Hello everyone,
I have finally calmed down enough to write and let you all know what happened with Arnie. last night/this morning (7/19/08) at 1:30am Arnie passed away. this was sudden and completly unexpected! I am devastated right now to say the least.

Since a couple months ago Arnie has been sperated from the other birds and in my bedroom due to an unfortunate run-in he had with my daughter (she ripped his tail feather out) his tail feathers has since grown back in and he seemed to be doing great. i enjoyed having him in my room (besides the fact that he scremed early in the morning) and he seemed to enjoy the quiet time he got away from the other birds.

yesterday evening around 6:00pm i went to my room to put some clean clothes up and i noticed Arnie was laying on the botttom of his cage, which was not very unusual for him since as some of you may rememebr he was handicapped and could not perch for very long anyways, but what caught me as odd was that he was fluffed up and so quiet. i immedietly dropped the clothes on the bed and got him out. he seemed ok except for one side of his body where the leg on that side was drawn up and had no grip at all and if you pulled his wing out on that side he was unable to pull it back in. the other side was "normal"

I took a small rubbermaid container and placed his favorite blanket in it and put a heating pad under it. i placed fruit cocktail (his favorite) and water in there and he ate and drank fine?! so i thought maybe hes fine and im just over-reacting. i assumed that his willinglness to eat his fav. things and drink meant he was ok. just as a precautinary measure i decided to leave in the heated container overnight on my nightstand due to the fact that he felt like he was getting clod fast when i took him out of the box and i thought he was loosing body heat.

before we went to sleep all the kids held him and loved on him and told him they hoped he would feel better in the morning ect..... and after i went to bed i couldnt go to sleep so i checked on him about once very 30 minutes and when i checked on him at 1:30am he was breathing really heavy and hard and had his mouth open making a clicking type sound i picked him up and a few moments later he died!!

Arnie was such a sweet bird and even though i only had him since this past winter i became very attached to him and eveloped a real love for quakers. i recieved him as a "freebie" from craigslist and right away realized soemthing was not right with him and took him to the vet. we found out he had a skelatal disorder most likely caused by a calciaum defficiency. i built him a special hanicapped accessible cage with ladders and platforms to lay on. We have no idea how old he was the lady just told me she knew he was old......I hope he enjoyed his last days with our family and we certainly will miss him!

thanks for reading this!
~Amber

Oh No! Amber, I'm so sorry. At least the little Arnie got a lot of love and comfort and care from you. You made his last days his best days.

Amber, I'm so sorry for your loss.

Big hugs to you and your famiy at this difficult time...

oh how this breaks my heart to read this post. But im so glad that you could give Arnie the loving care that he needed. you were his angel bless you for taking him and tending to him. sending you hugs and prayers for arnie.

Aww Amber Im so sorry! What a truly heart warming story youve told about his life. I felt some of your sadness and I wish he hadnt died for his and your sake Im sorry. Were all very much here for you!
One fine day I believe you will see him again! x

I am so very sorry for your loss.

thanks for all the kind words, I am still very emotinal about Arnies death and it's good to know there are other who understand what your going through
and please excuse all the typos in my original post, i was crying and very upset but i promise i really do know how to spell

(spell checker won't work for me on this forum)

I'm sorry to hear about Arnie, you must be devestated, my condolences go out to you and your family.

I am sorry about your loss. Arnie was blessed to have you in his life and vice-versa. RIP Arnie

Sorry for your loss.

I am so sorry for your loss. I'm sure Arnie knew he was loved. Hugs

I am so sorry for your loss. You were a bright spot in his life and he surely had a wonderful life with you, although it was cut short.

I hope your heart heals soon.

Fly free little Arnie.

I am so sorry for your loss I am sure Arnie knew you all loved him very much... (HUGS)to all the family you must be so upset...

My heart is breaking for you I am so very sorry. But knowing that he was so loved and cared for in your home eases it some. Sending you big hugs for you and your family

Amber I am so very sorry for your loss.

Sorry for your lost.

Very sad to hear Arnie went so fast. He seemed to have waited for you to hold him one last time. At least you were all there to comfort him.

Amber I am so sorry for your loss...hugs and my thoughts are with you.

Amber this is for you! Many heartfelt huggs out to you...



Amber I was near you, by your bed last night; I came to have a peek.
I could see that you were crying, you found it hard to sleep.

I chattered to you softly as you brushed away a tear,
"It's me, I haven't left you. I'm well. I'm fine. I'm here."

I was close to you at breakfast. I watched you pour the tea.
You were thinking of the many times your hands reached out to me.

I was with you at my grave today. You tend it with such care.
I want to reassure you, that I am not lying there.

I flew with you back towards the house. As you fumbled for your key,
I gently touched you with a feather, I smiled and said, "It's me."

You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair.
I tried so hard to let you know that I was perching there.

It's possible for me to be so near you everyday
To say to you with certainty, "I never went away."

You sat there very quietly, and then smiled. I think you knew
In the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.

The day is over - I smile and watch you yawning
And say, "Good night, God bless, I'll see you in the morning."

And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,
I'll fly across to greet you and we'll enter side by side.

I have many things to show you. There is so much for you to see.
Be patient, live your journey out... then come home to be with me.

You did a wonderful job in giving Arnie the very best life in the time that was left to him.

Peace to you both.

I'm so very sorry for your loss.

Hugs to you and your family.

I am so sorry to hear that Arnie passed. I am sure that the time he had with you and your family was happy and he knew he was very much loved. It is just the crappy part of the contract - most of our pets don't live as long as we do, but we can love them and care for them for as long as they're with us.

thank you!! that was beautiful......now im crying all over the keyboard....