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TickleTwo - Blue & Gold Macaw Parrot - Hatched Crippled

jmthornsberry (Premium member) > albums > TickleTwo - Blue & Gold Macaw Parro...

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This album is about raising a birth defected/crippled baby Blue and Gold Macaw. TickleTwo was born (hatched) on the same day that our family was returning to our home after our daughter, Christina Nichole, was released from the hospitals in Spokane WA following her amazing coma recovery in 2004. She was still in out-patient rehabilitation therapy for the years ahead. On our 3 hour drive home the cell phone rang and it was a friend who breeds exotic birds, as I had for over 25 years. I retired from bird breeding in 1996. She had not heard about Christina's coma yet, or she might not have called. She was having her own health crisis and was also addicted to several life-threatening habits. She was crying and asking if I would take her just-hatched Blue & Gold Macaw baby. It was born with one leg straight up in the air. It had one wing on the same side that also went straight up and over the back of it's neck. She felt that she could not deal with trying to raise this baby, the probable surgeries it would require, and tendency to die at any second. At first I thought, "I can't take on this enormous responsiblity and time-consuming efforts right now either... I have Christina to take care of around the clock." As I started to explain the situation to my friend she was so shocked and upset about what had happened to Chrissy that it added to her own stress and feelings of being overwhelmed and distraught. She said she was going to put it to sleep. During this conversation I felt as if God was telling me to take the crippled baby... so as crazy as it seemed at that time, I followed His Urging. We stopped by her house on our way home and found my friend in very bad condition. I decided to take her tiny baby Parakeet home with us as well to lighten her load as much as possible. As it turned out, Tickletwo and the Parakeet were perfect rehabilitation therapies for Christina! She worked with me to raise them and they fulfilled many, many needs she had at that time in her recovery efforts. I did not hear from my friend again for over two years. When she finally contacted me via email, she said that night at her house had changed her life. She stopped over 40 years of addictions cold turkey that same night after we left. Praise God! TickleTwo grew with daily physical therapy and Chiropractic manipulations. My husband of 42 years is our family Doctor of Chiropractic for which we are always thankful and which came in very handy while raising TickleTwo. The Vet monitored TickleTwo's progress and never opted for surgery because she overcame most of her disabilities far better than he ever dreamed possible as time went along. She still has one straight leg with crooked toes, but in the downward position and it works fine for her whenever she is holding her food and eating, hanging upside down, or climbing her cage bars. Walking is very difficult for her, but she manages. Her wing grew into a downward laying position but it is still crippled enough that she cannot fly. When she tries she flies in low circles for very short trips. She is 100% happy, cuddly, loving, playful, and intelligent though. She talks up a storm! Who could ask for more? God worked so many wonderful outcomes into our lives through TickleTwo. I never had a clue that it would turn out so amazing for everyone, including TickleTwo! Blessings, Judy

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18 comments

  • Great shot!

    said photo of lovejoy lovejoy 2 months 27 days ago

  • Congratulations my friend on being featured potd, smile please -Jay

    said photo of Jayramji Jayramji 2 months 2 days ago

  • My goodness! This amazing story brought tears to my eyes! Doesn't God work in mysterious ways!!!? God bless you, Judy!

    said photo of opera166 opera166 2 months 2 days ago

  • May I add that I've just downloaded this exceptionally sharp image of Tickle Two! It's now adorning my desktop! Kind regards, Miriam

    said photo of opera166 opera166 2 months 2 days ago

  • Hello, CONGRATULATIONS on being a featured POTD today, well deserved, I am delighted for you, wonderful capture, thank you for sharing, enjoy your day, take care Ann (Chester England)

    said photo of annedm1 annedm1 2 months 2 days ago

  • Hi! Congratulations on having the featured photo in the pets channel today. Good job!

    said photo of kidlib1 kidlib1 2 months 2 days ago

  • Wonderful photo and inspiring story. I heard a prayer last night that went something like, "Thank you for our handicaps for they help us draw near to God." Congratulations on Photo of the Day in Pets section of Webshots Home Page. And thank you for the wonderful story. Marie from KC

    said photo of McTuffis McTuffis 2 months 2 days ago

  • Congratulations on your featured photo! Greetings from Bulgaria!

