Pablo (PFC) is dying

[Pajarita]

Pablo is an old (unaged) wild-caught male peach fronted conure that was used as a breeder for many years and then sold for a pet which, eventually, led him to me as he is also severely handicapped (half a wing, neurological disorder, liver malfunction, broken and crooked toe, piece of lower beak missing, etc). I never did tame him but he bonded with Codee (female, yellow sided GCC) and, as he couldn't fly -couldn't even walk in a straight line or climb when he first came to me- he stayed living cage-free (once he could move normally) in the canary room with her. They've been very happy together but he has been 'getting on' and I had noticed he had taken to napping with his head hanging down instead of tucked under his wing which is a sure sign that something is not quite right.

This morning, he was on the middle of the floor -not a good sign. I picked him up and put him back up but, after observing him for a while, I noticed he wasn't moving right and he kept on going to sleep with his head down (a real bad sign when it happens in the morning!). I put him in a cage with a heating pad and some seed at the bottom of it -which is a real treat for him as he never gets it during the day (they got birdy bread today and he did eat some of it although he would not touch the red papaya or the snow peas which he usually likes). He napped at the bottom of the cage for a while and he is now hanging to the side of the cage but not high up, merely a few inches -again, not a good sign that he did not go up to perch on the branch.

I've been expecting this to happen for a while now so no surprise there but I always hope for a miracle... Thankfully, I have a wonderful home with a male GCC lined up for Codee when he passes so she won't be alone for long.

[Wolf]

It is never easy to know that the time of passing for any of our friends/ charges in drawing close. We all hope for miracles to prolong their stay with us but thankfully, for their benefit we don't get them very often.
As my time draws slowly closer, there are a few people that would not want to let me go and as much as I appreciate it, I hope that they would understand that my quality of life in not what I want it to be. Sometimes as difficult as it is to let go it is much better to do so. This is a time of changes and I know that although I will lose my physical form that I am still here, at least in the hearts and minds of those that love me, but it is time to move on to bigger and brighter things.

[liz]

You took him in and made him happy and as healthy as he could be. You extended his life. The unloved bird felt human love that he did not have before you. Rescues are rewarding but they also set us up for heartbreak. You have been through this before so there is nothing I can tell you except you did good. Like my Fancy cat and Bruce the terrier I mourned them while they were still with me. I miss them but I don't mourn their passing as it is a relief from there painful life.

[liz]

Wolf, I have the stress too of leaving a hole in so many little lives with my passing. Rambo showed me that Gr'ma's passing had this effect on him.
Your little bird will leave a hole too.

[Wolf]

Neither myself or my birds are ready for passing at this time, Liz, although I appreciate the concern.

[Pajarita]

Well, he is still alive and he was eating this morning. I put him in a small cage with a heating pad at the bottom and a towel covering half of the top, made him a restorative tea which I've been using as his water with a bit of honey in it for added energy and I guess the combination of them perked him up a bit because although he did spend the night at the bottom of the cage and he is still sleeping in the wrong position, he did climb up to a perch this morning.

I will continue doing my best and, although I doubt he will last long, I never lose hope...

[liz]

Neither myself or my birds are ready for passing at this time, Liz, although I appreciate the concern.

That is good news. I was hoping you would be the one to take my spoiled rotten birds when I go.

[Pajarita]

Well, he is still alive and getting better. I think he must have had a mild cardiovascular episode because I've been giving him a restorative tea and he has been doing better. Very slowly and, of course, he will never be really normal but he is now loose again and back to his normal life with his beloved Codee... so well, in fact, that, this morning, he bluffed about biting me

[Harpmaker]

Great news! I hope the recovery continues.

[Wolf]

Great news