Once a nurse, it is in you!

Published

Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

So the other day, my father in law called. There was this crow with an obvious broken wing. He couldn't catch him, but said if he could he would bring it to me. Now, I am a bird freak! I also wanted sooooo much to be a vet. But still...I felt bad but knew it was so very illegal to harbor a native species, and hoped it wouldn't come to me. Plus I had signed up for 5-6 days a week for a month so I wouldn't be home.

Guess what..he was caught, yep...came to me!

This bird (I call him a he, with american crows sex is determined by bloodwork), had a compound fracture of his radius and the bone was sticking out! Sadly the bone was beyond dry, and the wound looked a week or two old. Not much hope in saving a good portion of the bone. However, this bird was acting like a normal crow, eating/drinking...no signs of infection....what a trooper!

I tended the wound and did some passive ROM to get the bone back into place....I wound up, under advisement of ...get this..a surgeon I worked with...to clip the tip of the bone and reinsert. It worked...I stablized and dressed the area. Meanwhile this bird was free to roam in a room, with a huge cage to go into at bedtime or when I was at work.

I live in a very rural area, and the day the bird came my car died! I even had to cancle work. So I could't take him to the Audubon society 40 miles away. So I guess I got the bird till hubby was off work for the week (paramedic 12 hour days..too late for their open hours).

So after a few days....and lots of treatment...the bird is doing awesome, and I guess I sucessfully meshed the bone up! He is using the wing and nicely!!!!! Of course he is still healing...

I called the audubon society, and they understand my transportation and work probelms in getting him in...and come sunday...this little crow, known as Orian, will have a surgical team and x-ray ready for him if needed. I talked to their vet for about an hour...sounds like what I did exceeded their expectations, and with the rom I described sounds like a good chance of recovery..including how I set the bone! AWESOME!

So, I guess our jobs don't just go with work, it comes into our lives in other ways..and I must admit...I was very happy to have that experience under my belt. Yes, I have shed a few tears on giving up my dreams of being a vet....but, I still got it...and for some odd reason...was shown to me again in this bird!

Be it a bird or human...we nurses have so much to give!

(btw..it is highly illegal to harbor a native animal...don't do it! It can be one heck of a fine! I got permission for three days only!).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Oh, you have a heart of gold!! It was so nice of you to help this bird and your story made me feel very, very good!:balloons:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Another diamond in your crown in heaven awaits you.

On behalf of the crow, thank you, thank you, thank you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I rescue animals too! In nursing school about a year ago, I was late for clinical prep (going to get my patient's information for the next day) and running to catch the bus when I noticed a kitten about to run in front of a car. I picked him up before anything bad happened and noticed four other little kittens hiding in some bushes near the sidewalk. As I was pondering what to do with all of the critters and on the phone with the SPCA, a random person drove by and out of the goodness of the heart took two with them. I scooped up the other three and carried them home. One of them ran away from me right as I was walking through my front door and proceeded to lead on a chase that must have amused my neighbors as he scampered back and forth between the fences of the front yards of the row homes on my street. After jumping over numerous fences, I caught him and took him inside. One of my neighbors took another kitty, and I took the other two to the SPCA where they were nursed and hopefully adopted. I think as nurses most of us can't bear to see any living thing suffer or be forgotten. I guess we have big hearts!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This is so true!

My X is an anaethesist and he used to drive along an expressway to work each day...at least once a week, he would come home with an injured animal for us to care for...often birds but sometimes a possum or kangaroo (or a joey he had rescued from a dead mothers pouch) or once a baby koala

In Australia, as long as we have informed the authorities, we are allowed to care for the animal at home as long as we do not get it used to being a pet and we rerelease as soon as the animal is able to fend for itself, we must supply food for it to hunt for itself etc.

Most times, the animal died, but sometimes we had the pleasure of rereleasing them or bringing them to an animal shelter, zoo or native park land. I became an expert in digging graves i am sorry to say.

Kudos to you for your care and success

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

UPDATE: After all the care I did, birds are just not as strong as other animals at healing. Despite his seemingly large appetite, strong apearance, movement of the wing...it was not meant to be for this lovely bird.

The bone had necrosed in the wing, and the damage was beyond fixing despite my best efforts. His immune system was shot, and he was loosing weight daily. So basically...the wound and dead bone was killing him slowly.

I took him to the Audubon society who were so very kind to me, appreciated my talents and efforts, let me know the bad news from the start. Yesterday at noon, Orian had to be put down out of kindess and not wanting him to starve to death or have the necrosis take him slowly.

It was wonderful having him with me though, and although right now I feel terrible, and stupid (I did more than most...but still feel like there should have been something more I could have done...even though...a dead bone is just that...not much more you can do), and very sad. Time will mend those feelings, and I will be able to look back with joy and appreciation of being near this strong and wonderful crow.

Thank you all for your thoughts!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am sorry to hear this. I wish that this would have turned out differently.:o

Please realize that you did much more than many, many people would have done.

Your kindness won't be forgotten.

Sis

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You did the best you could, I'm sure he appreciated the kindness and care you gave to him. Sorry to hear that he didn't make it :(

Up Vote Up Vote ×

crows are wonderful and majestic beings. I adore them.

Much of their symbolism has to do with carrying souls from darkness to light. You helped carry that crow and I am sure he appreciated it. Don't feel stupid; you did your best. It was his time and he was blessed to have you caring for him and making him comfortable.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

Thank you all so very much....the tears come in spurts, but will turn out okay. Hey...I guess if I didn't cry, it would mean I didn't care right?

Thank you all!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you to all of you. What you guys did is extremely wonderful and kind-hearted. It makes me happy that there are people out there that love animals and do their best by them and especially rescuing them and keeping them safe. :yelclap:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.

As Beautiful B stated, "Thank you to all of you. . .extremely wonderful and kind-hearted. It makes me happy that there are people out there . . ." like the crow's caretaker Triage RN and her father-in-law.

I'm sorry that the crow did not make it, but at least you spared him some suffering, Triage RN, suffering that your heart now seems to be assuming.

We are all connected. What you did mattered, and your sharing made my heart a gladder place.

Thanks again for the care, all you kindhearted folk!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion