Goodbye Rhaegal. You were my best friend, my companion, and my daughter for 8 years
Good morning. Tonight my lovebird passed away, and somehow Reddit seems to know it, because I have been receiving notifications about people posting similar things despite never having followed any bird-related communities before. So I want to share this.
My lovebird was a beautiful female peach-faced lovebird (roseicollis) with an aqua mutation. After the passing of her male companion, I became her partner. Ironically, even when he was alive, she was never as attached to him as she was to me; I was always her main person, her chosen companion.
We shared 8 years of unimaginable love. She was my companion, my confidant, my friend, and my daughter.
Rhaegal came into my life as a hand-raised lovebird, along with Daenerys, her male partner (yes, it is ironic that I named him Daenerys, but I thought he was female). From the moment they entered my life, I was never the same.
They saved me from depression. They accompanied me through my journey into medical school and through graduating from Medicine. Sadly, Daenerys passed away suddenly 2 years ago, and today Rhaegal has passed after a long battle.
It started with egg binding, and after the veterinarian resolved that issue, I don't know whether it was due to negligence or not, but she developed a cloacal prolapse. It was repaired, but unfortunately her kidneys were left severely damaged.
The veterinary hospital wanted me to keep her hospitalized indefinitely, seemingly with the only purpose of taking all my money, when the reality was clear: my little bird was not going to recover.
I have spent the last 48 hours glued to her side, keeping her warm in the place she called home, surrounded by her flock: her daughters Viserion and Drogon, and Caraxes.
I tried to give her comfort, peace, and calm during her final hours. I gave her the best scratches and the strongest kisses, the ones she loved so, so much. While I stayed awake, I spent those 48 hours making all the sounds she loved and that always brought her comfort.
I will love you for my entire life, Rhaegal. I don't think a single day will pass without me thinking of you. It is because of you that I survived two of the saddest and hardest moments of my life. And it is because of you and Daenerys that I learned the immense amount of love that such tiny birds can give: creatures with such complex personalities, such unique behaviors, and so many little habits that sometimes feel almost human.
I loved you. I love you. And I will love you forever, Rhaegal.