"Gemini's Story"

[Imagemneye]

First I want to Thank Lisa for asking Me to share Gemini's story,I spent months writing it using one of those Dragon speak /type programs.It has been a very emotional time-reliving all of it-BUT Very rewarding also:) I have written it in chapters of developement--SO without babbling further--Here is Chapter one of "Gemini's Story"

I'm going to try to write” Gemini’s story as condensed as possible, so as not to Bore anyone that Reads it OK-here goes---

When I bought Gemini-she was supposed to be 5 and 1/2 weeks old-OK This is Gemini when I opened her Travel case at the airport!

Her Eyes were NOT even open yet and she still had remnants of her EGG TOOTH!
I had Never seen such a YOUNG Grey, but I sure as heck knew that she was NOT 5 and 1/2 weeks old .OK so we(My daughter and I with Gemini and HER Baby Grey-who actually did appear to be the 11 weeks old that the Breeder said he was Rush home to feed them. Already I'm noticing that She could not hold her Head up BUT Thinking that maybe its just normal for her age! WELL Her first potty was tinged RED-OK so I already Know that I know more about birds in My area then any of the Vets-SO I'm on the Phone from one side of the country to the other trying to get info from Breeders-Such as Weight charts(nobody kept them 15 years ago-Not much help there) But they did confirm that she should be able to hold her head up. And that she had to have some kind of sickness(the blood in the stool)I Finally-after 2 days and 2 VERY LONG nights with Gemini sleeping on My chest in a blanket-so that I could feed her every time she awoke) I Located a so called avian Vet 100 miles away. Well $150.00 later -I find out that Gemini is indeed less then 2 weeks old(can You Imagine that she even survived the Flight from Fla to NY)That she does have something wrong with her neck--and These are the VETS words" But with-out expensive testing we cant tell what it is-and is it worth it?" OH_MAN-I wanted to HIT HER! She did take Blood and would mail me medication for what-ever Gemini had. Turns out She had E-Coli-I slept on the couch with Her on My chest for 2 weeks, praying that She would Make-It, and wondering How I could give this SWEET Baby a quality life! I did not know if she would ever be able to even perch, let alone Feed Herself! GEMINI-Was and Is a Survivor-She ate like a Piggy and Grew like a Weed! This Is Her at 17 days old

By Now, I had exhausted any means of trying to get ANY info on how to help this baby(No Internet back then) I had thought of Bracing her neck Up-But when I tried to Raise her head it seemed to bother her---OH-He- - No I'm NOT gonna HURT HER! SO I decided to set Her Up in a heated aquarium with toys and all kinds of things hanging from the Top, also Cheerios ,fruits veggies millet, etc etc under her(ALL for stimulation and encouragement to USE Her Neck-thus develop muscle and control).My Little fighter continued to grow and develop---Here she is at 3 weeks old
and then at 5/6 weeks



She could raise her head for Hand feeding(because I sorta Strongly encouraged it) BUT when She relaxed, Her Head would be Totally Up-Side down!--OK -I have gotten to 6 weeks and its a good thing I have condensed(LOL) I'm going to stop for this Chapter --Gemini will be 15 this summer-SO There are MANY Chapters, Do You really want me to continue Thanks to any one that takes the time to Read about My Very Special-Grand madam-Gemini! Bonnie
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[dvelardi]

Bonnie,

Please do continue... I am all eyes....

[bekfreak]

I read that story on another forum but I want to read it again it was that good. Gemini is a total trip and what a character too. I don't think Special-FIDs know they're handicapt.

[cfulhage]

I would love to continue to read about Gemini!

[Lisa B]

Bonnie
Please do continue your story of Gemini. You are an inspiration for me. Because of what YOU learned, I can turn to you for guidence with Emma. I am 12 years behind your progress with Gemini, and I PRAY that Emma is with me at Gemini's age. You give me hope, and piece of mind.
Thank you...it means more then you know.

I will follow with Emma's story as I said I would.

[Darlie]

Bonnie,
Yes, please go on. If I don't hear the rest I will go stark raving mad. What courage and dedication you have. Those pictures have so touched my heart!

[Machelle]

Bonnie, please do tell more. It is a wonderful story, so far, and I applaud your dedication to such a special bird.

[CALVINS MOM]

Bonnie - don't stop now. We'd love to hear the rest. Please continue your story about Gemini and thanks for sharing it.

[fatma]

Please...Please....Please...... continue the story .Tell us more about Gemini.

If Gemini would talk, the first word he will say it to you, is: THANK YOU....

[Imagemneye]

Thank You from Gemini and myself to everyone that is interested in Gemini's Story and for your wondeful comments! here is Chapter 2By the age of 6 weeks, I knew that Gemini was finally over the E-coli and growing and gaining weight at an alarming rate-SO I just knew that She was going to Make it! My Lord, I don’t think I had ever nor will I ever again seen such intelligence and wonder in a Fids eyes as I did in Hers!
Now I was facing the problem of converting her living arrangements from her nursery Tank into a cage. I still did not know if she would actually be able to climb and perch and preen and feed herself, although she would grip onto my hand, and sit/perch with me ,so I knew her legs were good and strong. And I would do what ever it took to allow her to learn to be independent.
I knew that her cage had to be set up much different then a normal baby cage, BUT I did not have anything suitable.
I had no choice but to sell some of my other cages and some non producing(at least for me)breeder birds to buy a huge double decker cage that had horizontal bars on both sides. This allowed Me to put perches, Ladders(from end to end as perches) toys bowls etc at different levels of the cage. I covered one back corner with a blanket, and had a heating pad(on low) under that corner of the cage, put Gemini’s favorite snuggle blanky and stuffed animal in the warm corner, Fed Gemini and Put her into her new Home!
Did she freak out,Yea right-its like WOW Mom this is Great! She looked around, mouthed a few toys and snuggled in for a Nap! It was not a day later and She WAS PERCHING! The perch was quite big around so it was easy for her to keep her balance I guess.The next few weeks were milestone after milestone of progress made and far surpassed.She started to preen,to climb the sides of the Cage(My heart be still),But she still slept in the warm corner.
Now it was time to teach her to feed herself-So She would join me at the table for dinner.I started by spoon feeding her(instead of the syringe) then progressed to having her help herself from a bowl of her own.Lord she was just SO smart,it was almost as if she could not wait to learn to be independent.By the age of 3 months she was not only almost weaned(she would have been-but I needed to continue with the nightly share supper sessions)LOL,But she was already starting to Talk! I guess my sleeping with her on my chest for her first few weeks with me and constantly repeating,”I love You” “Mommy’s Sweet Baby Grey” paid off because besides “Kitty”,”Hello”,and “You hungry” those were among her first sentences!God I love that Bird!-OK I have gotten from 6 weeks to 3 months, in this chapter.The following chapters will most likely cover alot more ground(age)I don’t want to bore you with ever little detail.Thanks again for everyone that takes the time to read this and for Your wonderful comments!