The “North Carolina Boys” were a group of very rare survivors from the flooding of Hurricane Florence in 2018. When the Category 4 storm caused torrential rain and flooding, factory farmed pigs were locked in the barns to drown. These boys were swept out of their prisons by the flood waters, and eleven of them were sent to live here in Tennessee.
Cornbread was one of the smallest of the North Carolina Boys, identifiable by his slimmer frame and a face that always looked innocent, youthful, and smiling. He lived on Solsbury Hill with two of the other North Carolina Boys, Ezekiel and Ezra, but he was amiable enough to be friends with everyone. Cornbread was a huge swamper, and you’d be hard-pressed to find him without a mudsuit on a sunny day! Cornbread was an actual angel and truly found joy in everything he did. He was gentle and sweet and expressive. He was the runt of our North Carolina boys and needed a lot of extra TLC…and his delicate body broke down far too young.
After a professional evaluation at the University of Tennessee, we nursed a presumptive diagnosis of IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease) for several months. He was slowly and inexplicably losing his ability to use his rear legs, and nothing was helping. Palliative care was our only option. We lifted him and supported his quality of life to the best of our ability, and for as long as was humane for him. We eased his passing at home while surrounded by his loved ones and his caregivers. He passed in the peace of Solsbury Hill while the windchimes played their song in his honor.
Cornbread was a joy to know. He truly charmed everyone he met with his carefree, playful spirit, and we will miss him.
