Soon after admission, Southport agrees to an interview with turtle whisperer Karen Sota.

Karen Sota: Hola, Southport.

KS: You’re a long way from home for a Kemp’s Ridley, aren’t you?

S: You can say that again!

S: I’m just a little squirt, about 2 years old. Maybe I haven’t had enough life experience to know any better. You can bet that next year I won’t make this same mistake.

S: A nice man named Chuck Nelson saw me floating near the intake structure at the Progress Energy steam electric plant in Brunswick County. Having rescued turtles there in the past (Brunswick and Kane) he knew just how important I was, and how to get me the help I needed. He even recorded the exact place where I was found: N 33°57.25' latitude, W 78°00.30' longitude. Whatever; I was still way off course.

S: I’ll tell you, I was floating around freezing my carapace off in 53° water. Now I’m just a little 4-½ pound cold-blooded reptile without the means to heat myself up. That cold water, along with the cold air (below 50°) made me one hypothermic turtle. My hospital chart says I was “cold-stunned.”

S: Mr. Chuck wrapped me up and drove me to Wilmington, where he handed me to a lady with white hair and a sweet smile. I could tell right away she really liked me. I found out later my chauffeur was THE DIRECTOR of the hospital, Jean Beasley.

S: Well, I now know that being a Kemp’s Ridley really is special. I’m the rarest of the sea turtles. I found out there’s another Kemp’s about my age at the hospital, and I hope to meet him soon. I’m really impressed with how big the loggerhead turtles are! I was a little intimidated at first, but got over that pretty quickly, mostly because the volunteers fuss over me so much.

S: Thank you. But back to my story. I was really paying attention during my physical exam, so I knew that “cold-stunned” turtles have a tendency to get pneumonia. I had been wheezing a little, so it was a good thing that I was started on medicine immediately. Yikes – those needles are really sharp. But I just got my last shot, and I feel a lot better.

KS: Most patients rave about our hospital food.

S: It’s the best! I was a little confused at first, having stuff put right in my face. I was used to catching it. But I get shrimp, and tender little squid rings delivered right to my tank. Life doesn’t get much better. Well, maybe if I had some fresh blue crab, but they’re kind of hard to come by right now. My only complaint is biting into a vitamin or calcium tablet hidden (they think) in my shrimp. Kind of kills the flavor.

S: My tank’s right under a window, so I get to bask in the sun for part of the day. I nap, swim, nap, look cute. I was a little battered from my ordeal, so I’m being careful not to do anything that might damage my plastron any further. I’m teaching the other turtles Spanish in the evenings, just in case they meet another Kemp’s someday.

S: I’m really hoping to take the plunge at the June release. I’d like to escort another Kemp’s Ridley, Dare, to her reef. I’ve heard her story – what a brave lady.