Gigi’s Mom
Meeting neighbors
- Joined
- 10/7/22
- Messages
- 48
- Real Name
- Brenda
Hi All -
I am going to try to get through posting this without crying (again). Apologies if this jumps around.
We are new to this board and if you caught our “Hello” post you might know I was caring for a 12yr old lovebird who I hand raised that had cancer. My Gigi had been diligently battling her llness like a champ for over 3 years. We went monthly for Lupron shots almost 2yrs which worked beautifully then when the illness progressed we went weekly for abdominal taps, bi weekly lupron, Lasix and supplemental hand feedings daily. Through all that my little bird lived life to the fullest each day, flying around, bathing, playing, wanting to be with me all the time, and barely showed just how ill she really was.
Unfortunately this past week she seemed to develop an infection and was not feeling well. It was the first time I ever felt a bird that appeared to be running a fever. I took her to the vet who thought it was a liver infection and gave her a baytril shot and sent us home with doxycycline. I gave Gigi her first dose on Friday evening and within hours she was wheezing, weak and had a couple of seizures and passed in my hands. To say it was horrible to experience is an understatement. But even as weak as she was she still flew over and crawled across my bed to be with me so I was there for her in her last moments. But I felt helpless as it was past 9pm on a Friday and there are no ER hospitals that take birds in our area. All I could do was keep her warm and calm and hope she’d make it through the weekend. I am not sure if it was the medication or she was just so sick that it was inevitable. In any event, she is gone and I am devastated.
Sorry if this part is not pleasant. I now have the task of what to do next. I live in an apartment and do not want to bury her here. For a few of my lovies that passed before I would find them a nice wood box and have them sealed in them. I should have purchased one ahead of time to avoid trying to do so while grieving. I know it sounds simple enough but I am having the hardest time trying to find something to place her in. I want something fitting of a beloved bird. That once in a lifetime bird I hope everyone has had the priviledge of experiencing. So something fitting. I have also heard of other memorials like having ashes made into jewelry etc. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know.
Lastly I am currently experiencing grief like I have never had before. I think part of it is just how much this bird was bonded to me (and vice versa) and how much a part of my every day she was. Especially in the last 6 months with all the daily cancer treatment care. To now suddenly not have that, its SO hard. I’m not sure if anyone has gone through something similar but any suggestions on getting through this are welcome.
On a lighter note I still have two of Gigi’s sisters. One who is almost her twin, also hand raised but not nearly as sweet. Her name is Chicken and it seems like she is grieving too.
Thank you for any suggestions and sorry this post is a bit rambling but I am in pretty sad shape today.
I am going to try to get through posting this without crying (again). Apologies if this jumps around.
We are new to this board and if you caught our “Hello” post you might know I was caring for a 12yr old lovebird who I hand raised that had cancer. My Gigi had been diligently battling her llness like a champ for over 3 years. We went monthly for Lupron shots almost 2yrs which worked beautifully then when the illness progressed we went weekly for abdominal taps, bi weekly lupron, Lasix and supplemental hand feedings daily. Through all that my little bird lived life to the fullest each day, flying around, bathing, playing, wanting to be with me all the time, and barely showed just how ill she really was.
Unfortunately this past week she seemed to develop an infection and was not feeling well. It was the first time I ever felt a bird that appeared to be running a fever. I took her to the vet who thought it was a liver infection and gave her a baytril shot and sent us home with doxycycline. I gave Gigi her first dose on Friday evening and within hours she was wheezing, weak and had a couple of seizures and passed in my hands. To say it was horrible to experience is an understatement. But even as weak as she was she still flew over and crawled across my bed to be with me so I was there for her in her last moments. But I felt helpless as it was past 9pm on a Friday and there are no ER hospitals that take birds in our area. All I could do was keep her warm and calm and hope she’d make it through the weekend. I am not sure if it was the medication or she was just so sick that it was inevitable. In any event, she is gone and I am devastated.
Sorry if this part is not pleasant. I now have the task of what to do next. I live in an apartment and do not want to bury her here. For a few of my lovies that passed before I would find them a nice wood box and have them sealed in them. I should have purchased one ahead of time to avoid trying to do so while grieving. I know it sounds simple enough but I am having the hardest time trying to find something to place her in. I want something fitting of a beloved bird. That once in a lifetime bird I hope everyone has had the priviledge of experiencing. So something fitting. I have also heard of other memorials like having ashes made into jewelry etc. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know.
Lastly I am currently experiencing grief like I have never had before. I think part of it is just how much this bird was bonded to me (and vice versa) and how much a part of my every day she was. Especially in the last 6 months with all the daily cancer treatment care. To now suddenly not have that, its SO hard. I’m not sure if anyone has gone through something similar but any suggestions on getting through this are welcome.
On a lighter note I still have two of Gigi’s sisters. One who is almost her twin, also hand raised but not nearly as sweet. Her name is Chicken and it seems like she is grieving too.
Thank you for any suggestions and sorry this post is a bit rambling but I am in pretty sad shape today.