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You may or may not know Mr Barrie Shutt...he is a well known Budgie Breeder in the UK. If Barrie Shutt has helped you with your budgies over the years then please consider helping him right now. Please read and if you can help at all with bringing this to everyone's attention it would be so very much appreciated. Emily is Mr Shutt's Granddaughter and he is trying to raise funds to send her to London for treatment. Thanks for reading. Email: barrieshutt@aol.com LINK: https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/nichelle-gibbons Thank you for taking the time and trouble to read this....any help is greatly appreciated. This has been cross posted from another site. Posted by Mr Shutt March 19th 2012 Three weeks after Emily’s second birthday she was diagnosed with Leukaemia (ALL ) Acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL), also called acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, is a cancer that starts from the early version of white blood cells called lymphocytes in the bone marrow (the soft inner part of the bones, where new blood cells are made).Leukaemia cells usually invade the blood fairly quickly. They can then spread to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), and testicles (in males). The next 28 months Emily and her family unknown to them were then going to be facing many miles of daily travel, unscheduled stop overs at Newcastle as poor Emily went through many procedures comprising of chemotherapy intravenously through her port, several lumber punctures intrathecal to help protect her brain, regular bone marrow aspirations plus chemo daily when she was at home. Where are all of these bone marrow donors when you need one we asked and then we got some fantastic news as a donor was found with a perfect match of 12 out 12 .The donor was her brother, her best friend and her life saver Alfie. Before transplant Emily had to go through fourteen weeks of intense treatment to prepare her for the transplant. This little girl was very poorly during the next eleven weeks in hospital, suffering lots of pain and discomfort and for seven weeks she was pumped with morphine. Her legs were splinted as she could not walk having spent so much time in her sick bed. Jan 2014 was very special as Emily was allowed home for a few weeks. February 2014 Emily returned back to the RVI to be prepared for the transplant. Again she endured more intense treatment and nine sessions of radiotherapy, six of these were fully body treatments and three to her head. Next the bubble unit on ward three at the RVI where visitors were down to four until after Emily’s transplant, this included Mum, Dad and her best buddy Alfie who would go eight weeks without seeing his sister. This was now the family home where shift patterns were needed as her parents alternated between caring for Emily and Alfie; difficult times for all were now more intense and many hours and days of tears rolled down everyone’s faces. March 27th 2014 Emily has her transplant donated by her brother Alfie. Two wonderful brave children both sharing not only the same bone marrow but the same pain, discomfort and hope for the future , they make me so proud to be their grandfather. Fourteen weeks later and armed with seventeen different meds and a car load of teddies we are going home. After living at times surviving on a pittance thankfully supported by our many friends who supported Emily’s Fund and helped not only the family but also the RVI who received a generous donation that we hope will help other sick children and their families in times like this. A huge thank you from the bottom of my heart to you all for you kindness and support. Two and a half years later things were starting to have that feel good factor for us all, regular hospital check-ups were telling us all how Emily was winning her fight to survive and enjoying life to the full for the first time since her second birthday in 2012 Early February 2015 things sadly began to change when Emily started complaining of pains in her arms and legs, she was sleeping more during the day, her energy levels were at a low, she was crying with headaches, her eyes were googly and she held her head to one side, we took her straight through to the RVI. Nothing was to be found by her team at the hospital but more tests would be carried out on her next follow up visit. February 26th 2015 Emily’s bloods were taken and were showing to be good, she was then taken to the theatre for a bone marrow aspiration to try and find out the reasons for her body pains. A few hours later we were told our worst fears, Emily had relapsed for the second time eleven months after her transplant. We were all gutted. Very little leukaemia was found in Emily’s bone marrow but sadly our hearts were broken when we were told Emily had suffered her relapse in the central nervous system which is the spinal fluid leading to the brain. One day before this little girls fifth birthday the world around us seem to stop when we told to prepare for the worst. The next day February 27th 2015 was spent in the care of her wonderful team at the RVI Newcastle, Emily was back into the theatre for a lumber puncture to administer treatment into her spinal fluid. Once her Doctor found out that we had booked and organised Emily’s birthday party for the following day February 28th all stops were pulled out to make sure she was sent home to enjoy this wonderful event. This wonderful little girl sang and danced her heart out and shared with all of her wonderful friends on a day when emotions and tears were difficult to control by the family. Since Emily’s relapse our little girl has showing so much strength during her treatments, eleven lumbar punctures, seven doses of intravenous through her port, seven 15 day courses of steroids and chemo at home. Each day now is a different story a she can suffer sickness, aches and pains from the horrible but necessary treatments yet this amazing child takes everything that is thrown at her with such determination, she is such an inspiration to us all and we will never stop caring and loving this fantastic young lady as we strive for someone to switch that light on again. I did tell a few little untruths on Emily’s Journey page to protect some of our friends with the sad news, I did make sure plenty of pictures were posted of a smiling Emily to make us all feel good behind this sadness I am now sharing with you all. Many appointments were attended at the RVI Newcastle combined with staff and parent meetings; one piece of great news was of a trial starting in January 2016 at Great Ormond Street in London which can hopefully include our Emily and give her a lifeline. Even though our little princess is doing as well as can be expected at the moment and her Doctors are so pleased with her she still has a long way to go in her fight to survive this terrible disease. We need to get her back up to 100% treatment (she is on 75% now) and keep her as healthy as we can over the months leading up towards the trial. The last six months continues to be very difficult for mum, dad and Alfie as they and myself of course are taking everything day by day and sharing one prayer “ please do not take this little girl away from us “ I am planning with friends to have some fund raising events which will help finance living and travel costs in London for the family, if London fails us we will be looking at America’s medical teams who lead the way towards successful treatments and cures. If London answers our prayers then Emily’s fund will be used to help other sick children who need that special care, love and understanding Any offers or ideas of fundraising are most welcome guys, just PM me on Facebook. Please do not contact Emily’s parents as life is very difficult for them both in these sad times. A big thank you all from my heart to everyone who has cared, shared, loved and become part of the family, take care guys.

