Please Help Norman & Gypsy

[gbird]

Your help and well wishes are needed: Norman's in the hospital.

http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs035/...=1102017995416

Norman, TGF's 40-plus y.o. Grey mascot is in the hospital. Our veterinarian and staff are providing the best care possible for this charmer. Radiographs and blood work are all within normal limits, but Norman is still not his outgoing, chatty-chipper self. For those of you that have not met this amazing fellow - his story is inspirational.

Norman came to TGF 11 years ago from a veterinarian whose clients abandoned him there when he was desperately ill.

He was blind in one eye, emaciated, and in terrible feather condition. The veterinarian had performed surgery on Norman's sinus which was severely infected and Pseudomonas bacteria had traveled the optic nerve and blinded him. Norman was also diagnosed at that time with ocular and choanal papillomas.

TGF took in Norman on the condition that we would become financially responsible for his additional required surgeries and care. Ultimately, Norman went to the University of Florida, Gainesville, and surgery was performed by Dr. Avery Bennett. Tissue samples of Norm's papillomas were sent to Dr. Darrel Styles at The Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center at Texas A&M University for further study and typing.

It was then determined that Norman had the 6th genotype of the avian papilloma virus - a unique finding. Norman has lived well with this incurable disease, and he has been a wonderful teacher to us all.

Wild caught several decades earlier, subject to poor husbandry, nutrition and lack of veterinary care, Norman developed chronic sinus infections and the papilloma virus. With excellent diagnostics, surgeries and supportive care, Norman's life dramatically improved.

Right now, Norman is hospitalized, on meds, and cultures are pending. Norman has suffered for 11 years from chronic sinus discharge and his sinuses are flushed daily. Surgery to open up the eyelid on his right eye was deemed to be more risky than beneficial. Norman has adapted to his extremely limited eyesight.

Due to his weight loss, he is being tube fed and consistently monitored. He is not comfortable perching right now, remains in an incubator, and has a head tilt.

We make the 45-minute drive to visit him twice daily to keep his spirits up and everyone at the veterinary hospital is doing their best to insure that he makes it through this rough time.
Anyone who has met Norman delights in his cat, kitten, pig, duck, chicken and cow sounds, not to mention his laugh at the most appropriate times!

Norman has our love, our prayers for recovery and a tremendous fan club. If you can help us by donating to Norman's hospital fund, your tax-deductible donations will be greatly appreciated and are very much needed.




ON ANOTHER SAD NOTE

http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs035/...=1102017995416

Gypsy is hospitalized again!

As of today, Gypsy, the 32 y.o. Blue and Gold macaw remains hospitalized at Texas A&M at The Schubot Center. Her prognosis is uncertain and we are awaiting biopsy results. Gypsy's veterinary care has been over $3000 to date. Your donations to help with Gypsy's veterinary care will help TGF greatly.

Your donations can be sent on our secure website link provided below or called in at 303.629.5900 x214. All donors to Norman's and Gypsy's veterinary care funds will be posted on our website unless anonymity is requested. Please, won't you help us with these two birds in need? Thank you for your compassion and care.

Julie Weiss Murad CEO, President and Founder The Gabriel Foundation


Please help Norman & Gypsy if you can: https://www.thebirdbrain.com/forms/donation.cfm

[MiniMama]

Hi - I get these emails too. And I know Norman= what a sweetie! I plan on helping out. GBird- are you helping out with the May volunteer day? I"m going to try and fly back from CA to do that.

[gbird]

Thank you so much.....I've met Norman also, and he is a sweetheart.

I will be going if I can. Hopefully I can see you there.

Thanx again!

[CALVINS MOM]

Lotsa prayers for Norman and Gypsy. Please let us know how they are doing. Thanks, Gayla.

[sparkysmom]

OMG Norman is sick?? Is he going to be alright? I cannot tell by the post... This is devastating....Will you keep us updated?

Keeping both Gypsy and Norman in my thoughts.

Thank you Gayla.

[gbird]

I will certainly keep you updated. It broke my heart to hear this news. He is such a fabulous bird, and has been thru so much. But ya know, he lives in the Big House with Julie, so he's got it pretty darn good there.

I made a donation for him & Gypsy. Lets keep our fingers crossed.

Here's a video of Norman I took a couple of weeks ago doing his pig thing...lol

[sparkysmom]

Love the piggy and the laser noise!!!

He is so wonderful. He totally steals my heart. Poor baby boy. I hope he makes a speedy recovery. Along with Gypsy.

OK I am repeating myself/

[gbird]

Thats perfectly OK. You have can repeat yourself as much as you want. He is after all, your Sponsor Baby