News
Henry, jm (aka Henry, Just Me)
September 29, 2008, 5:38PM MT
By Danielle A Engle
In the face of adversity, a kitten named Henry inspired a book and then a movement.
In the face of adversity, a kitten named Henry inspired a book and then a movement. He is a model of courage, love and compassion for humans and non-humans alike.
Posted by Danielle A. Engle, Best Friends Network Reporter
Photography by Cathy Conheim, Henry's World
In 2003, a fire blazed through the foothills and mountains near Julian, a small historic mining town east of San Diego. Firefighters saved the town but area wildlife, homes and forests were lost. Amazingly, 5 homes escaped the destruction. One of the homes was a weekend getaway home for Cathy Conheim, a psychotherapist and Donna Brooks, a retired physician. In the months ahead, it became a refuge for people and animals left homeless after the fire.
Amidst the loss and personal anguish, a litter of 4 kittens appeared 15 months after the fire. Lifelong dog people, Conheim and Brooks reluctantly agreed to allow the caretaker’s daughter to keep the kittens on the property. One day a tragedy struck and one of the kittens suffered a concussion and a severed nerve in his front paw. For the kitten – later dubbed Henry, jm - to survive, the paw would have to be amputated, relegating him to living life as an indoor cat. Although others offered to adopt Henry, he had already chosen his new family.
Henry’s World is the story of Henry, Mom Cathy, Dr. Mom and Dolly, the black poodle whom Henry deemed to be a prancing “horse.” The book unfolded via a series of e-mail correspondence between Henry and his increasing assortment of friends, relatives and devoted followers. What makes a cat with three legs so special? To begin, Henry, jm would be special if he had four legs, five legs, two legs on no lets at all! With the help of Mom Cathy, cat scribe and photographer, Henry is touching, helping, and inspiring humans and non-humans everywhere.
The book is a delight to read and share with other members of the family. The pages are adorned with colorful photographs that tell a story all their own. There is a music CD available with the book. In 1998 his Mom’s started the Real Women Project http://realwomenproject.org. Two music CDs developed from the project. One of the songs, “Just Me,” fits everyone and inspired Henry’s Moms to dub him Henry, jm. The book and the music CD are available on Henry’s web site, http://henrysworld.org. Published by Breakthrough Press, profits from Henry’s World can be used as a fund-raising tool for animal causes. Henry will sell the book to you at cost so you can donate the profits to an animal cause of your choosing. Henry gives his direct sale profits to several organizations, including Best Friends Animal Society.
In addition to his fund-raising work, Henry has a video, a new book for children, and he’s appearing on radio shows, magazine covers, CNN World Wide and more. On a personal note, Henry has touched the Engle household in numerous, inspiring and imaginative ways. We were introduced to Henry by two Best Friends members, Joanne Domitrovic and Beth Cheney. They sent us a copy of the book and the music CD after learning about a book our mom is writing to help children and others understand traumatic brain injury.
Naturally, we grew curious so Mom began sharing the book and the music with us. It lifts our spirits to listen to the music. When Mom reads the book to us, it helps us relax and sets us at ease knowing Mom is happy, too. Henry has such a positive impact that Mom introduced him to her music therapist at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis. Her therapist thinks Henry is a wonderful resource to know and share. Now he’ll be helping all sorts of people with all sorts of challenges – autism, stroke, brain injury, vision loss, amputation, cerebral palsy, depression, memory loss, and more – in music therapy at MacPhail!
Mom told us to make certain and thank Henry and his Mom Cathy for sending us a photograph to share with you. To learn more about Henry or to place an order, visit his web site at http://henrysworld.org.