Perspectives Winter/Spring-2017

16 • NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY Bird Steals Faculty Member’s Heart BY LORI DESORBO, M.M.SC. , CAA, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, ANESTHESIOLOGIST ASSISTANT—TAMPA In addition to my job as an assistant professor for the Tampa Anesthesiologist Assistant Program and as a certified anesthesiologist assistant at the University of Florida in Gainesville, I volunteer for the Florida Parrot Rescue (FPR) as a foster parent for parrots in need of forever homes. The nonprofit FPR is a volunteer-run avian rescue dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and placement of com- panion parrots. Since I began fostering Elvis, a body-bald, 22-year- old female Moluccan cockatoo, I noticed that the bird regularly fell from her perch, regardless of the perch’s diameter or material. I also noted that she appeared constantly sleepy and unable to perch with any stability. In fact, Elvis would even fall if held by hand if I didn’t hold her against me. Throughout my first week with her, I witnessed Elvis make multiple, failed attempts to sleep. She would begin the typical, sleepy-eyed process of dozing off—sometimes raising a foot in the normal fashion—but would begin to tilt to her left, before abruptly waking as she lost balance. Sadly, she