James never expected that taking care of a baby monkey would feel this much like parenting. When he agreed to foster little Miko—a rescued infant macaque—he thought it would be a short-term commitment. But the moment Miko wrapped his tiny fingers around James’s thumb, everything changed.
Now, three months later, Miko had become part of the family. He followed James everywhere, clinging to his shirt or riding gently on his shoulder. He squeaked happily whenever James came into the room. But recently, things took a worrying turn. Miko stopped eating his fruit, refused to play, and curled up in the corner of his enclosure with dull, tired eyes. James’s heart sank.
As a single dad of two young children, James was already juggling school pickups, lunches, and late-night storytimes. But nothing prepared him for the anxiety of seeing the baby monkey sick. It was different from anything else—more helpless somehow. Miko couldn’t tell him what was wrong, and James couldn’t explain that everything would be okay.
James called the wildlife vet immediately. The soonest appointment was the next morning, and they were told to keep Miko warm and hydrated. That night, James barely slept. He sat beside the little monkey with a warm towel and a dropper, coaxing small sips of water into Miko’s mouth. The baby’s eyes fluttered, his breathing shallow but steady. James’s own kids brought over their favorite stuffed animals and whispered to Miko to get better.
The next day, the vet diagnosed Miko with a mild respiratory infection. Nothing life-threatening, but enough to make the tiny monkey miserable. With medication and care, he’d recover in a few days. James exhaled with relief, tears prickling unexpectedly at the corners of his eyes.
Back home, James gave Miko his medicine, tucked him into a makeshift bed of blankets, and played soft music. The house seemed calmer with Miko slowly improving. Every small movement—every little chirp—filled James with cautious hope. Being a dad was already hard. Being a dad to a sick baby monkey? That was something else entirely. But as he watched Miko drift into a peaceful nap, James knew he wouldn’t trade it for anything. The worry, the sleepless night—it all came with the love.
