Here is an update-
12/4/05
BO HAS CANCER - Written by his caretaker
Bo's histology report came in. He has osteosarcoma. The abscess/tumor was actually the cancer forming it's own bone if I understood her correctly through the tears. I have to go up there for a bandage change so we can cover where he re-mutilated (this is an unscheduled visit his real visit is Fri the 9th).
Chemo is not really an option for it is very hard on birds. There is very slight chance that my vet removed it all and the only way to tell for sure is a cat scan. My vet does not have a cat scan machine and the one she would be using is located at an animal hospital that is not experienced in birds. She and a tech would have to travel to do the anesthesia. The cat scan to see if there is any detectable cancer is $1200 guesstimate.
As those of you whom i have been e-mailing w/ regarding Bo know .... this bird and I have a very special bond that I do not even share w/ my other birds. I do not know what it is ... it's like our souls have met in the past. The idea of fostering him and giving me up was killing me; now I would give anything to know that he would of had a long and happy life in a home that loved him. I feel so lost and helpless ...
I will pick up a copy of the histology report when I go. I will scan it in and post it. If any of you have any REALLY, REALLY experienced vet's please share the report w/ them. Please ask if there is anything to do for Bo aside from chemo.
Bo LOOKS so happy and is LOOKING healthier ... I can not believe life can be so cruel. Has this poor soul not been thru enough?? I'm angry ... birds SELDOM get cancer .... WHY BO ? How ironic ... I thought part of my attachment to Bo was because of his name being the same as my dog Bo who I lost to cancer .... now I will one day lose this Bo. These birds are supposed to outlive me. Bo is the sweetest most gentle soul I have EVER met ... including my own birds. No bird deserves this. I'm confused and rambling I am sorry.
I have stepped out of the closet in where Bo is because I seriously don't think that the pet store will be breathing down my neck for this bird. This bird that did not need medical attention .... Would Bo's prognosis been any better had I found him sooner? God I hope not for I could not handle finding out that things could of been different. Why is all I can ask right now ... why? May the pain and suffering that Bo has endured and will endure be placed upon his breeders. Sorry but I am full of hate today ... hate for breeders and pain for this precious bird. May Bo's story live on in everyone's memory even after he is gone
Most recent updates:
12/16/05 - Bo is growing in a few belly feathers but he got over zealous when his collar was removed so he could preen and made two bleed today. The collar is back on and I will only be removing it when he is sitting on my lap so I can watch him preen. You should be able to see the new feathers in the picture I sent. He is eating one of his favorite foods; organic baby carrots ... they MUST be served raw!! His other favorite snack is almonds and those MUST be in the shell. So between the nut oil and carrots his new growth should be soft and very peachy. The fact that he loves Harrison's pellets is a huge plus also.
He tried to bomb me today as I was picking up potty papers around his cage. He was watching me and as soon as my head was under his bottom he released a "bomb". I moved just in time for it to hit the floor and he cocked one eye at me and said, "I'm a good birdie." LOL. Bo has a rather good vocabulary for a Molly and some of the video clips that I sent to Bird Toy Discounter has him speaking, some very clearly others rather muffled.
I am completely beside myself w/ the original lab that did the reading. I will not go into detail about it know because "I still need them" but once this is over I have a few words to say about them. It's bad enough living this nightmare but some people really know how to make it worse.
I develop mental milestones that I hope to see w/ Bo one day. The first is him to come out of "Q" and get to meet my other birds, especially my other 2 M2s. The second is too see him in feathers. The biggest is hoping he is w/ us so that he can go outside and enjoy the spring air and sunshine. I do not make far reaching milestones for I do not want to delude myself .... so we are sticking to happy and hopefully attainable ones.
12/18/05 - This was a difficult weekend for us as we lost one of our dogs to a neighbor's 2 large dogs. He was attacked, carried away and killed in the woods. It's very difficult to mourn with you have a flock of cockatoos in the house. While my other birds selfishly screamed and complained that they weren't getting enough attention or their food wasn't right on time...Bo was his usual quiet and sweet self. When I went to my computer to read emails and look at happy photos of my dog that was killed, Bo came over to sit on me. He preened my hair and fixed my eyebrows ever so gently. I can honestly say I've never known a sweeter cockatoo. He is not selfish or demanding like most other cockatoos. He's modest, sensitive and meek. I'll be forever amazed by him.
** edit- for some updates pics of Bo, and to see how far he has come and wonderful he looks, go to
http://www.birdtoydiscounter.com/sun...tion=toy_drive ****