commonsensepolice

My dad had surgery Monday that went from a routine ablation to a six hour surgery that involved them using the paddles (oh and thing I learned…they don’t completely knock you out but they sedate you so you might be awake when they use the paddles…that’s kinda freaky), so I went home Wednesday. My dad wanted me to bring the birds including Chloe, the little girl I had just rescued. We all headed to Woodville and upon arrival, everyone was still good to go.  We left for lunch, and still everyone was just fine. I returned from lunch and Chloe was all puffy and at the bottom of the cage. I was worried, but as soon as I got her out she perked back up. Soon though she started to fade. I thought she was hungry, so I gave her millet. She did not like the pellet I fed her, and maybe she hadn’t eaten. She ate the pellet and perked back up, but that only lasted for a minute or two. My Mom started looking up avian vets and then it happened, she had as seizure. The only avian vet that was open was at a emergency clinic in West Toledo. My mom and I rushed Chloe to the clinic. I know I lost her once on the car ride there, and she had another seizure. When we arrived they got her to come back around, but only minutes later she had another seizure. She came back around again, but then had another one. Here is where things get murky.

Facts we need to know;

1) Avian vets are expensive. I know this and I was willing to spend that money to make sure I did all I could for Chloe.

2) They tell you upfront how much the exam is and then that they will give you an estimate for any additional treatments before they do them.

What the vet initially said:

1) She perked back up after the last seizure

2) They had started her on a couple treatments (I did not authorize) and we could hospitalize her for a little bit to see  if they worked. I’m thinking if they started treatments, then there is a small chance she’ll pull through so I okay the hospitalization.

3) I was to give her a call in an hour to check on Chloe

Mom and I go to the Starbucks at Secor and Central. I know that even with the treatments, she probably isn’t coming home, but they wouldn’t have just started her on them if there was hope right? I call the clinic and the receptionist tells me Chloe is fine. She hasn’t had another seizure and she’s sleeping. Something just doesn’t sit right with me and I ask my mom to take me back to the clinic.

What the vet says when I ask her the questions my gut is firing off:

1) Chloe really didn’t perk up after the last seizure

2) She is unresponsive

3) The treatments are not  working

4) They had to give her a Valium shot to keep her comfortable…another treatment I didn’t authorize

5) Once the shot wears off she will probably have a seizure again

6) Chloe was probably not going to make it through the next few hours let alone the night

7) The vet knew ALL of this (minus the treatments not working…although it was a long shot) the first time she talked to me.

My baby bird was suffering, and she was not going to get better. Had she told me that an hour ago I would have never hospitalized her. I knew what I had to do. I had my little girl put down. Even as I said good bye, she had another seizure and I knew I had to let her go.

The Bill:

1) the exam fee wasn’t too bad

2) the other things I had said were okay, those costs weren’t too bad either

3) She ran 2 tests I didn’t approve, but I wasn’t going to get too upset because they let me know that want ever was wrong with Chloe was not something the other birds cold have caught.

4) Hospitalization charges. I was charges for 4 hours even though Chloe was only admitted for 2…and never would have admitted her if I had known the truth

5) Additional Treatment charges: Once again…not approved and never would have been charged had the vet just been honest with me

I’m fine with all the charges that I incurred getting Chloe all the help I could, it is the additional charges that should never have happened that annoy me. Why didn’t that woman just tell me the truth. No I didn’t WANT to put her down, but why did they let her suffer any longer than she had to? Why did they tell me she perked right back up if really she just barely came around and was unresponsive? Is that how they make money?

Chloe:

I can say this: I was heartbroken, but I know that in the short time I had her, she became the happiest little parakeet I have ever seen. She was happy and energetic and she knew she was loved.  This would have happened no matter where she was living and at least she knew she was cared for.  Had this happened and she was still stuck in that chicken wire box, she would have died lonely. Had I left her in Indy, I would not have been there, and God only know how she wold have suffered. Plus I would have had to take all the boys to the vet to make sure what ever killed her wasn’t contagious.

I will always remember Chloe as my loving, happy girl. She showed me that I really did want a girl bird, and I have her a good life..even if it was for a short while.

New addition:

After Chloe, I knew I wanted a girl. However, I didn’t just want to buy a bird to merely replace her. I wanted a girl, white with blue, and one that was friendly. Basically, I wanted the bird to pick me. I wanted to look at her and just know. We went to three pet stores yesterday. I found nothing I wanted at the first two stores, and my hopes weren’t high for the third. The first birds I saw at the third store were pretty but not friendly. I saw there were more in the case below. I got a text from a friend, and I sat on the floor as I texted him back. I looked up from texting and there was one lone girl who had just stepped up to the glass and was looking at me. She stayed with me the whole time my sister was looking for an associate…I knew she was the one.  She will never replace Chloe, but she will be a happy addition to our flock.

The weird part:

I think my boys knew Chloe was sick. They never really warmed to her or talked to her. However, Skye has already come over to talk to the new girl, and the cockatiels seem more accepting.  It was like they didn’t want to get too attached since she wouldn’t be around for long.

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