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Paws helping Claws at UC Davis

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Maybe the reason I love animals so much, is because the only time they have broken my heart is when theirs has stopped beating. -Author unknown.

On May 5, 2019 the heart of my true love, Gomez, stopped beating. On May 3, I took Gomez to her veterinarian.  A few hours later he called me and informed me that  Gomez was egg bound with 2 eggs and I would need to rush her to UC Davis for emergency surgery. I wasted no time getting her to UC Davis from Reno.  The staff at UC Davis were very prompt and met us in the parking lot as we arrived from Reno and rushed Gomez into the hospital. We spoke with the doctor to discuss three different procedures.  We all agreed on the minimally invasive procedure, however, this procedure required an ultrasound machine which they did not have. I was told that they would have to borrow an ultrasound machine from another department.  At the time they felt that the procedure could take place on Monday. So we decided to drive home to to get clothing etc. so we could stay in UC Davis during her medical treatments. We received a phone call on our way home from the doctor. She explained to us that they received Gomez’s  blood work results and the surgery would have to take place immediately.

I stayed the night in Reno to get some rest and drive back the next morning. When I arrived in UC Davis they would not let me visit with Gomez before her procedure. They wanted to keep her calm. I waited anxiously all afternoon to hear from the doctor. I finally got a phone call that told me the procedure was unsuccessful and that Gomez would have to have major surgery the next day.

I was told I could visit Gomez for one hour later in the afternoon at 5 PM. That would be the last time I spent with my true love Gomez. I have posted a video of my last visit with my daughter. I have no children, she was my daughter. It was the shortest hour of my life. When I arrived they took me back to her incubator. She had a catheter in her wing and climbed up onto my shoulder. I could tell she was happy to see me but I could also tell that she was very anxious as she chewed on my shirt. There was no chair for me to sit in to visit with my bird so I stood there with my bird while they found me a chair to sit in. And just like that the hour was up and I had to place her back into her incubator, and I put my head inside the incubator to give her a kiss good night. As I leaned in, she grabbed on to me. I knew she didn’t want me to leave. The staff told me it was time for her medicine and that it was time to go. I had to pry her off my shoulder and put her back in her incubator and quickly close the door.  Those were the last moments I spent with my true love.

On the fifth month of the year, the fifth day month and the fifth hour of the day my true love passed away. I received a voice message on my phone at 5:55 am from her doctor to call. I spoke to my husband first and he told me that Gomez had passed away.  I couldn’t believe this was happening. It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. She was supposed to die in my arms, not in an incubator in the hospital! I had to wait for the hospital to open at 9am to see Gomez.

I just wanted to take my bird home and lay her to rest. This visit was surreal. It would be the last time I kiss my bird and tell her “Good birds go night night”

I had the option to take my bird home with me or to have a necropsy performed. If I chose the necropsy, my bird would have to be cremated. I chose the necropsy. I did not want my bird to die in vain. UC Davis is a school of medicine. I wanted the students and school to learn everything they could from my bird so they could possibly save another life.

Ever since my birds passing I have been seeing 555 everywhere. Clocks, license plates, addresses etc. It comforts me. I still cry every day for her. She was my constant companion, my true love and my child for nearly 18 years. I always told her that I loved  her so much it hurt my heart. I will always love her with my broken heart. I still tell her every night before I go to bed, “Good birds go night night.  

My name is Shannon and I am raising money to support UC Davis Companion Avian & Exotic Pet Medicine Service. I have used their service a couple of times for my pet bird Gomez. The last time I took Gomez to UC Davis for treatment they were unable to save her life. I will be forever grateful for UC Davis and I want  to help the school in Honor of Gomez. I wanted to do an Amazon wishlist for the school and asked for a wish list from the CAEP Service department. I was expecting a list of paper towels, bird food, pens paper, towels etc. When I received the list that I asked for I was absolutely shocked at what was on the list. I have the list posted after Gomez’s story. There are a couple of items on the list that pertain to Gomez’s story.

Ultrasound Unit, mobile for minimally invasive procedures  $40,000

Student workspace chairs total of 8 $500 ea. Total $4,000

These are just two items listed on the wish list. During this process I have learned that the Companion Avian & Exotic Pet Medicine Service Department of UC Davis is the most underfunded department in the entire university.

I never want another parent of a bird or reptile to be told that there is no ultrasound machine available to do a diagnostic procedure and that the machine has to be borrowed from another department.

I never want another person to be told that they have to wait, unbeknownst to them, in the final hour that they will spend with their beloved pet, to wait for a chair to sit in.

I chose to have a bird as a pet as opposed to a dog or a cat. I never fully understood at the time that veterinarian care for my pet would be very minimal. If my pet got sick on a weekend and her doctor was not available my only choice was to drive to UC Davis for treatment.

I can’t explain to you how heartbreaking it is to drive from vet clinic to vet clinic all over town trying to find somebody to take care of your pet, only to be turned away. This is why Paws helping Claws is so important me. There is a shortage of avian and exotic veterinarians. I want to help this hospital provide the best education for future avian veterinarians.

I want this hospital to be able to provide care for people like me and Gomez when we arrive in an emergency situation.

On behalf of Gomez, I know she would appreciate your donation sponsored in your beloved pets name to support UC Davis and our future avian vet’s.

I will post a video soon to explain how very important this is to me and other parrot and reptile parents.



2 Paragon Medical MI-1000 ExceLED Dual Ceiling LED Surgery Light
Ceiling Mounted double  Head LED surgery lights
$6,650 ea. Total $13,300
Our ceiling mounted surgery lights are constantly failing due to bulb heat and faulty wiring in CCAH and Gourley

3 MiniOx 3000: PN 814365
Oxygen meters for oxygen cages
$1,000 ea. Total $3,000
Patient Care

Syringe Pump
$2,045 
The service does not own any syringe pumps, compromises patient care. Must borrow from Anesthesia.

Lab Cam, microscope adapter for iPhone
iPhone adapter for microscope
$250
Student and client instruction

Protable Falcon block Perch with 5" Top
Falcon/Raptor perch
$220
Falconry patients and clients require this when providing appropriate patient care

Spare Falcon Block Top in Three sizes
$59
Falconry patients and clients require this when providing appropriate patient care

Reptile Caging System
Caging system renovation for hospitalized patients
$15,000
Patient care

Fluid Pumps
Fluid pump to provide fluid therapy to hospitalized patients
$2,500
These pumps are needed to replace the baxter and heska pumps that are no longer manufactured or maintained

Revco Sample Freezer
Patient Sample storage
$20,000
Patient Sample Storage

EMMA Capnograph
Protable ETCO2 monitor
$1,500
Anesthesia/CC Monitoring

i-Stat hand-held portable clnical analyzer
Patient Care
$10,000
Patient care, emergency, triage

Ultrasound Unit
mobile for minimally invasive procedures
$40,000
Improve patient care

Primate Squeeze Cage
Patient Care/Safety
$5,900

Small Squeeze Cage
Patient Care/Safety
$1,895
Patient Care/Safety

HCT Centrifuge
Centrifuge for spining HCT
$600
Patient Care

Student workspace chairs
8
$500 ea total $4,000
student & resident wellness

Organizer

Shannon Gomez
Organizer
Reno, NV

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