Wednesday - April 24 rd Emily is doing well and gaining slowly.. 48 grams today. I am worried about her gaining too much weight to fast so not trying to rush stretching the crop. Macaws grow at such an alarming rate. Fast growth and packing on the grams could complicate things for surgery. Emptying like a champ. Tiny slits are appearing on her eyes so won't be long before she gets a good look at the world.
Dr. Kathy called and said the films had been sent. We're both hoping he gets them tomorrow ( Thursday)
I put her on a waterbed ( ziplock freezer baggie filled with water) so see if we can get pressure off the leg.( Thank you Sue Brown for the great idea!) What a godsend!
She has rested peacefully for the first time in a week..
Thursday - April 25th Even with the 2 URGENT messages Dr. Kathy left with the receptionist Monday, still no call back from WSU! Maybe they think her case is not very important. Dr. Darling still hasn't received the x-rays
Friday - April 26 Dr. Kathy called and by the tone of her voice I could tell it wasn't good news. She had spoken again with Dr. Darling and got the raw version. Something neither of us wanted to hear.
1. Very dangerous, long and extensive surgery. 2. Extensive pediatric equipment is vital to the success of this operation 3. The 6 hour trip over to the cost would be awful for her.
We both knew we are quickly running out of time and options. Grasping at straws now, I asked Dr. Kathy of she knew of Dr. Ed Womack in Wenatchee. Yes, she knew him and told me to give him a call. I asked her to run interference for me as at this point I doubted if I could put together a coherent sentence.
I remembered hearing the name Dr. Ed Womack mentioned some where in raptor rehab circles and am hoping he has fixed a leg like this before. Dr Kathy called and said she ran Emily's problem by him and he would be calling me back as soon as he finished up with his client.
Dr. Womack just called and amazingly seemed to understand me through all my incoherent blubbering. She will be seen on Monday at 9:00 am.
Dr. Kathy called back and asked how the call went with Dr. Ed went. I told her I was afraid he would tell me it would be kinder to put her down. We're not to that point yet she assured me. We just can't give up on her with out a fight. If we lose her in surgery at least we gave it our best shot and we both will be able to sleep at night.
Saturday - April 27, 2002 I have built this website, cleaned my house, baked bread, even ironed 2 baskets of clothes, cut the grass and cleaned the oven trying to keep my mind busy until Monday. And that was all done before noon.
I am very aware of the risks involved with surgery, and yes the expense also, but I couldn't look at myself in the mirror knowing I just let her go with out trying to fix her. I also understand that there are no guarantees that she will walk normally even if she makes it thru the surgery. The best we can hope for is she might be able to perch and learn to eat with her other foot.
I have racked my brain trying to figure out what happened. The parents diet is excellent. I know didn't bump her. Her sister is in another cup so she didn't tromp on Emily. There was more than adequate substrate in her cup. Or just one of those pesky curve balls Mother Nature throws at us. Looking at her growth rate, appetite, and over all general condition I think we owe her a least chance.
I had to smile today as I must have startled her when I opened the brooder. She flipped on her back and started to make this big bad macaw growling noises. ( normal)
Am trying to let her almost empty to keep the her crop nice and tight in hopes Dr. Ed will go ahead with the surgery. I doubt I will get much sleep the next 2 nights, worrying about what news Mondays appointment will bring. I am just hoping we will have many more pages to add to Emily's journal. I am open to any and all ideas right about now.
Sunday - April 28th, 2002 2 a.m. Hope this is not a preview of the week to come…. Power went out at 2 am, was off until 8:30 am. EX Friend (as of this morning), had borrowed my lil generator and let her son take it TO IDAHO of all places.. I'm in Washington state. So I sat in my Bronco for 6 1/2 hours in 32 degree weather keeping the brooder going with a power inverter.. Thank God for those packaged hand warmers. Can't run the heater in the Bronco and the brooder at the same time. The problem area on her leg looks quite swollen today. 57 grams today.
