These are my "Status" comments on Facebook, before and after Ricky died. This is a long post, and most likely will be my last. But I do still have my turtle, Jasper. Not sure for how long though, because I have to move out of here, do to the horrible second hand smoke and mildew in my apartment. That's what killed Ricky.
This was Ricky and I on August 9, 2014. Everything seemed perfectly fine on this day.
August 10, 2014-11 am
Something seems wrong with Ricky today. He's never had a sick day, but he keeps closing one eye and is staying in his cage. hasn't eaten anything. He loves breakfast with me. Especially scrambled eggs, and he hasn't touched any. He was shivering. I hope the damn air conditioner hasn't caused him to catch a cold. I hate having the air conditioner in the living room, but the bedroom window is broke, and last year I had a portable AC, which was always in the bedroom. And he likes to be in the bedroom with me, but with the mildew and cigarette smell, I don't like him in that air too much. As I was writing this, he flew in the bedroom and seems better, thank God. He can open that eye, but is still closing it a lot. Just hoping he will be okay. As you can see in the photo, his left eye was okay yesterday. He has been acting a bit strange in the past month though. He wants to go in his cage too early, and he wants to be covered. In the past, I could never get him to go in when it was time to go to bed. Now I have to get out of the bedroom, because there is a slight cigarette smell coming in now.
August 10 at 3:42pm --
Whatever God wants to happen, is okay with me. (For Ricky) And me of course.. He's already given me more time than I thought I'd have. I never want to see a critter not feeling well. especially my own. He seems a bit better this afternoon. But he's already wanting to go in his cage for the night. He likes to be completely covered. Those kind of birds need 14 hours of darkness every day, to stay healthy, but he's stretching it a bit..
August 13 at 8:01am
Virginia Miller Ricky was better the next day and he seems back to normal! His eye was fully open. He's back to being his noisy self! Thank you God!
Aug. 29th, 2014. Ricky hasn't been feeling well. He seems weak and can't fly far. He likes to go in his favorite spot, in the cupboard, where he was born 12 years ago.
Sept. 1st, 2014. Ricky is feeling better, thank God.
September 2, 2014 Ricky is not doing well today
Sept. 3, 2014. Ricky flew to his cage, but he is still not feeling well.
Sept. 5th-Ricky looks better today!
Sept. 9th-Ricky not doing so well today. I was holding him, to keep him warmer. Then he wanted to be in the cupboard. At least in the cupboard, the second hand cigarette smoke, that drifts down from the upstairs apartment, doesn't get in that area as much. On the days it's heavy, is when he seems to get sick again. it's making me very ill also and I'm trying to find another apartment. I've begged and begged the landlord to do something, but he won't even try to do any more and he refuses to make this Government funded Housing building a NO Smoking place.
Sept. 11th-
My pet bird, Ricky, drank water himself, for the first time in almost two weeks. That's why I've been giving him special water with syringe. I'm beginning to think he might have a tumor in his head or something. He can never fly to where he wants. He misses the doorways and his cage. Maybe that is why the closing of one eye for the past month. He slept all day, but did eat. And he's talking a lot to me tonight.
Sept. 13th-In his cage and still not acting right. he closes his eyes sometimes, so know he's not feeling right. He seems too weak. He did get down and eat some food from his bottom dishes. And he drank some water, so I wasn't too worried at this time.
Sept. 14th-Before his seizure
Sept.14th, before his seizure. It was horrible to see him like that. He seemed to be doing real well. But he wanted to be up in the cupboard, so that is where he was. I had just made breakfast and he was enjoying his scrambled egg. All of a sudden he was looking straight ahead, with a frightened look in his eyes. Then he went into the seizure, so fast that he fell out of the cupboard. He was flopping around so much that I had a hard time getting hold of him. I took everything out of the cupboard and put him back up there with some soft towels, and closed the doors, so he wouldn't fall out again. It took him a very long time to calm down. So sad to see him like this. I was crying of course.
Sept. 14th-Five hours after he had a seizure. He was doing real well. I was surprised.
Sept. 14th
This was Ricky, five hours after his seizure. Look how good he was doing! He ate a lot also! He seems better than before the seizure. Weird. just hope he never has another one. He was singing to me too! I have to get the video onto Youtube, before I can add it here.
