THE EDITOR, Madam:

The veterinarian assistant brought the cage to the reception area from a back room, and when she lifted the covering, there was my best buddy wrapped up like a Christmas gift. Being a Hahn’s macaw, Chico has brilliant green plumage with red shoulder pads, and now his right wing was covered with a bright red bandage. Chico gave me a welcoming squawk, as I told him his medical dressing resembled Willie Nelson’s trademark bandanna.

He had experienced quite a day; driven to the vet about seven hours earlier, diagnosed with a tumour in his armpit (wing pit) that had to be removed, and undergoing the surgery, anaesthesia and all. It was really traumatic for this little bundle of feathers, who had been adopted by my wife and I 23 years ago when he was only six weeks old. Since being widowed seven years ago, Chico and I have become closer than ever; we are truly best buddies.

While watching television in the late evening on Monday, December 16, Chico climbed up onto my hand, and there was a drop of blood on my finger. I thought he’d pricked me with his claws, but that was not the case as I found the underside of his right wing was bloody. There was a swelling on his little body that had been bleeding, but he wouldn’t let me clean any of the blood from his feathers.

Checks on Google gave me options that were scary and frightening, and early next morning I started phoning veterinarians for assistance. I was directed to the Island Animal Hospital in Nanaimo, about 45-minutes down the highway. Doctor Ken Langelier is in residence there, and Chico was so fortunate to be cared for by such a renowned avian expert on December 18.

He said the tumour was quite large for such a small bird, and though it went quite deep, he was satisfied that all was removed and sent for examination. Chico is now home on medication with a follow-up appointment scheduled two days before Christmas, then sutures removal later. Christmas came a week early this year for Chico and I, with the wonderful Dr Ken Langelier and staff playing Santa and elves saving Chico’s life. To paraphrase Charles Dickens’ Tiny Tim, we gratefully say, “God bless them, everyone.”

Feliz Navidad to all in the newsroom, and to all your readers.

BERNIE SMITH

Parksville, BC

Canada