Comment un bébé-pie blessé sauve une famille australienne!!!

How a scruffy magpie saved a family

Penguin Bloom is the story of an Australian family who rescued a ‘a tiny, scruffy, injured’ magpie chick they called « Penguin ». In caring for the newest member of their family, the Blooms – including mother Sam, who was herself coming to terms with paralysis after an accident – found that Penguin helped them to heal emotionally. Their story went viral on Instagram and has now been turned into a book, royalties from which will go to Spinal Cure Australia and Wings For Life in the UK.

Scruffy = délabré, peu soigné

A magpie = une pie

To rescue = sauver, secourir

Tiny = tout petit, minuscule

Injured = blessé

A chick = un poussin, un bébé

To care for = prodiguer des soins, s’occuper de

To come to terms with = accepter, se faire à

To heal = guérir, cicatriser

Royalties = les droits d’auteur (bénéfices)

A wing = une aile

Our story is deeply painful to share, but it is also beautiful and true. Just know that when I tell you about the tears, the anger and the longing, I am also talking about love. We have laughed till we cried and we have wept ourselves to sleep, for that is the nature of love. Love hurts. Love heals. We were enjoying our first major family holiday adventure in Thailand when tragedy struck. My wife, Sam, fell off a two-storey balcony after the faulty steel and timber safety fence collapsed behind her. In that single moment our whole world came crashing down.

Deeply = profondément

Painful = douloureux

To share = partager

The tears = les larmes

The anger = la colère

The longing = l’envie, le désir

To weep - I wept - wept = pleurer

To strike – I struck – struck = frapper

A two-storey balcony = un balcon au deuxième étage

Faulty = défectueux

Steel and timber = en acier et en bois

A fence = une barrière/ palissade

To collapse = s’effondrer, s’écrouler

Whole = entier

Sam’s skull was fractured in several places, and her brain was bleeding and badly bruised. Both lungs had ruptured and one had completely collapsed owing to her chest cavity filling with blood. There wasn’t an organ in her body that hadn’t been battered, and her spine was shattered at T6 and T7, just below her shoulder blades. The doctors told her she would never walk again. But as severe as her physical injuries were, the emotional damage was far worse. Sam felt she simply couldn’t go on. She didn’t want to live like this.

The skull = le crâne

The brain = le cerveau

To bleed – I bled – bled = saigner

To bruise = contusionner, faire un bleu

The lungs = les poumons

Owing to = à cause de, en raison de

The chest cavity = la cage thoracique

To fill = (se) remplir

Blood = le sang

To batter = battre, frapper

The spine = la colonne vertébrale

To shatter = fracasser, briser

The shoulder blades = les omoplates

An injury = une blessure

The damage = les dégats

Far worse = bien pire

We did everything we could to try to make Sam’s life easier when she finally came home after seven months in hospital, but it was clear we were losing her. I don’t pretend we are the most religious family but, in addition to seeking the best medical advice we could, we prayed to anyone who would hear us, begging for help. And then one day our prayers were answered in the most unexpected way when a tiny, scruffy, injured magpie chick entered our lives.

To seek = chercher

A piece of advice = un conseil

To pray = prier

To beg = supplier, implorer

Unexpected = inattendu

The baby magpie wasn’t much to look at, and she had plenty of problems of her own. Having fallen from her nest some 20 metres up a towering Norfolk pine tree on to an asphalt car park, she was in need of immediate care or she would have died within hours. Our family had witnessed enough tragedy for one lifetime and we were not going to sit idly by. So we bundled her up and took her home.

A nest = un nid

To tower = dominer, surplomber

A pine tree = un pin

Care = soins

To witness = assister à

Idly = à ne rien faire, négligemment

To bundle up = envelopper, emmitoufler

Unable to find an animal rescue shelter that would take in an injured baby wild bird, Sam and I decided that our family would care for this feeble fluffball until she was fully healed and became strong enough to fend for herself. If we failed, then we would lay her to rest in the backyard. Either way, she was staying with us. The boys immediately named her Penguin, after her black-and-white plumage, and that was that. Our three sons suddenly had a baby sister. Miss Penguin Bloom!

A shelter = un abri/ refuge

Wild = sauvage

A fluffball = une boule de duvet

To fend for oneself = se débrouiller

To fail = échouer

Either = d’une manière ou d’une autre

After receiving expert veterinarian advice we soon were able to get the dehydrated, hungry and exhausted little bird (who was still in a state of shock) to eat, drink and rest comfortably. This represented a real victory but her recovery remained touch and go. Though her damaged wing turned out not to be badly broken, she was severely weakened and prone to illness. There were many days when Penguin refused her food and appeared so listless we thought we might lose her. Some evenings, as we tucked her into bed, we wondered if she would survive the night.