I keep that green sheet on his cage because he likes to be covered halfway. He feels safer. Then around 6 pm, he wants to be covered up tightly. No open areas. He is also in love with empty boxes and magazines, so he has a few in his cage. He's obsessed with paper. I can't throw anything away when he's watching, or he yells at me, till I let him have them. So, I have to sneak the stuff out of his cage when he's not looking. Yes, I'm an enabler. Ha, ha!
Sept. 15th-19:43 am
He's still sleeping. I'm not bothering him. He needs it, after yesterday's ordeal. I've got him partially uncovered, but he's still got his head turned back in the sleeping position and still on his perch, so that is good. he's never fallen off his perches yet. I guess he would have, yesterday, if he had been in his cage. I'm glad he wasn't. He might have gotten hurt more.
He finally wanted out at 11:15. He ate his breakfast and I've been holding him for a very long time and gently rubbing his face and neck and head. He loves that. But now he's acting tired again. I don't want him out too much, where he might get hurt, if he starts having a problem again.September 15 at 12:34pm
11:25 pm-We had a pretty good day. He only missed the spot he was trying to get to, once, and fell to the floor. He's afraid to go into the cupboard now, because that's where he had the seizure. He'll go back soon, I think, That's his favorite spot.
Sept. 20th. Ricky seemed better today, but he still won't go anywhere else but on me. He still can't fly right, so I don't let him even try. I'm afraid he'll get hurt. I'm so afraid he'll have another seizure.
Sept. 23rd. Ricky is doing much better, but still cannot fly and land. He still crashes to the floor.
Sept. 28th-Ricky is doing so much better! His eyes are wide open. He is flying better, but still missing my shoulder. His little brain is healing after that seizure. So happy!
September 29 at 7:53am ·
Thanks to all the concern and prayers, my Ricky is doing lots better now! His eyes are wide open again and he is flying better, even though he still misses my shoulder and lands on my head, but that is so much better than before. I think his little brain is healing up. I hope he never has another seizure. I don't want to see that again. He's sitting on my knee here, yesterday, Sept. 28th.
October 4th, 2014-Ricky having a seizure. 10:00 am
October 4, 2014-Ricky seemed to come out of the seizure, but then would go right back into another one. I tried to hold him as best I could, but they sure get strong when seizing.
October 4, 2014- I finally decided to put Ricky inside my walker basket, with soft cloth. He couldn't get hurt as much, as if he would if he got away from me and flapped all over the place. So I put him in there and closed the top and took him into the bathroom, where it was warm and dark. When I checked him, he had stopped seizing and was sitting still in there. I touched him because I thought he was dead, but he moved a little, so I didn't want to bother him, so shut the top again and checked 5 minutes later. By then he had passed. I felt so bad that I hadn't picked him back up.
October 4, 2014-Ricky passed at 11 am. He was warm, so i held him till he got cold. My little baby was 12 years old. He should have lived a lot longer, but God chose for him to go now, before me. I will miss him terribly. I will miss our daily breakfast of scrambled egg and toast, together. How he loved it. Sometimes he couldn't wait and he'd always be on my shoulder, watching me cook the eggs. He'd try to climb down my chest to get at the eggs. I'd make sure they were cooled off, so he wouldn't burn his little tongue. When he was done eating, he'd like to go in the cupboard, in his favorite spot, where he was born. He's knock on the wall and play peek-a-boo with me. I'd say, "knock, knock, who's there?", and he'd say his name back to me. He was quite the character. I really enjoyed having him for 12 years.
This was what I wrote after ricky died, on my Facebook page.
October 4 at 12:17pm
My "Ricky" died an hour ago. 11:00 am, Oct. 4, 2014. He had another seizure. I held him for a very long time, but it was hard controlling him, so I put him inside my walker basket, that is made of soft material, and put soft cloths in there. He was real stiff and his wing was in the air. I took him in the bathroom, where it's always warm, and let him be quiet, in the dark, hoping he'd come out of it. I kept checking on him, and I thought he was going to be okay because he was sitting quietly. I touched him and he moved slightly, but when I check 5 minutes later, he had passed. It's been a real bad morning for me. I'm not done crying yet. He was born here, from a fertile egg, and he was very spoiled. But the bad air in here has got to him first. It will get to me next. Now I don't care if I live or die. I was only worried about him. I do have my turtle, but I will have to have her put to sleep. I don't think I will be living much longer. Ricky kept me going, as well as all the outside animals, when they were here. Now there's nothing left. I will continue to work with my lawyers, and hope to God I can win this lawsuit before I die. Just to prove a point, and to help all other non smokers who are affected by second hand smoke.
