my parakeet Julia passed away yesterday.im so heartbroken..Julia suffered for almost 3 months..she was dx with Megabacteria..she was vomiting for almost 3 mos.we've been in the hospital almost evry week for 3 months.when i took her to an avian vet the first time, i was told she needs to be hospitalized,she was admitted for 3 days,was placed in an incubator,given tube feedings,iv fluids,multiple antibiotic injections and vit b injections.when i took her home she was given doxycycline antibiotic to be put in her drinking water for 2 weeks,she continue to vomit,weight loss,muscle wasting,,so i tooke her back to the vet again,they started her on nystatin to begiven orally x 2 weeks,she still continue to vomit,i took her back again,nystatin was discontinued and started her on amphoteracin-b and dmg x 10 days..still continue to vomit,i took her back to the vet again and was told to continue amphoteracin b for another 10 days,still continue to vomit,i took her back again and this time she was given cefa drops with nystatin in conjunction with ampho- b and dmg.and everytime i bring her back, the vet has to give her 2 injections in her chest.claforan inj and vit b inj, I also started her on holistic approach,herbal medicines,etc etc.as advised by illusive fantasy..everyday i tell my little julia " i love you very very much and i will never ever give up on you " i told the vet that i will do everything to save her and i asked him to do the same..for 3 months me and little julia fought a very hard battle,she had to put up a fight,tried so hard to fight for her life coz she knows i was fighting for her all the way..i work in a hospital and i work with patients all the time but when it comes to julia i feel so helpless..i go to work with a heavy heart,i think about her all day long but since i have to work with sick people,i cant be showing a sad,lonely and depressed face..and i realized one of the hardest things in life is to hide your tears behind your smile..i ran in the bathroom all the time and cry a river,then i composed myself and smile with a heavy heart..julia lost a lot of weight and so was i. I was at work on april 27 at around 2:30 pm when i called my friend who takes care of julia when i'm at work,she said that she looks really weak,was at the bottom of the cage and walking unsteadily.at that time i felt " her end is coming " my friend told me she might still be alive when i get home at 11:30 pm..i started sobbing,i decided to go home right away and i didn't care if they fire me,all i know is julia needs me so badly,,as i reached the elevator,i pressed the button probably 100 times coz i was rushing to get home,i was not able to wait for the elevator,i ran to the garage and drove as fast as i can,i called my friend while i was driving and told her to tell julia im coming home,my friend told her " your momy is coming home " as i pulled into my garage and enter the house,my friend told julia " your momy is here " she then took her last breath and passed away,i was late 5 seconds..my whole body went numbed..i should have driven a little faster..or i should have not waited for that damn elevator.. held her in the palms of my hand and i whispher " i love you so much and i'm so sorry i'm late,why didn't you wait for me" i was hearbroken coz she died without me on her side.i was holding her for 3 hours,i miss her terribly,i'm so sad and heartbroken,it's so hard to get through the day without her..sometimes i feel guilty,did i make the right decision by putting her through all the medical treatments..or i should have just let her die in peace..to my little julia " i will love you forever..and i know when its my time to go,you will be waiting for me in the gate of heaven..

as far as the hollistic approach... we didnt have much of a chance sweetie to do that at all..less than a week...so you were not able to even timewise... acquire some of the things for that ...

i also again want to explain to people what some call hollistic with the use of herbs..HERBS ARE MEDICINE...a different form but non the less medicine in every sense .. so you never even with your own vitamins want to mess with all this and take all sorts of things without knowing what counteractions there are to what you maybe already taking or even each herb with each other...many salves ...oils...ointments ...aspirin...sleep aids on and on come from shrubs or flowers ...and their components ...digitalis is a common garden flower so be very careful when using herbs ..or taking vitamins. Never think a vitamin is a vitamin or a herb is a herb ITS MEDICINE FOLKS...even the teas you drink

as far as did you do the right thing Cathy...

thats not something anyone can say but ...i do however believe you did the right thing in giving her a chance thats for sure...and the vets did wonderful as well with what they tried and julia taught them and you so much about this awful disease while she battled it ...

some day there maybe a way to save a bird from this and each time someone fights the good battle it hopefully brings us to that time..im certain this was at no small cost financially either to you...and for those reading this thread we are discussing a bird who had megabac disease...which generally stems from first getting candida or agy disease...hence the name ...megabacteria disease...and why so many different treatments are tried to hopefully fight all this at once.

