Have you ever felt a special bond with an animal? For Jo Jantz and her family, that animal was a young crow named Elvis. His arrival was a surprise, but he brought so much happiness and comfort to them during a tough time.
It all began one morning when Jo was out taking care of her plants. Suddenly, a baby crow landed on the fence and stared at her before cawing for her attention.
Curious, Jo’s daughter, Nina Mason, went over to the bird. To their amazement, the crow flew right onto Nina’s arm, and that’s how their friendship started.
The family quickly became fond of Elvis. They thought he was a sign from Jo’s late father, who loved birds. Elvis visited them every day, giving them comfort and companionship, especially while they were grieving.
So, as time passed, Elvis became a regular part of their lives. He would hop onto their arms or shoulders, or just sit close by, enjoying their company.
He even joined them for meals, splashing in their birdbath or nibbling on their snacks. As Nina shared in an interview:
“He was like an annoying little brother – I couldn’t get mad at him … He’d hang out anywhere from an hour to several hours until he’d fly away or I’d have to go in to get ready for work.”
Even when Elvis wasn’t at home with the family, he always kept an eye on them. One time, he swooped down from a neighbor’s roof to join Nina on her walk.
For a long time he made them happy, but, as time went on, Elvis grew up and moved on. Luckily, he never left them completely.
The family still sees him flying around the neighborhood, and they treasure all the memories they created together. Nina added:
“Most people are aware that crows love shiny things, but Elvis loved my soccer necklace in particular, which happened to be my grandpa’s 1959 championship soccer necklace. It made it feel like even more of a sign that my grandpa sent him to bring us joy and heal our grieving hearts.”
Elvis really helped Jo and her family feel better and happier when they were going through a hard time. I honestly think that Jo’s grandpa sent him to keep an eye on them. It feels really special, doesn’t it?