āThe patient: this 3-day-old little boy was born with torn upper and lower wings. Letās see how we can help!ā
Today the Department of Awesomely Good Deeds salutes costume designer and master embroiderer Romy McCloskey who used her fine skills with delicate materials to help a monarch butterfly sheād raised and whoād emerged from his cocoon with damaged right wings.
āThe operating room and supplies: towel, wire hanger, contact cement, toothpick, cotton swab, scissors, tweezers, talc powder, extra butterfly wingā
āSecuring the butterfly and cutting the damaged parts away. Donāt worry it doesnāt hurt them. Itās like cutting hair or trimming fingernailsā
āTa-da! With a little patience and a steady hand, I fit the new wings to my little guyā
āThe black lines do not match completely and it is missing the black dot (male marking) on the lower right wing, but with luck, he will flyā
āFLIGHT DAY! After a day of rest and filling his belly with homemade nectar, it is time to see if he will flyā
āWith a quick lap around the yard and a little rest on a bush, he was off! A successful surgery and outcome! Bye, little buddy! Good luckā