My Diary

On Wednesday 30th April, I didn't want to eat my food. Carol asked me what was wrong but I pretended to be ok so she didn't worry. The next day, I still didn't fancy any food and began to feel a bit poorly too so I made sure that Carol and Matty knew. I heard them talk about taking me to see the Vet which I didn't really like but wanted to get better so decided I should just do what they say. Anyway, that night, I was sick. I had never been properly sick before although I like to give Matty some of my food sometimes as a gift [we birds do that you know - its called regurgitating and we do it to feed babies usually but sometimes we do it just to show we love someone]. This time though I was properly sick and Carol and Matty were really worried.
	On Friday morning, sure enough Carol sorted out the carrier to take me into the car. i know what that means - and I wasn't very pleased. We went to see Mr Marshall at Taylor & Marshall Vets in Shifnal. Mr Marshall specialises in exotic animals and he is very clever. He said I had an infection. He gave me an injection and sent me home with some medicines. On Saturday, I was feeling much worse but it was a holiday weekend in the UK and so the Vet was not at the surgery. A friend of Matty & Carols whose name is Linda told Matty about a really nice Vet who would be able to see me on that afternoon. His name is Peter McCullough at Carmel Veterinary Centre. Yep - you guessed it..... another injection and he told me to go back the next day for another one!!
I carried on getting worse and worse. Carol and Matty were very upset because I had become very weak and was being sick all the time. For us birds, that is quite dangerous as we are so little. On that morning when Carol and Matty took me to the Vet, he said he wanted me to stay in his hospital. I didn't want to but I knew I had to. I was very poorly that night and I can just remember the nice man coming to see me in the middle of the night. He gave me more medicine and talked to me. He was very kind and gentle and he told me that Carol and Matty wanted me to try to get better so I decided to try my very best. Matty and Carol came to see me on the Monday but I can't really remember it very well. I was so poorly. The nice man wanted me to see my other Vet because he knows ever such a lot about birds and so he just looked after me very well until the other Vet would be back at work on Tuesday 6th May. Somehow, I managed to sleep and rest and the nice man just looked after me until Carol and Matty picked me up to take me to the other Vet.
	Tuesday 6th May I was admitted to another hospital where the Specialist Vet works. I had a little anaesthetic and had a drip put into the top of my leg [although after I woke up, I chewed through it as soon as I could] and then I had X-rays and a blood test to find out what was wrong with me. It turned out that I had metal poisoning and we think it was from a zip from a cushion I had been playing with. Once the Vet knew that, he was able to make me feel better very quickly although I must admit, I wish he didn't need to give me all those needles!!
Carol came to pick me up to take me home on Saturday 10th May 2008. I am feeling a lot better but I am giving them the cold shoulder that first afternoon just to teach them a lesson. Now every day I am feeling better and better. I am putting on a little weight and enjoying life again. I'm not allowed to play with the zipper anymore.... why is that..............?

A special message from Carol, Matty and me............


Carol and Matthew have been touched and moved by the support and encouragement from everyone near and far during the time that Bobby was ill. We very nearly lost him and all because of a stupid little zipper from a cushion that he was playing with and we hadn't realised he was being poisoned. After he became ill, we were devastated and if it had not been for the amazing care and thoughtfulness of the two Vets that were involved together with their team of highly trained and caring Nurses, he definitely would not be with us now. Bobby has not had one day of sickness in his whole life and the only times we have met with the Specialist Vet was for annual check-ups and general advice. We had never met Peter McCullough at Carmel Veterinary Centre at all before the Bank Holiday Saturday and his gentle care and whole-hearted concern kept Bobby alive for a couple of days until he could be taken to the Specialist, Mr Marshall at Taylor & Marshall Vets in Shifnal. We cannot thank you and all your wonderful nurses enough. We know that neither of you were expecting him to pull through. One of the phone lines at home became a 'Bobby Hotline' and we thank all of you who took the time to make enquiries as to his progress in those few days which seemed to last a lifetime. Phone calls came from all over the world. Carol joined an online forum to ask for advice and support when Bobby became unwell and received so much support and love from them. Our sister even arranged a Mass in India and special prayers to St Martin de Porres and children in Ireland (Siobhan's children) who we have never ever met mentioned Bobby in their Morning Prayers at school. Nathan, our nephew in America insisted on being taken to a Church in order to say prayers for Bobby's recovery. Our very good friend Anne was constantly in touch and was one of Bobby's first visitors once he was discharged from hospital. Without all the professionals, family, friends [old and new] and the children who sent their powerful and positive thoughts, we couldn't have made it through the last week and we want to say a huge THANKYOU to you all.