said no more. I was done. The pain and heartbreak were unbearable. But Toni, in whose arms MJ died, had other ideas. She pleaded with me to take in Coco and Charlie. So, in July 2018, I welcomed these precious babies into my home and heart, followed by Caree and then Cruz in the coming months. My little "C mob" was complete with Charlie, a beautiful, gentle boy and the first male I had taken into care.

During this time, I founded Healing Hands Wildlife Care. We acquired a 2-acre fox-proof pen and permission to release on a 300-acre property owned by the Education Department. There was a huge shearing shed, a toilet and shower block, and a caretaker house. We thought we had struck gold. However, bureaucracy stepped in, and we were told to move the joeys as the land was zoned for tertiary education, not wildlife care. Even though the Education Department had no intention or need for the property, they wanted it vacated. As a result, I needed to find a new place for my babies.

In the meantime, Rosie and Tappy had joined us, along with Cherish and Calle. There were eight other joeys in the pen as well, and their carers opted for a hard release. I was welcome to let mine go with them, but that was the last thing I wanted to do. I just didn't believe it was in their best interest. I bought my property specifically to give my joeys the best possible chance at a soft release life.

Charlie became the protector of the mob and was always gentle with the babies. When Cruz got hurt, he stayed with him in the pen every night and slept outside the pen during the day. Once their sparring became a bit too serious and Cruz kept losing his splint, I reluctantly had to make the decision to keep them separate. Charlie's release attempts became the talk and giggle of the Amaris Facebook community. He did not want to go, and every chance he got, he would sneak back through the gate.

Micah joined the M mob as the only boy and Charlie became his protector. Always together.

One of the most heartwarming memories I have is taking Charlie to visit my Mum in her nursing home. It was dinner time, and Mum, ever the doting grandmother, tried to feed Charlie her precious pea soup. Now, no one ever comes between my Mum and her pea soup, so this gesture brought tears to my eyes. Her love for Charlie was so pure and unconditional that she was willing to share her favorite meal with him.

As we walked around the nursing home, Mum proudly introduced Charlie as her grandson to everyone she met. The joy and pride in her voice were palpable. Charlie, ever the gentle soul, seemed to understand the special bond he was forming with Mum. Her eyes lit up with happiness every time I brought one of my babies to visit, but the connection she had with Charlie was truly something special.

These visits brought immense joy to Mum and to the other residents as well. Seeing the way Charlie touched her heart and brightened her days is a memory I will always cherish. It was in these moments that I saw the incredible power of love and the profound impact these beautiful creatures have on our lives.

One morning, Charlie came home and looked dreadful. At first, I thought he had had a rough night with the big wild boys. He did, but it was a lot worse than I was thinking. The following day, I knew he was in pain, and I was able to administer pain relief via injection. I slept with him under the stars at night, keeping him company and reassuring him that Mummy was there to help. After a couple of days, he was lying down and immobile, so I was finally able to get a vet to visit. I wasn't taking the risk earlier that the vet would arrive and he would take off, and I wouldn't know where he was. After examination, it was diagnosed that he had internal injuries, likely sustained from a kick by a big wild boy. Sadly, euthanasia was the only option.

Putting Charlie to sleep was one of the most heart-wrenching moments of my life. I felt utterly helpless, knowing that despite all my efforts and love, I couldn't save my big, beautiful boy. The pain of seeing him suffer and not being able to alleviate his internal injuries was unbearable. As I held him in my arms, I wanted nothing more than to give him a life free from pain. The decision to let him go was excruciating, but I knew it was the kindest thing I could do for him. My heart broke as I said goodbye, but I take comfort in knowing that he felt my love until his very last moment.

Meet Charlie

Meet Layla

Meet Yasha