October 9, 2014-This is where my Ricky was buried today. Thank you so much Chris Hoover. You don't know how much it means to me, that you did that. It's always been a beautiful spot up there. I feel at peace now. Love you!!
Rainbow Bridge
When a bird dies that has been especially close to someone here, that bird goes to the Rainbow Bridge. At the Rainbow Bridge, there are meadows, hills, and beautiful trees of all kinds where all our special friends can fly and climb, hang and flap, hop and run, jump and play, squawk and squeal and sing together.
But the day will come when your bird will spot you in the distance. His eyes will get wide and bright, as he suddenly leaves the group and comes flying to you, excitingly calling your name, and his own. You will be covered with beak nibbles and soft kisses. Your hair will be preened by that special beak and his head will bend under your inviting touch once again, as you gently caress his downy softness
You look once more into the trusting eyes of your companion, so long from your physical life on earth but never for an instant absent from your heart. Your tears of joy are gently brushed away by those beloved wings and feeling immersed once more in total contentment and love, you and your beloved companion cross the Rainbow Bridge together.
"Ricky"
Beloved pet Cockatiel of Virginia Miller
He pecked his way out of his shell on June 16, 2002.
After twelve years of loving and entertaining companionship, he passed away on October 4, 2014.
Click on this, to read:
Lend Me A Bird
"I will lend to you, for a while, a bird," God Said.
For you to love, while he lives, and mourn, when he is dead.
Maybe for twelve or fourteen years, or maybe for two or three.
But will you, till I call him back, take care of him for me?
He'll bring his charms, to gladden you, and should his stay be brief,
You'll always have his memories, as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise that he will stay, since all from earth, return.
But there are lessons taught below, I want this bird to learn.
I've looked the whole world over, in search of teachers true,
And from the folks that crowd life's land, I have chosen you.
Now will you give him all your love; nor think the labor vain;
Nor hate me, when I come to take my lovely bird again?
I fancied that I heard them say, " Dear Lord, they will be done,
For all the joy this bird will bring, the risk of grief we'll run."
Will you shelter him with tenderness?
Will you love him while you may?
And for the happiness you will know, forever grateful stay?
But should I call him back, much sooner than you've planned;
Please brave the bitter grief that comes, and try to understand.
If by your love, you've managed, my wishes to achieve,
In memory of him you've loved; be thankful; do not grieve.
Cherish every moment of your feathered charge.
He filled your home with songs of joy, the time he was alive
Let not his passing take from you, those memories to enjoy.
"I lend to you, a bird," God said, and teach you all you have to do,
And when I call him back to heaven, you will know he loved you too.
In Memory all the birds I have had in the past 18 years. Sonny, Pee-Wee, Rudy, Gigi, my Parakeets ("Budgies" ), and Pumpkin and Ricky, my Cockatiels. They all brought me much joy and entertainment. They will always be in my heart, till the day we meet again. Virginia Miller October 11, 2014
Oct. 9th
I got a scratch on my nose the day Ricky died. As he went into a seizure, I was kissing him, and his claw got me. It's the first mark on my face I never minded having.
Oct. 13, 2014
Living with Second Hand smoke isn't easy. These masks are not comfortable at all. I've been wearing them off and on for two years now.
Oct. 16, 2014
I put this on my door. I really do believe my pet bird, Ricky, was affected real bad this year by the second hand smoke. Second hand smoke can cause seizures in birds. I've been reading a lot about it. The other birds weren't affected because I never had it in my living room till the past year and a half, when that apartment upstairs was rented to a smoker, and it all comes down into my apartment. So bad that as soon as it comes in I start choking and coughing. If it bothers me that much, what do you think it would do to a tiny bird's lungs??
I'll be seeing you soon Ricky, Pumpkin, Gigi, Rudy, Pee Wee and Sonny.
