Lil Guy needs a heavy dose of antibiotics to treat the infection in the injured bone.

However, bird bones are some of the hardest things to treat with heavy drugs, further complicating his recovery. Three different types of “very bad bacteria” were cultured from his infected bone, said CROW hospital director, Heather Barron.

“They are what we call multi-drug resistant,” she explained.

Antibiotics don’t always penetrate into the bone very well and unlike humans, it’s a complicated scenario the way birds’ bones work,” Barron said. “The side bone and upper arm bone communicate with the respiratory system.”

The antibiotics he’s on presents an additional type of challenge.

A lot is unknown and there can also be potential powerful side effects.

“In particular, it’s very difficult on the kidneys,” Barron said.

But she says right now he is doing just fine. Staff makes sure he stays hydrated, which helps make sure his kidneys stay healthy. It’s too early to tell whether he will return to the great open air.

Usually, Barron said, a normal cycle for the drug lasts about 4-6 weeks.

“But we’re hoping because that particular type of drug is so difficult on the kidneys, we can get the infection under control sooner,” she said.

If the antibiotics do their job without harming his kidneys, CROW will need to make sure he is a strong flyer and he’ll have to show that he’s capable of hunting on his own before he can be integrated back into the wild.

Barron said it might still take a few weeks to build up his strength.

He’s still getting physical therapy on his leg,” she said.

The process is remarkably similar to the same grueling regime humans go through. First doctors give him something to relax, like a Valium.

Then he’ll get pain medication, Barron said, if the session is going to be extra painful.

“It’s just like we do it in people,” she said. “We’ll work out his full range of motion. Use hot or cold packs.”

His injured leg is still a tiny fraction shorter than the other one, but Barron doesn’t think it will impede his ability to hunt and survive in the wild.

His wound is still healing, she said, but otherwise, he is bright and alert and eating very well, and flying around his cage.

CROW wants to put a federal leg band on Little Guy if he’s released so they can identify him in the future.

They don’t have a license to put a band on him, but Barron said she’s thinking about reaching out to other places like the Audubon Society for help.

I hate knowing that from today everything I post anywhere will have people assuming I'm a xenophobic, misogynistic, bigoted and thoroughly ignorant bastard. I didn't vote for the current government nor to leave the European Union. I actually care about the future for my 15 month year old neice, who will now have no choice but to live with the consequences of the idiocy of the general public in Britain. We cannot talk about the United Kingdom or being 'Great Britain' we gave that up when we gave up our human rights.

As an American, I welcome you to the club :D


Seriously, though...I'm starting to get a little concerned that this is foreshadowing of what might happen to us in November.

My pharmacy called to "verify the very large copay, we want to check with you before we fill it because it's a substantial amount".... STOP RIGHT THERE! What's on my mind is....I've encountered several customer service reps lately that need to improve their listening skills.

My response to the one that called: Look on the back of the script, my doctor attached a coupon to get it for free. I told that to the guy I gave it to yesterday. ...he put me on hold, then came back on to say he was sorry, it went through for zero now. ...
:readfineprint: :readfineprint:

This year so far is on my mind...

So much has happened and its all a little overwhelming.

Last week I was diagnosed with diabetes. It's just another thing in the long list of things that are wearing me thin. In talking with my doctor about everything that's going on with my health, she convinced me to try mood stabilizers again for my anxiety. She also wants me to look for a therapist... I haven't convinced myself to do that one yet. I went from taking NO pills to taking them twice a day, and now testing my blood sugar every day as well...

It's just a lot.

Whether or not I should go out this evening.

There is so much Israeli sadness in me, so much life, and heart and passion, spiteful resilient joie de vivre, insane determination sprouting from that darkness of that immanent and inherent sadness. The laughter, natural, spontaneous, uncontrollable, infectious, so easy to share, so damn projectable into the world, easy to relay to others. But the stubborn sadness, aggregate essence of the utter melancholic exhaustion, so heavy, so deeply embedded into my own shadow, impossible to grasp, impossible to isolate, impossible to do away with, never stops ticking.... Armed with comedy, even the greatest fighters sometimes just need a bite of silence and a sip of space... Close your eyes and breathe.... home... for whatever that means... One must carry on, one must always carry on.

I was supposed to work today but they cancelled it at the last minute. (Yesterday). It's nice outside so I think I will go play some basketball.

What is on my mind though is I have an important appointment Monday. I'm nervous but in my mind things are being put into perspective. Letting go of certain lingering negativities of recent past happenings. Knowing life is short and it's much better to find the positive things and enjoy them. There's a lot of good in my life I feel grateful for. And I plan to make the most of it. And I want everyone in my life and everyone else to be happy.

Ok mushy moment over......

Houston Pride is Today
 

Although I understand the power of tragedy to pull a community together, and am grateful for it. I really really really wish that what it took for people to just be humane to each other wasn't some horrible inhumanity. Couldn't it take just a little less force, eventually, soon, please

What is on my mind this morning is my son and his struggles. I wish I knew how to help him, how to make it easier... He is just getting worse and worse... and its hard on everyone.

Having a talk with my girlfriend about some of my thoughts and feelings.

on my mind ...

This new serta memory gel-foam mattress is wonderful. I am sleeping so much better.

just one thing ...

My old mattress was a queen-size. I deliberately bought this new one in a king size. Figured to give Kevin and Jennifer, my dogs, plenty of extra room so they don't feel the need to sleep so close to me.

They have not caught on yet that they have lots of extra space just for themselves.
:(

On my mind
 

Food is on my mind. I am tired of my cooking and I am tired of having to eat all the time. I wonder if a personal chef would be in the budget.

:cowboy:

Nail polish remover. I need to buy some this morning.

I'm already thinking about everything I need to do at work this week. I'll try to distract myself and reclaim my brain.

Nice thing about people ( butch or femme ) who use nail polish ( or remover ): they don't tend to bite their nails...a most unattractive habit.

It's a good thing I love my profession!
 

That the littlest dog with health issues just doesn't seem to gain any weight. She eats like a champ, but just doesn't seem to be able to gain weight and my head is spinning with all the reading I have been doing on how to help her. The only thing I haven't tried is a raw diet...I think that maybe next.