Emma Lynn's Story

[Lisa B]

Emma is a 3 and a half year old, special abled Congo African grey.
I first found out about her, by searching the net
and finding an ad for someone trying to find a home for a disabled grey.
I started writing to the breeder who told me the story of her life so far.
She was the only egg out of two clutches to survive. The parents were
to younger greys that this breeder just rescued out of a garage. The first
time she set them up to breed, all was fine, till they cracked the eggs in
the nest. She took off the nest box and boosted up the calcium intake and
fresh foods. Soon after that, another clutch was laid, and soon after the
3rd egg(Emma) the parents broke the first two and Emma was pulled.
She was placed in an incubator and that was her home. We theorize Emma's
Egg may not have been turned as much as it would have been by her birdy parents if left
in the nest. The Dr's believe Emma's head stuck to the egg yolk sac, and it left her
permanently disabled with a twisted neck.

It was love at first site, when the breeder sent me her picture. A little baby,
not all her feathers, wearing an awful neck brace. I cried when I saw her because
I had just lost my beloved Sampson Bell. She reminded me so much of him.
From the little red band on the same leg as Sampson, down to the awful neck
brace they shared. Sampson left this world, and his last days, wearing a brace,
that Emma was starting her life wearing. It tore me apart.
(Sampson Bell)

I printed out her picture, and kept it with me. I would spend hours just
staring at her picture on the computer screen, waiting for another update.

It was not known if Emma would ever be able to perch, fly, eat on her own or talk.
At that time in my life, I was going through a divorce,
was very sick, and was $7,000 in debt over Sampsons remaining bills. Each time
I even considered that I might be coming close enough to get her, something
came up.
At the same time, my father became very Ill with Vascular Dementia, a disease
that has no cure, and eats away at you very much like Alzheimer’s. I took my
dads two greys out of his house since he could no longer take care of them.
A day later, my dad ended up collapsing and being rushed to the hospital, never
to return home. I now had two African greys on my dining room table, and a VERY
small house.
I had no room for Emma.
All this time I was in contact with the breeder. She would send me pictures.
I would send Emma toys so I felt part of me was with her.
Eventually, I found a home for one of my dad's greys,who BTW HATED me....and
Stirling was moved into the bird room.
9 months after Emma was born, and still without a home, I went to go pick her up.
Yes, there was an adoption fee. I had managed to save some, but through a
special friend I once had, it was made possible that Emma was coming home to spend
her life with me. It was one of the best days of my life.

Emma has come along way. She is able to perch, eat, fly in circles and even talk
somewhat. Emma has been to one of the best Avian Vets available to her, for a
check up to make sure all is well. It is a good possibility that Emma will have
Arthritis down the road. But other than that, everything else looks good.
I have to admit, she is the one bird I carry health insurance on because
I don’t know what the future holds for her.
She had learned to thrive in her environment. Little things are different with her,
say compared to her Brothers, Sydney and Stirling (different breeders, but still her
brothers in this household) He cage is shorter, so she doesn’t have far to
fall off her perch when she is sleeping. Her playpen is also lower. She has a hard
time eating certain things, such as chick peas, and they happen to be one of her
favorites
She is very loving, and trusting.
Because of her disability, I have actually met several people with birds
that have the same disability as Emma. One, Gemini, you are getting to know
by the story her mom Bonnie, is sharing with us. Gemini is the oldest out of this
special abled flock, followed by Norton, a Congo grey, Ulrich, an Eclectus,
and Sylvain, another Congo grey. Both Ulrich and Sylvain are younger then Emma.
If you think about it, we all come here to ask questions and learn from each other.
While the easy questions are answered, the hard ones for ME remain. Who do
I have to talk to about what the future holds for Emma. The answer is the people
who have taken in these special birds way before I did. Through Gemini's
and Norton's moms, I am able to find comfort.
The Dr's don’t even know how to answer my questions and tell me just to give
her the best quality life I can. I hope I am able to do so.

[fatma]

Great story....It makes me cry!!
I think that Emma is a lucky girl...I'm sure that you'll give her the best quality life....Hope that she will live Healthy and Happy .

[CALVINS MOM]

Lisa - as long as I've known you, I never knew the story of Emma. I never realized she was so "handicapped" until I saw these pictures! Your story made me cry. There is a male Eclectus that I've learned about through the Land of Vos - he has a very similar problem. His name is Ulrich... and Ulrich is doing wonderfully! Emma is in the best home possible. Things happen for a reason. And she is meant to be with you.

[Machelle]

Thank you so much for sharing your story, Lisa. You are both very lucky to have each other.

[Lisa B]

Thank you Fatma,Machelle, and Kathie for reading her story. I love Emma to death.


Kathie, yes, Ulrich's mom is Kelly. She in on the Land of Vos. If you have ever seen Ulrich's home page, Emma is there. I'm going to ask Kelly to write a story for here. I met her through Claudia, the Artist I had at the Alex Fundraiser. Claudia is also on the land of vos, and gave Kelly my email!
Small world huh?

[cfulhage]

That is such a touching story Lisa. Emma is one lucky girl! Thanks for sharing!

[Lisa B]

Thank you Camille...






I also have to add, that Emma has brought so much happiness, not just into my life, but my families as well.
My father who slowly died over a years time, was often in a vegitated state, when I would go sit with him for the afternoon. It was not easy to watch. I would often talk of his greys, Stirling and Bubba, and had pictures of them on his wall, that was adorned with his childrens pictures.
I remember the day I went in with Emma's picture. I showed him and told him
"dad, I finally have a little girl" (he always wanted a granddaughter from me)He turned his head slightly to look at the picture, and I said, "she's named after grandma". That was the first time, in a very LONG time that he smiled.

[CALVINS MOM]

Originally Posted by Lisa B

I love Emma to death.


Kathie, yes, Ulrich's mom is Kelly. She in on the Land of Vos. If you have ever seen Ulrich's home page, Emma is there. I'm going to ask Kelly to write a story for here. I met her through Claudia, the Artist I had at the Alex Fundraiser. Claudia is also on the land of vos, and gave Kelly my email!
Small world huh?

I have seen videos of Ulrich. He's a riot! He was in real bad shape when she first adopted him and he's in gorgeous feather now, but, still handicapped. Yes, it is a small world. I've never met so many wonderful people who love their companion pets so much as I have in the past 10 or so years. And people like you and Kelly and Gemini's mom - you all are so wonderful. And like Nancy said, Emma is the sun that rises for you. That was a very moving statement - and so true.

[CALVINS MOM]

I remember the day I went in with Emma's picture. I showed him and told him "dad, I finally have a little girl" (he always wanted a granddaughter from me)He turned his head slightly to look at the picture, and I said, "she's named after grandma". That was the first time, in a very LONG time that he smiled

You're killin' me Lisa!!

[Tiki]

Bless her little heart! She is one very special girl and your love for her just shines around you!