Surgery for Serafina (Donations to Palomacy)

My name is Nicole. I am urgently fundraising on behalf of Palomacy for surgical tumor removal for Serafina, a lovely female pigeon who is currently in my care. Serafina normally lives in a large volunteer-run foster aviary, but came into my care when I noticed her looking uncomfortable and having trouble breathing during my volunteer shift. I brought her to Medical Center for Birds the next day, where we discovered an ovarian tumor on ultrasound. Draining fluid from around the tumor gave her instant relief, but the fluid quickly returned and started to mildly affect her breathing within about a week. We drained the fluid off again, and she is still benefiting from this, but we don't want to wait for the fluid to reaccumulate before we take action. Our options to significantly improve her comfort non-surgically are limited, so, after much discussion, we have opted to give her the best chance that we can by attempting surgical removal of the tumor. The ultrasound can't rule out the possibility that the cancer has spread or that the tumor is in a tricky location, but, depending on what we find during surgery, we think we may have a shot at excising the entire tumor, which could make a complete cure a possibility. Her surgery is scheduled for Monday, so please send best wishes and, if you can, please help us fund her care.

We can ask for current totals for her care on Monday and/or Tuesday to post here. For now, I am setting the goal at what I expect will be an appropriate number assuming the surgery is a success. If there is an excess of donations, the money will go far to help Palomacy rescue and care for other pigeons in need, but I will try to update the goal as appropriate.

Serafina is a particularly sweet and gentle hen, who gets along with all of her flockmates and loves the sun. During her first vet visit, she charmed both me and the doctor by preening us, especially after we drained the fluid. Her husbird, Norm, has been with her the whole time. His worried look was part of what tipped me off that Serafina needed urgent help when I saw her looking uncomfortable during my volunteer shift. The changes in his demeanor have helped me gauge Serafina's comfort. The two of them are now in a private suite inside my outdoor aviary where they can get some pre-op sun therapy and constant access to a bath bowl.

In the fundraiser photo, Serafina is the smaller bird standing on the left, looking toward the camera. She has some small black spots. Her husbird, Norm, is on the right side of the photo (by Serafina's left side).

Thank you for any and all help through donations or through sharing her fundraiser.

Nicole