you say you work in a hospital so your familar with the concept that its sometimes about sacrifice to learn about cure...

please know that in time the pain will subside...and a certain amount of grieving is expected again...you working in a hospital know this...so have some faith in yourself and be gentle with yourself...

huggggggs

EDITED:
This person went the long road and tried her hardest to fight a relentless disease...we all each should be grateful to her as ...much is learned thru each and every time someone does this...and once again ..SAVE FOR VET FUNDS these treatments are at no small cost.

if she wouldnt mind sharing the cost for some of you to understand i would ask humbly for her to do that here...and say thank you...for all you did ...your sacrifice...your energy...your time ...etc etc. Somewhere down the road someones bird may not have to go thru this because of yours and julias sacrifice and for that...CAPPY AND I THANK YOU..and please stay with us here on this forum because already your personal hardship/pain and heart wrenching sharing this story with us has been very selfless and extremely priceless...again HUGGGGGGGGS.

(EARLY treament to any symptoms of a bird being off is CRUCIAL to the outcome dont hesitate to find a good AVIAN vet NOW who is familar with BIRDS DISEASES..again ill say...a DVM has minimal training in birds dont let them convince you of otherwise...at the very first sign your bird maybe ill its already been sick a long time PLEASE understand this...they HIDE their sickness...so dont delay in getting to a vet ASAP at the first signs of something being not right!

You may have only hours not days to help your bird.

Many of these things can be prevented thru CLEANLINESS...not OVERCROWDING OF BIRDS, IRRESPONSIBLE BREEDING and PROPER DIET along with a QUARINTINE PERIOD OF 90DAYS (not 30days) WITH ANY NEW BIRDS BROUGHT INTO YOUR HOME, and not caving in to that time with any sort of contact with other birds you may already have...even if they come from the same place you got your other birds...please understand also ...some birds can be carriers of a disease (psittacosis for only one which is also a killer to some humans particularly with a compromised immune system) and not show it and pass it to others and this is why it doesnt make any difference if you got your birds from the same place or not... as well as, yearly wellness checks and minimal early detection test....one in particular...is psittacosis to test for right away)

Cathy...thank you for your contribution and julia also to the avian world...and this forum.

Cathy,

I have been following your story from the beginning and have been thinking of you and Julia from the beginning. You did everything any human mommy could do for your little girl. She hung in as long as she could, and knew you were there. Please don't blame yourself for anything. Your story is an inspiration to all of us. The members of this forum are extremely fortunate to have someone like ILLUSIVE to turn to for answers and comfort. She is one of a kind.

Cathy, know that your Julia is flying free and think of her every time you feel a gentle breeze on your face. I am crying for you right now and pray that your pain subsides and you're memories grow.

God bless!

Cathy,
I've been struggling with what to say since reading your and Julia's story earlier today. I just can't seem to find the words to express how truly sorry i am for all you and Julia went thru.
It must have been so hard for you just putting it all down in words like you have done for us.I know that I read thru a fog of tears and i am sure you shed even more.
I too want to thank you and Julia for fighting like helll to overcome this terrible disease. My Levi and Ziggy thank you too. Illusive is right. Every battle fought brings us that much closer to hopefully finding the right treatments to overcome diseases like this one. Where would we be without people like you going the extra mile for their little companions?

I wish there was something I could say to ease your pain but I know that nothing but time can do that.
You have to stop beating yourself up and thinking about could've.. would've... should've dones. You did everything humanly possible. You have to KNOW that.
When you think of Julia think of her with a smile and remember all the good times you shared and the crazy things she did.She would not want you to be sad for too long Cathy. You went thru a lot together... She is free now. She would want you to be free too.

((((((((HUGZ)))))))) to you Cathy.
If ever you need to vent, if you need an understanding shoulder to lean on, we are here for you.

Hi all,
Thank you very much for all the prayers and understanding.....
Illusive Fantasy asked me to share the cost of all the treatments..i spent more than 1000 dollars,i know it's not cheap,i'm not rich, so i have to work extra,give up buying stuff that usually buy for myself..even sell some of my stuff...all i know is i will do everything to save her..at work nobody understand..i always hear a comment like " you're spending all that money in a bird? " and i always say " i will do the same for any living things,wether it's a cricket, hamstring or a bleeding squerrel in front of my house " coz they all have spirit and soul...when my little julia was sick,i pray to God every night to just give me julia's pain and suffering..coz she doesn't deserve it..don't give up on your pets..for us humans we have friends,family,relatives,we have work,we have entertaiment,we have everything around us,but for your pets THEY ONLY HAVE YOU!..... thank you again for everything...GOD BLESS you all...

its all very sad, but you did what you could, dont feel like you did anything wrong. im sure we all would have done the same

hi Cathy...sorry to report thats the general response of many peoples feelings... why should i spend so much on a $20 bird...and i really do not agree...

there are many other.. really to me.. replusive excuses also.