    said photo of tonymatso tonymatso 2 months 2 days ago

  • CONGRATULATIONS on your featured POTD in pets.It's Well deserved and a Fantastic Shot,have a good Day in the spot light thanks for sharing.Essex England

    said photo of Brightlingsea Brightlingsea 2 months 2 days ago

  • Congratulations on your featured POTD in pets. nice shot! John

    said photo of woodeye518 woodeye518 2 months 2 days ago

  • This is Such a wonderful story and very very inspiring. What joy God can bring out of a such a broken instrument, I thank God for not giving up on me in my broken state, This is a marvelous photograph, not only for the simple beauty of a majestic Bird but equally as beautiful for the symbolisism "of never giving up" on what others might cast to the side.Heartfelt Greetings to you and your family, from Lynne In North Bay Ontario Canada

    said photo of blynne100 blynne100 2 months 2 days ago

  • This is Such a wonderful story and very very inspiring. What joy God can bring out of a such a broken instrument, I thank God for not giving up on me in my broken state, This is a marvelous photograph, not only for the simple beauty of a majestic Bird but equally as beautiful for the symbolisism "of never giving up" on what others might cast to the side.Heartfelt Greetings to you and your family, from Lynne In North Bay Ontario Canada

    said photo of blynne100 blynne100 2 months 2 days ago

  • What a beautiful bird,God,s will has everything to do with this bird. He knew you would love him and care for him........

    said photo of vcpearl vcpearl 2 months 2 days ago

  • Congratulations on being featured in Pets! Thanks for sharing.

    said photo of lovejoy lovejoy 2 months 2 days ago

  • CONGRATULATIONS on your POTD,Very well deserved choice,ENJOY YOUR SPECIAL DAY************khaled

    said photo of amen2006 amen2006 2 months 2 days ago

  • This is beautiful. Congratulations on your Pet POTD. All The Best, Teresa

    said photo of teres187 teres187 2 months 2 days ago

  • God Bless You! And Tickle Two, too! I believe you are right...God had a plan for you & Tickle Two and Christina, and you did a very compassionate & Unslefish thing by taking this poor baby bird into your hearts and home. My cousin had also felt "compelled" to take on the huge responsibility of caring for & raising a disabled animal. Her little Haley, is a Rat Terrier that was born with severe disabilities. First of all, she only weighed a few ounces, and even by the time she was 2 months old, her head was only about the size of a ping-pong ball. The vet had recommended several times that it would probably be better to put her down, because she also had a malformed left front leg (and Haley & I are also "soulmates" & "buddies", because I have a paralyzed left arm due to an auto accident back in 1974). She had many obstacles to overcome, but my cousin was adamant and refused to put Haley to sleep. She did all of the physical therapy for the dog herself, fed her specially cooked foods and sat up many nights with a very sick little puppy. I'm happy to say that Haley is a remarkable little dog and is definitely the Boss of the house. She even bosses around and dominates her big brother Tino (who is a Rat Terrier/Chihuahua mix). She runs and plays in the yard, gets first pick at sitting in Mommy's lap, and loves everyone that walks through their door (that's AFTER she raises the alarm & barks like a fierce watchdog when we first approach the door). Once you're inside, she will give you all the kisses you could stand...and then some, practically giving you a bath in the process. I applaud you as I did my cousin, in your willingness to help one of God's creatures in need, and you received the benefit of a happy, healthy, beautiful bird as well as a wonderful companion & "therapist" for your daughter Christina. Tickle Two is a gorgeous Macaw, and she DOES look very happy indeed...thanks to you! You're aces in my book! And you will be rewarded for your generosity and compassion.

    said photo of babyshark57 babyshark57 2 months 1 days ago

  • What a wonderful story. God made all creatures for a reason. May you and you whoe family have years of happiness with this wonderful pet.

    said photo of kmac1021 kmac1021 1 months 30 days ago

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