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March 14, 2008
Norman and Gypsy need your help!
Please help by donating here, thoughts, prayers and good wishes are also welcome!
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The Gabriel Foundation March 13, 2008
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Your help and well wishes are needed: Norman's in the hospital.
Norman, TGF's 40-plus y.o. Grey mascot is in the hospital. Our veterinarian and staff are providing the best care possible for this charmer. Radiographs and blood work are all within normal limits, but Norman is still not his outgoing, chatty-chipper self. For those of you that have not met this amazing fellow - his story is inspirational.
Norman came to TGF 11 years ago from a veterinarian whose clients abandoned him there when he was desperately ill.
He was blind in one eye, emaciated, and in terrible feather condition. The veterinarian had performed surgery on Norman's sinus which was severely infected and Pseudomonas bacteria had traveled the optic nerve and blinded him. Norman was also diagnosed at that time with ocular and choanal papillomas.
TGF took in Norman on the condition that we would become financially responsible for his additional required surgeries and care. Ultimately, Norman went to the University of Florida, Gainesville, and surgery was performed by Dr. Avery Bennett. Tissue samples of Norm's papillomas were sent to Dr. Darrel Styles at The Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center at Texas A&M University for further study and typing.
It was then determined that Norman had the 6th genotype of the avian papilloma virus - a unique finding. Norman has lived well with this incurable disease, and he has been a wonderful teacher to us all.
Read the rest of Normans and Gypsy's stories...
Wild caught several decades earlier, subject to poor husbandry, nutrition and lack of veterinary care, Norman developed chronic sinus infections and the papilloma virus. With excellent diagnostics, surgeries and supportive care, Norman's life dramatically improved.
Right now, Norman is hospitalized, on meds, and cultures are pending. Norman has suffered for 11 years from chronic sinus discharge and his sinuses are flushed daily. Surgery to open up the eyelid on his right eye was deemed to be more risky than beneficial. Norman has adapted to his extremely limited eyesight.
Due to his weight loss, he is being tube fed and consistently monitored. He is not comfortable perching right now, remains in an incubator, and has a head tilt.
We make the 45-minute drive to visit him twice daily to keep his spirits up and everyone at the veterinary hospital is doing their best to insure that he makes it through this rough time.
Anyone who has met Norman delights in his cat, kitten, pig, duck, chicken and cow sounds, not to mention his laugh at the most appropriate times!
Norman has our love, our prayers for recovery and a tremendous fan club. If you can help us by donating to Norman's hospital fund, your tax-deductible donations will be greatly appreciated and are very much needed.
Gypsy is hospitalized again!
As of today, Gypsy, the 32 y.o. Blue and Gold macaw remains hospitalized at Texas A&M at The Schubot Center. Her prognosis is uncertain and we are awaiting biopsy results. Gypsy's veterinary care has been over $3000 to date. Your donations to help with Gypsy's veterinary care will help TGF greatly.
Your donations can be sent on our secure website link provided below or called in at 303.629.5900 x214. All donors to Norman's and Gypsy's veterinary care funds will be posted on our website unless anonymity is requested. Please, won't you help us with these two birds in need? Thank you for your compassion and care.
Julie Weiss Murad CEO, President and Founder The Gabriel Foundation
Gypsy is hospitalized again!
As of today, Gypsy, the 32 y.o. Blue and Gold macaw remains hospitalized at Texas A&M at The Schubot Center. Her prognosis is uncertain and we are awaiting biopsy results. Gypsy's veterinary care has been over $3000 to date. Your donations to help with Gypsy's veterinary care will help TGF greatly.
Your donations can be sent on our secure website link provided below or called in at 303.629.5900 x214. All donors to Norman's and Gypsy's veterinary care funds will be posted on our website unless anonymity is requested. Please, won't you help us with these two birds in need? Thank you for your compassion and care.
Julie Weiss Murad CEO, President and Founder The Gabriel Foundation
Posted by sue at March 14, 2008 09:36 AM