Rainbow's Story

[The Outlaw]

Some members have asked why I'm so determined to raise money for the Stop PDD fund. Here is the story of Rainbow, a young GW macaw that has FOREVER changed my life.


Louisa and I were actively building our flocks at just about the same time. We had never met, but ultimately did in a birdstore that we both frequented. It turns out that when I had wanted a GW baby, there were none available. In the meantime, I had acquired 2 BGs within a few months of each other. During this period, Patrice, the owner, had purchased a GW, probably intended for me that Louisa bought.

After we began talking, we discovered we only lived about 10 minutes away from each other. We became friends and within a few weeks, I met Rainbow. It was love at first sight. Few creatures on Earth impacted me the way he did from the moment I laid eyes on him.

He would visit from time to time when Louisa would stop in. Always the perfect gentleman, he happily went to everyone and adored the attention.

In the worst part of the summer, Louisa's AC died. She was concerned about her birds, for she lives in a townhouse and it was hot, very hot. I sent over all of my spare fans, but still it was pretty bad.

I invited her over late that afternoon. I had just cleaned all of the play equipment in the florida room, and had a big PVC gym in my livingroom at the time. Louisa said that Rainbow seemed strange that whole day. She assumed it was due to the heat. I still had some bird food that I had cooked for my fids and offered him some sweet potato mash. He wolfed it down. Louisa had said he had refused to eat that whole day. I handed him a baby spoon and he continued to eat as we talked. About 20 minutes later, he vomited. I had never seen that happen with a bird before other than love barfs. I knew something was wrong, but assumed he'd simply over eaten. She had to go home that evening to care for the others, but I suggested she leave him with me that evening because of the heat. He slept on the PVC that evening.

In the morning, I observed that he had vomited again. I now knew that this was a very bad sign. I told her to immediately make an appointment with Dr. Zantop. He also felt very thin to me, but she had no scale and wasn't sure what his starting weight was.

The nightmare began. Dr. Zantop suspected PDD from the very first day. He ran cultures and did radiographs. All indicators were likely that he had PDD, but he was currently battling megabacteria, which is also common in PDD affected birds.

He treated him with meds and sent him home. He rallied and appeared to be his old self. He gained weight and we all sighed with relief. However, that scenario would repeat over and over again. Each day he seemed famished, would eat and then get sick.

He was losing alarming amounts of weight. Sometimes, 100 grams within 24 hours. Louisa was willing to pay the vet whatever it took to maintain him. Finally, the vet ordered a crop biopsy. He was kept for 3 days. The news was devastating. He was positive for PDD. Celebrex therapy started immediately.

I would cook for him almost daily, preparing soft, high calorie meals even including handfeeding formula and Extra Ounces. Still, he declined and then rallied. It was so confusing trying to control the yeast and fight the gastrointestinal problems.

I must say that Louisa stayed in the game a long time. In the meantime, her ekkie hen Electra started showing neurological PDD signs. She started convulsing and was unable to even stand up. I went with her to the emergency vet on the day that it was decided she had to be euthanized. It was horrible. Its not like a dog or cat. When you see something so beautiful die, it chills you. It really does.

I knew that Rainbow would eventually succumb. Louisa's finances were getting seriously stretched. I think she had already gone through $7,000 and still he continued to decline. I gave her my own Celebrex that I used for my arthritis so that she could save a little bit of money. It was really expensive.

Ultimately, she had to make the decision to put him down. I had told her that so long as he could eat and perch, I would continue to help her fight for his life. I also told her I just couldn't go with her if she decided to put him down. I simply couldn't bear it. He had become like my own child. He never complained, took his meds well and was just grateful for everything we did for him.

I actually found out she had euthanized him days later. She didn't call. I guess she just couldn't. I asked her in passing how he was doing. She then told be he was gone. I felt as if I had lost a child.

Its been over a year and I still cannot speak his name without choking on the word. I know that had I not taken Sailor, he would have been MY bird.

I sometimes think that it was always God's plan for him to live a short life and touch so many hearts. It doesn't make it easier, but it helps to think that because of him, other birds lives may be saved. I have known two amazing GWs in my life. That's why they remain my fantasy bird. I actually expect to someday have Eenie show up at my door needing a home. I have a room reserved if she does. She's my Rainbow.

[Graehstone]

He is sitting there on our shoulders nibbling on our ears everytime we think of him.

[Crebain]

Losing a loved pet can leave an emptiness that's hard to describe, I know. I'm sorry this happened to you and your friend Louisa.

Things could be worse. Two years ago my good friend Tim (a father of 2 little girls) came down ALS. He's dead now. Another friend of mine now has a little boy with Cystic Fibrosis. Can you even imagine?

I now consider every day my family stays healthy as a gift. IMO, as long as the people in our lives enjoy good health, we should consider ourselves lucky, no matter what.

[Spinnergirl]

Thank you for sharing your personal story with me and the board, that is the hardest thing about life I think....not ones own suffering but the watching the suffering of others.
Being rather new to birds I really didn't understand what this PDD was. Since your last few posts I have realized what this aweful disease can do. Thanks for enlightening me, I wrote the address down for the Avian Health Network, so when I have a few bucks saved up I can send it to them :)

[The Outlaw]

Phil:

I agree with what you say. However, when you have a bird like this, its EXACTLY like dealing with a special needs child. You can't go anywhere, some people won't even welcome you into their homes, and you simply get exhausted trying your damnest to save that life. You're so hardwired into being able to do something that when its finally apparent that you can't save them it simply crushes your spirit. To hold them, love them and watch their eyes go blank just rips your heart out. I can only hope that I'm long dead before my fids finally do pass away. I only hope that I never have to have them euthanized and then spend the rest of my life wondering if I did the right thing. After all, for most of us, our birds SHOULD out live us.

I know that some folks simply can't or lack the ability to make that kind of a connection with a bird. I'm quite sorry for them. It IS better to have loved AND lost.

As for losing friends and the children of friends, I've had a LOT of that within the last 6 months. Its overwhelming actually.

THE OUTLAW

[Crebain]

Well said.

A sense of humor, appreciation of the simple things, and the ability to live in the moment; these ideas are what keeps me happy to be alive.