Exhausted = exténué

To remain = rester, demeurer

Touch and go = situation critique

Her damaged wing = son aile blessée/ endommagée

To be weakened = être affaibli

To be prone to = être sujet/ enclin à

An illness = une maladie

Listless = apathique, sans énergie

To tuck = border

It is not easy to look after any sick or injured wild creature, and this is especially true of a baby bird – as we soon found out. Our little girl was quite a handful. Caring for Penguin, especially during those first few weeks, was a massive commitment – especially because she had to be fed every two hours. During this time Penguin bonded with every member of the family, but her relationship with Sam was special. It was clear there was a connection between them that, perhaps because of their mutual need for extra care, forged a deep and lasting bond.

Sick = malade

A handful = une poignée (gros comme la main)

A commitment = un engagement

To bond with = se rapprocher de, nouer des liens avec

Deep = profond

Lasting = durable

We didn’t own a cage and we weren’t inclined to get one. Penguin was a wild bird and we didn’t want her to grow up to be any other way. We made a simple nest out of an old cane laundry basket and lined this with soft cotton fabric to keep her warm. As Penguin gained confidence she would perch on a sill by an open window at night – though there were plenty of times when she would sneak down the hallway till she found an open bedroom door and jump into bed for snuggles. It was pretty obvious she felt she owned the place.

To own = posséder

To grow up = grandir

A cane laundry basket = un panier à linge en rotin

Fabric = du tissu

Confidence = la confiance

A sill = rebord de fenêtre

To sneak down = se faufiler

A hallway = un couloir

Snuggles = des calins

Obvious = évident

As the parents of three young boys, Sam and I were used to mess and noise around the house and so Penguin fitted right in; quickly becoming a beloved member of our family. Sam and I had to admit that it was quite adorable watching the ‘kids’ grow up together. It wasn’t always perfect. Like so many younger sisters she soon learned how to drive her big brothers crazy and somehow get away with it. But they always made up in the end.

Mess = le désordre

To make up = se réconcilier

As much as we loved having Penguin in our home (despite her signature poop flourishes on every chair, curtain, blanket, cushion and table top), it soon became clear we needed to help her become an independent young woman. For Penguin’s own good, she needed to spend a lot more time outdoors. Her long-term health and wellbeing depended on her being able to look after herself in her natural environment, and playing video games, reading books and watching movies with her brothers could hardly be considered adequate preparation for this important transition.

Poop = caca

A blanket = une couverture

A cushion = un coussin

For her own good = pour son bien

Outdoors = à l’extérieur

Health = la santé

Wellbeing = le bien-être

To look after = s’occuper de

Hardly = difficilement

Some teenagers are delighted when they get their first flat – but Penguin was not at all impressed when we moved her into the frangipani tree in our backyard. She tried to sneak back into the house all the time, often with great success, but she soon learned how to forage for her own food and quickly flourished. Nevertheless, we kept a close eye on our little girl. Her injuries and illness had slowed her physical development and, until she could fly properly, she would never be fully independent.

Delighted = ravi

A flat = un appartement/ studio

A frangipani tree = un frangipanier

To forage = chercher de la nourriture

Nevertheless = néanmoins

To slow = ralentir

To fly = voler

While all this was going on Sam was fighting her own battle to regain movement and her sense of self, after her terrible accident. Her overwhelming feeling of loss made it hard for her to face the world. She even avoided old friends whom she loved dearly as it was impossible to articulate her grief, frustration and anger at what had happened to her without falling apart.

To fight = (se) battre

Overwhelming = accablant, écrasant

Loss = perte

To avoid = éviter

Grief = chagrin, douleur, peine

Anger = la colère

To fall apart = craquer

Our home certainly didn’t lack for compassion. But Sam struggled to come to terms with her disability at a level that we could neither relate to nor hope to understand. Sam didn’t want our sympathy. She didn’t want to be coddled. She didn’t want anyone’s pity or platitudes. She just wanted her old life back. A completely understandable but wholly impossible wish.

To lack for = manquer de

To struggle = lutter

A disability = un handicap

Sympathy = la compassion

To be coddled = être gâté

A wish = un souhait

We did whatever we could to help Sam through this dark time. We tried to be there for her. But beyond the fact that everything she tried to do was now extremely difficult, the utterly gut-wrenching, soul-crushing feeling that your life has been stolen from you is something you can’t fathom unless you have been through it yourself. You don’t even know where to begin. I know we didn’t.

Utterly gut-wrenching = complètement déchirant

Soul-crushing = qui déchire l’âme

To fathom = comprendre

Unless = à moins de

In the end it was Penguin who helped Sam the most. The two of them became almost inseparable. I would hear them talking and singing to each other for hours on end. When Penguin was weak and sickly, Sam would nurse her back to health. And when Sam found it hard to get moving, Penguin would sing her energy levels up.

