Hello all,
I just wanted to share the story of Billie Jean’s accident and recovery from head trauma, as when I was googling desperately for information, I found nothing that could help me and instead, ended up going with my gut instincts. I hope that this can help someone else going through something similar.
On Tuesday morning, 8 days ago, I was carrying laundry and he was on my shoulder. He jumped onto the basket and I put it down on the ground but without realising, he jumped onto the floor. When I went to hang the washing, I pushed the door in a little to step round and without me realising, Billie Jean had positioned himself between the laundry on the floor and the door. I can’t quite piece together what happened but I have assumed that he was picking at the floor and the door went over the back of his head but I cannot be certain even now. The next thing I knew he was screaming and as I pulled the door open he was bent over and flailing around on the floor. Immediately knowing something was wrong, I scooped him up trying to comfort him and keep him still whilst remaining calm. I wasn’t sure if his neck or back was broken so I jumped in a cab within two minutes of it all happening. By this point I was hysterical as he was having seizures in the car to the vets. I luckily live about 10 mins from an amazing bird specialist hospital.
I ran in the door and handed him to a nurse and they got him in a box with oxygen and valium to stop the seizures. Throughout the day, they kept checking on him and advised that he was awake and they would be testing for metal poisoning. The result came back showing a small reading which contributes to making the seizures worse. Bit of back history, we live in a very old heritage house and Billie Jean had been peeling paint off of the skirting boards and consuming it without us realising. He ended up with such severe lead poisoning the machine couldn’t give a reading. This happened three months ago and he was treated and was thriving but they did expect to see some still in his system considering how high it had been. The following day they managed to x-ray his body which showed no breaks but were unable to see his skull. They were still unsure at this time if he had a fractured skull but it was clear he had experienced head trauma. During the whole time they were treating him, I had not gone back in to see him as they were trying to keep his blood pressure etc. as low as possible. The seizures had stopped on the first day but he was not eating or drinking on his own or even reacting in any form to anyone or making any noise. I had the painful conversation with one of the vets that if he did not start eating or drinking by himself the following day, they would be stopping treatment as he was showing signs of brain damage.
On the third day, I got a phone call in the morning that there had been no change and they were still tube feeding him but he was completely unresponsive to anything and asked if I could make my way in to see if I could coax any reaction from him or encourage him to eat and drink. If I failed to do this, I would have to make my decision as they did not feel comfortable treating him further.
When I arrived they brought him in a cage and I was trying to talk to him through the tears. He show small signs of recognition but when I took him out he was like a half dead limp doll. His left foot was clumped together and he was struggling to walk. I picked him up snuggling him into me and he slept straight away. I unfortunately could not get him to eat or drink but I wasn’t ready to give up on him. After half an hour they asked me to leave but I refused and they instead moved me into another room. To move him they put him back into the cage, desperately unsteadily he began trying to go at the bars to reach me again. This time I got him out and sat him down on my lap and he climbed all by himself up to my chest and nestled in like a new born baby. I remained snuggling him for two hours. I made the decision that I wanted to bring him home and give him a night of comfort especially if it was to be his last but the vets did not want me to take him as they was concerned about transporting him. I finally said that it was no longer up for discussion and I would be taking him so they advised that they would tube feed him before we left so they knew he had a feed and agreed if he did not start eating by himself in the morning, I would return and they would feed him or a decision would have to be made. When I returned, the nurses told me after leaving he began chirping or squeaking and trying to get out the cage, as if he was calling out for me.
Upon arriving home and getting him out of his box, he launched himself out of my hand and wonkily ran across the living room into his cage and nosedived into a bowl of food where he remained for 40 mins before having a drink and retreating to his bed and sleeping through till the morning.
We are now on day 8 and he has come on leaps and bounds. The first few days were like having a new born baby so I didn’t return to work and had him sleeping on my chest all day, waking to eat and poop and then returning to sleep. He is now awake all day, running, jumping, playing, unable to keep still, mission destruction recommenced on day 7. The vets weren’t sure of the injury but advised me that it would take weeks for him to return to normal. The fact that they were pushing for him to stay and consider euthanasia only hours before is crazy. All he needed was some TLC and his home.. I purposely have kept him out of his cage since his initial return as his left foot is still a problem. He is able to use it fine but his coordination and control can falter. He also isn’t responsive to us talking to him even though previously he would respond to certain words and his name consistently. I think that this has contributed to his lack of talking and noise he would usually make, he has started to squeak come day 6 which is progressing but is few and far between especially since he had been so vocal prior to the accident.
We are returning to the vets on Friday for his first check up and I have been updating them every morning with his progress which I think they have struggled to believe. I have told them that the bird I left with is a far cry from the bird I will be returning with.
I hope this helps anyone going through such an awful experience and considering the final option for their birds. If they are not on IV drips I would fight tooth and nail with your vet to allow you to bring them home even if it ends up being for their last night giving them the chance to have some TLC and creature comforts. I do believe that made the world of difference for Billie Jean and that is the only reason he is still with us and unbelievably thriving as he is. I still don’t want to jinx it and find that it is short term but it’s better than nothing.
T & Billie Jean
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