An Eagle Named Freedom: My True Story of a Remarkable Friendship

“I could not put this book down.”

From the moment Jeff Guidry saw the emaciated baby eagle with broken wings, his life was changed. For weeks he and the staff at Sarvey Wildlife Care Center tended to the grievously injured bird. Miraculously, she recovered, and Jeff, a center volunteer, became her devoted caretaker.

Though Freedom would never fly, she had Jeff as her wings. And after Jeff was diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2000, Freedom returned his gift. Between sessions of debilitating chemotherapy, Jeff went back to Sarvey and began taking Freedom for walks that soothed his spirit and gave him the strength to fight. 

A tender tale of hope, love, trust, and life, this moving true story is an affirmation of the spiritual connection that humans and animals share.

How can an eagle who will never fly teach a man how to live?

• A Journey of Healing: Jeff’s devastating diagnosis with stage 3 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and the grueling chemotherapy that tested his will to survive.
• An Unlikely Friendship: The story of Freedom, an emaciated baby eagle found with two broken wings, and the volunteer who refused to give up on her.
• Wildlife Rescue: A behind-the-scenes look at the Sarvey Wildlife Care Center and the dedicated people who give injured animals a second chance at life.
• A Spiritual Connection: The powerful, unspoken bond that forms as Freedom’s presence gives Jeff the strength to fight, proving that the deepest connections transcend species.