For hours on end = durant des heures

Sickly = maladif, chétif

To nurse = soigner, s’occuper de

Penguin was there for Sam in a way that no one else could be. Sam told Penguin everything she was feeling and, in doing so, she started to feel lighter and more optimistic. Like the truest of friends Penguin saw it all and heard it all (even the language that would make angels blush) and never lost her composure. She was loyal, understanding and encouraging at all times. Though both were extremely fragile when they met, Sam and Penguin found new strength in each other, and within themselves. Sam took up kayaking and eventually became a national champion. And Penguin finally started to stretch out her growing wings.

No one else = personne d’autre

To blush = rougir

Composure = le calme, le sang-froid

The strength = la force

To take up = se mettre à

Eventually = finalement

To stretch out = étirer, étendre

With all respect to the Wright Brothers and their historic maiden voyage across the lower skies of North Carolina in 1903, for the Bloom family the most momentous first flight in history took place in our lounge room. Our spirits soared on Penguin’s black-and-white wings. Her personal victory was a moment of pure joy for all of us. A Bloom family member had, at last, conquered gravity. Her example inspired Sam to even great efforts in her rehabilitation and her gruelling kayak workouts.

Maiden = premier, inaugural

The sky = le ciel

Momentous = historique, important

A flight = un vol (dans les airs)

To soar = s’envoler, grimper en flèche

Gruelling = éreintant, épuisant

Workout = entrainement physique

Thanks to Penguin’s upbeat presence there were far fewer tears in our home and a lot more laughter. She taught us that helping others feel better is the easiest and best way to help yourself feel better. Whenever she popped in for a flying visit Penguin showed us what a huge difference it can make just giving your family and friends a reason to smile when they see you.

Thanks to = grâce à

Upbeat = enjoué, joyeux

Far fewer = beaucoup moins de

A tear = une larme

Laughter = des rires

To pop in = faire un saut, passer voir

Penguin proved there is so much more love in the world than we could possibly imagine. Regardless of how bad things get, compassion, friendship and support can come from the most unexpected places. And no matter how lost, lonely, defeated or damaged we feel, accepting the love of others and loving them in return, to whatever degree we can, will help to make us whole again.

To prove = prouver

Regardless of = en dépit de, malgré

Friendship = l’amitié

Defeated = démoralisé

The day Sam left to compete in the World Kayak Championships in Italy, as part of the Australian para-canoe team, Penguin flew away for good. We hear delightful stories about her around town from time to time, but she has found a boyfriend and made a nest of her own and has moved on with her life. We all agree she will make an excellent mother and are extremely happy for her. Of course we miss her dearly – but we knew she was wild at heart when we found her. The endless blue sky was not ours to give, it was always hers by right. Wherever Penguin goes she will always be a part of us.

To compete = faire de la compétition

To fly away for good = s’envoler pour de bon (=partir)

Delightful = charmant, délicieux

To miss dearly = (elle) leur manque énormément

Caring for Penguin has changed our perspective on life, love and pretty much everything else. She has completely redefined what family means. In the beginning we thought we were rescuing Penguin, but now we know this remarkable little bird has made us stronger, brought us closer as a family, given us countless reasons to smile and laugh during an extremely difficult time and, in doing so, helped us heal emotionally and physically. So, in a very real way, Penguin rescued us. We’ve been through a lot and I feel incredibly proud of us, as a family, and I am excited about what our future holds. And I am also incredibly grateful to this crazy little bird for making this future possible. As far as we are concerned, Penguin is living proof that angels come in all shapes and sizes.

Countless reasons = d’innombrables raisons

Grateful = reconnaissant

Living proof = la preuve vivante

Angels come in all shapes and sizes = les anges peuvent avoir toutes les formes et toutes les tailles

Cameron Bloom and Bradley Trevor Greive

Wednesday 12 October 2016

Penguin Bloom: how a scruffy magpie saved a family

Penguin Bloom is the story of an Australian family who rescued a 'a tiny, scruffy, injured' magpie chick they called Penguin. In caring for the newest member of their family, the Blooms - including

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/gallery/2016/oct/13/penguin-bloom-how-a-scruffy-magpie-rescued-a-family

Une histoire bouleversante à lire absolument, vous pouvez ensuite acheter le livre avec des photographies fantastiques!!! et un exemple dont il faut s'inspirer quand on a un coup de blues...

Home

Penguin's rescue and the incredible joy and strength she gives Sam and all those who helped her survive demonstrates that, however bleak things seem, compassion, friendship and support can come from

http://www.penguinbloom.com/

Vous pouvez commander votre livre sur ce site.

Home

Penguin was just a small, wobbly-headed magpie chick when my son, Noah, found her lying injured on the grass after being blown out of her nest, located some 20 metres up a towering Norfolk Island ...

http://www.penguinthemagpie.com/

Venez découvrir des photos magnifiques et époustouflantes!