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His follow up from the surgery (that didn't happen) was last night.
He still has his stitches. Vet said they will probably dissolve in another week.
Bottom line is if we attempt another surgery after the 30 days have passed (with 2 vets, etc), he only has a 25% chance of surviving it. Another Amazon will have to give up their blood because MC will require a transfusion to even attempt to make it through the surgery. We don't know if the tumor has fingers and is in the carotids already. This tumor originated in MC's blood vessels. The original surgery doc used a radio surgery/laser, no scalpel. Should have been cauterized but instead, bled profusely.
Radiation is not a cure. It could possibly shrink the tumor but radiation comes with its own issues: burns, skin issues, possibly bacterial infections (and those infections can be fatal in MC's case).
Vet says he probably won't pick at the wound (unless it gets infected or inflamed). He reminded me that he doesn't chew on his feet/toes. I shouldn't freak out when he preens his feathers close to it (yes, I have been).
He doesn't know if the tumor is cancerous. He can only tell that with biopsy and again, anesthesia and knock him out, then grab the biopsy and close before he bleeds out.
I asked about other tests. Xray might show us if its spread throughout his body and is malignant. CT scan is available in St. Louis at another location but no one can be in room with the parrot. MC would be out for 30 minutes during this. They could do auditory and heart monitors and can stop the CT and go in to him if needed but again, that all takes time. Time that I wonder if MC would even have if auditory and heart monitors are giving out alarming signals.
If we walk right now....... eventually he will get lethargic, weak, decreased eating, and basically an infection in his blood can cause him to lose his life.
We have no way of knowing how long he can live. Doc kept stressing that he had no idea how rapidly this tumor is growing. After hubby pressed and twisted words continually, doc gave an admission that it could be 3 to 6 months.
I'm faced with the decision to put my little guy through tons of pain to try to save his life with pitiful odds or let him die with dignity at home, where he's content. Hospice for MC for lack of a better word.
In my mind, I see Dr. Orosz at the seminar in North Carolina on aging in parrots. She described a parrot that kept coming to the clinic because of its owner trying to keep him alive. Dr. O said the parrot just wanted to die but the owner wouldn't let go. The vet was crying, tears silently sliding down her face, as she described the parrot. The parrot was eventually put to sleep.
So I'm crying now and getting off of here for a while. I love MC dearly andI despise making decisions. It's not my strong suit at all (I beat myself up better than anyone out there).
Remember, we have no idea how old he even is. Since he's wild caught, he could be older than Secret who is at least 42 years old from a picture I found in family archives.
He still has his stitches. Vet said they will probably dissolve in another week.
Bottom line is if we attempt another surgery after the 30 days have passed (with 2 vets, etc), he only has a 25% chance of surviving it. Another Amazon will have to give up their blood because MC will require a transfusion to even attempt to make it through the surgery. We don't know if the tumor has fingers and is in the carotids already. This tumor originated in MC's blood vessels. The original surgery doc used a radio surgery/laser, no scalpel. Should have been cauterized but instead, bled profusely.
Radiation is not a cure. It could possibly shrink the tumor but radiation comes with its own issues: burns, skin issues, possibly bacterial infections (and those infections can be fatal in MC's case).
Vet says he probably won't pick at the wound (unless it gets infected or inflamed). He reminded me that he doesn't chew on his feet/toes. I shouldn't freak out when he preens his feathers close to it (yes, I have been).
He doesn't know if the tumor is cancerous. He can only tell that with biopsy and again, anesthesia and knock him out, then grab the biopsy and close before he bleeds out.
I asked about other tests. Xray might show us if its spread throughout his body and is malignant. CT scan is available in St. Louis at another location but no one can be in room with the parrot. MC would be out for 30 minutes during this. They could do auditory and heart monitors and can stop the CT and go in to him if needed but again, that all takes time. Time that I wonder if MC would even have if auditory and heart monitors are giving out alarming signals.
If we walk right now....... eventually he will get lethargic, weak, decreased eating, and basically an infection in his blood can cause him to lose his life.
We have no way of knowing how long he can live. Doc kept stressing that he had no idea how rapidly this tumor is growing. After hubby pressed and twisted words continually, doc gave an admission that it could be 3 to 6 months.
I'm faced with the decision to put my little guy through tons of pain to try to save his life with pitiful odds or let him die with dignity at home, where he's content. Hospice for MC for lack of a better word.
In my mind, I see Dr. Orosz at the seminar in North Carolina on aging in parrots. She described a parrot that kept coming to the clinic because of its owner trying to keep him alive. Dr. O said the parrot just wanted to die but the owner wouldn't let go. The vet was crying, tears silently sliding down her face, as she described the parrot. The parrot was eventually put to sleep.
So I'm crying now and getting off of here for a while. I love MC dearly andI despise making decisions. It's not my strong suit at all (I beat myself up better than anyone out there).
Remember, we have no idea how old he even is. Since he's wild caught, he could be older than Secret who is at least 42 years old from a picture I found in family archives.