Sharif's Story
This is Sharif's story. We got Sharif for Omar (love at first sight for me). Omar
told me plain and simple that he wanted "her", someone of his own. He was 7
years old in 1998 when we got her. She came to our house, 1 year old, so
cute she took all our hearts- falling on her bum as much as her face and
moving like a child with no fear. Omar still can't keep his beak off her,
grooming like there's no tomorrow, he lives for her.
In 2005 she started feather plucking in certain spots under her legs and
side of the tail. They seemed small, but off to the Vet she went, (not too
many bird vets in South Idaho). He saw her from once to 3 times a week for
3- 4 months when after 3 visits in one week she closed her eyes, opened her
mouth, and fell straight over backwards into the wastebasket.
We (my Ray and I), rushed her to Boise, Id.,( a two hour drive). The E.M.
Vet injected liquids and said she was dehydrated & emaciated. So then came
the tube feeding, WEEEE what fun. For 6 weeks ( 4 times a day).
During the last 2 weeks of this she had been able to get one collar
off that still had 5 out of 6 snaps, in 10 — 20 minutes she put a hole under
her leg open clear to her back bone. She started acting "drunk" and I could
tell she was getting very sick (duh)
. She was
severely anemic, and I'm sure there were other problems too At this time, we
went to Washington State University.
I owe W.S.U. Sharif s life and my sanity. So many helped and they all "fell"
for her too. I found out, in 2007, that this was the first time they didn't
think she would make it.
Someone, who works with
exotic animals and birds of prey, and who's name is a bird, came up with a
double collar system (a soft neoprene collar over the harder one). She could
overcome one or the other, but not both! It worked! After 3 more months and
17 times under anesthesia she came home, with a scrapbook that was a joy,
even though some horror need be included.
During the next 1 1/2 years we noticed at molting, twice a year, that there
were ingrown feathers poking out about 1/2 inch but not breaking the skin,
we learned to extract them ourselves by using tweezers and pulling them out
through a hole just below the curling greenness that was under the pink
skin. These ingrown feathers were all over her body — not just at the large
surgery site.
In Feb. 2007 something just didn't seem right, (Sharif has had 3-4 eggs in
the spring for 5 — 6 years before her plucking started), but the swelling in
her belly didn't seem the same to me. So off to the vet for an ultrasound,
(which looked like a swollen ovary). Three weeks later I took her in for the
works, everything I could think of heavy metal, diabetes, thyroid, blood
counts, etc. She was one sick bird, severe anemia, and liver problems. So
off to WSU again. After a redo of the X-rays they said she had a large
abdominal mass that was pushing her organs out of place, and it was cancer
or a bacterial mass. The 1st biopsy is the second time WSU thought she might
not make it.. She made it. They had never seen anything like it, and still
couldn't tell what it was, but there were no good liver cells detected. We
were asked if we wanted to go through with a much larger biopsy.
It takes about 8 — 10 hours driving to get there, ( we took Omar and Sharif
up the week before),
so we told them to wait, and
jumped in the car. We had to see her at least once more. Hopes were not
high.
She made it! Head flopping, stitches all across her tummy, a belly that
looked like a large purple and yellow Easter egg, but still alive. We all
stayed for the week ( thanks Ray's boss :) and she slowly got a little
better. It was not cancer, but with as much as was taken, there were still
no good liver cells detected. I've read that more than 75% of a bird's liver
has to be damaged before any signs of damage appear. She is on antibiotics,
milk thistle, dandelion root, and a very strict diet, she has also been
given a prognosis living several more months or even years. I was told, "I
do not want to give you false hope, she may not make it long, but each day
with her is a blessing to be cherished."
Omar " One healthy bird " and Sharif - a large, somewhat pink, bare belly
swinging upside down again - thank all who helped and prayed, and lit
candles for them!
P.S. We believe group prayer and/or projected good will helps everyone, and
we love you all.
Sincerely Teresa S
Last Edited: Jun 19, 2007 2:43 PM