BUT YOU...YOU were led by morals...ethics...conscience...and full feelings of being responsible and this is really AMAZING and CREDITABLE ...and i will always be willing to try and be there and help someones bird, who a owner truly shows a sincere need and desire to help their bird, such as yourself... who takes responsiblity without a thousand excuses of why they cant,... while crying HELP...like those of us here on the forum are miracle workers and expect us to do what they themselves wont...yah yah PDM...ill go to my corner now and take a "time out".

those knowing me better, will understand when i say here ive deleted so many things ive typed so far with my true feelings about much of this...I say again...thank gawd for late nite posting when i can keep coming back before someone sees my ranting and FIX it ..* somewhat ...and i hear PDM'S lil voice in my head and feel her tap on my shoulder and sigh...

Thanks for the financial report and maybe it will be a REALITY getter and eye opener for some of those others out there that think they can handle anything and everything with ...a kids piggy bank balance in it...

but even THAT is a good place TO START to save for a rainy day fund for your pets...ive been saving since after six months of having cappy...and along the way also realized the cage i had was simply not safe or adequate and improved on that...

some toys are necessary...good food is ALWAYS necessary...a LARGE SAFE cage is the single largest investment with these guys ...and then there is the VET...and all these things not even in THAT order of priority...but how do you ..really ...prioritise these things...each can be argueably as important as the other...and some of us pray for enough time to save huge amts for when the time comes we can do something...thing is ..you MUST keep saving give up some things to save...and even on a shoe string budget there is NO reason not to be able to save a good chunk of kaching in just a couple years...to the tune of several hundred dollars....and in the meantime...there is THIS:

LIST OF AVIAN VETS SEARCH:

http://www.aav.org/search/

http://www.localvets.com/

PET INSURANCE:

http://www.petinsurance.com/plans-and-coverage/bird-and-exotic-pet-insurance.aspx

so anyone thinking these guys are cheap as pets...im laughing because im certain within six months to a year they realize this isnt the case.

they are adorable...incredably smart...clowns...colorful...inventive little mischief makers...extremely tiny ..win their trust and oh my gosh they stick to you closer than your own skin in love and loyality ..and quite defenseless and helpless, save for their caretakers...and for all this they simply are not placed with any real soulful value by many many people.

THANK YOU cathy...again for sharing this story...sharing what the cost of this was to let folks know ..this is no joke...

and early detection and treatment most often can make a difference...just this is one lousy disease that julia went thru...

and you never let her down... fought with her, and whether you know or not, which im sure you didnt at the time ...again ill say it here...you ALL ..did it for HIGHER reasons...then even ALL of you knew at the time...and someday...because there are those of you out there who WILL spend the money...it will bring a way ..a knowing...a cure...in the future.

GOD BLESS you and that entire medical team and of course...JULIA ~!~ .

P.s.

MIKKER...dont kid yourself ...no...much more DONT do the same...and ok PDM you can now breathe a sigh of relief cuz im done.

Hi Cathy, I am really sorry for the loss of your beloved Julia. I bet you have done your best to save her life and she knew how much you loved her. Thanks for sharing your story and the little fighter would be remembered by us forever.

"God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be. So he put his arms around you and whispered "come to me". With tearful eyes I watched you....and saw you pass away. Although I loved you dearly, I would not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest. God....broke my heart to prove to me that HE only takes the BEST".

Thank you bebee72,It's heartbreaking...i miss her everyday..i cry everyday..i have to take vacation leave at work coz i couldn't function well...where is the good in goodbye?....She's a fighter..i learned a lot from her...life is tough..not only for humans but for animals too.. I understand why human has to suffer,we are sinners but animals? ...but i guess GOD is telling me it's not my job to figure out why things are happening....to my little angel JULIA..you will be in my heart forever..

God does not do these things to anything its a NATURAL order of life and death...