Thanks...I found this thead on your site posted 01 May 2012 and see that some of your members have used Sodium Benzoate with successful results. LINK: http://forums.budgie...showtopic=31909

Thanks but my vet knows little about budgies and more about making money which is why I came on here for advice. I have been reading on here that some have used this and just wanted to check what the dilution rate was etc. Hope someone can advise. Thanks

Hi, I have one budgie that has this condition and I was told to treat it with Sodium Benzoate but I'm not sure of the dilution... can anyone please help. I have read it's 1 teaspoon in 5ml of water for 5 weeks. I don't want to mix more than I need per day so if anyone can please advise I would be so grateful. Also while treating with sodium benzoate do I need to stop anything apart from Gaurdian Angel...can I still feed fruit and veg or do these need to be stopped until after treatment. Thanks for your help.

'Sexiest Video' Delivers Malware Download Facebook users are being warned to resist temptation and avoid clicking on a message promising "without doubt the sexiest video ever". The link appears in your newsfeed together with a picture of a pneumatic model or a woman on an exercise bike wearing a miniskirt. But as is often the case the message delivers something far nastier than promised - in this case clicking the video link leads to a download of a programme that fills your computer with unwanted junk. The malware installs 'adware' called Hotbar, which makes the creator money and will pop up adverts when you use Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer, reports Wired.co.uk. The toolbar's buttons will change depending on the site, but it will generally open up more unpleasant sites if you click the buttons. It'll also install skins for Internet Explorer, Outlook and Outlook express and start collecting user data, Wired says. IT security and data protection company Sophos says thousands of people are falling for the trick. A video demonstrating the scam has been posted to YouTube by Websense Security Labs. Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos, said: "You may want to watch a sexy video, but you're more likely to end up being plagued by pop-up advertising. "Not only is adware being installed on your computer, but the rogue Facebook application is posting the same message to all of your friends' accounts." Facebook users hit by the attack are advised not to click on the links or allow the Facebook application to run. Victims are urged to scan their computer with up-to-date anti-virus software, change passwords, and review all Facebook applications and settings, Mr Cluley said. LINK http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Technolog..._Hits_Thousands

PLEASE SIGN PETITION AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT: CLICKY HERE On March 26th Dobromir Donchev from Drianovo,Bulgaria found Mima lying crippled near his home. All four paws of the 5-year -old female dog were axed. Donchev took Mima to the vet immediately where she was stabilized. Her paws were cut in such a barbaric way that it is almost impossible to be replaced. Mima's owner is sure the crime was done by a neighbour because of an old fight. But there is nothing he can do about it. There is no animal laws in Bulgaria and no proper punishment for such acts. Young people from Drianovo are now gathering signatures asking the Bulgarian Prime Minister for justice. Please show your support and hopefully this case will set the long waited changes of Bulgarian Law against Animal Abuse. Facebook appeal.. Justice for Mima- Dog in Bulgaria, had All 4 Legs Brutally Chopped Off! CLICKY HERE

...what about Sesame seeds? ....are they safe to feed Budgies?...have searched but haven't found a yes or a no...thanks

...and the infoemation for Pear is incorrect aswell...pear branches are fine as long as no pesticides have been used on them, it's just the seeds that are toxic. Thanks to everyone for all of your invaluable information and help..much appreciated.

Thanks for your help..it definitely says they are Toxic..take a look http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index....showtopic=23616 Toxic Acokanthera - all parts are toxic except the ripe fruit Amaryllis - all parts are toxic Andromeda - all parts are toxic Angel's Trumpet - seeds, leaves, and flowers are toxic Apricot - pits, leaves, and bark are toxic Apple - seeds, leaves, and bark are toxic Arum Lily - all parts are toxic Australian Flame Tree - all parts are toxic Autumn Crocus - all parts are toxic Avocado - pits, unripe fruit, leaves, and stems are toxic Azalea - all parts are toxic Wild budgies must have come across apple trees and taken a nibble ...it also says Pear is Toxic but again I have found out through asking other budgie experts/owners that only the pips are Toxic not the bark and leaves...these are also used as branches for budgies with no problems.

This certainly is a strange one ....I have phoned around all the experts I can find on budgies and they all say they're safe apart from the pips ....they all say they have used apple branches for years, some as far back as the 60's with no problems

Thanks for your replies ...I was thinking of stringing a few monkey nuts together and hanging them in the cage so they can play and eat...would always buy human grade nuts...thanks for your help. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Could someone please answer my other thread on Apple branches. http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index....showtopic=25638 Thankyou

These are Monkey nuts http://www.arkwildlife.co.uk/acatalog/Bird...ey_Nuts_34.html maybe you call them something different to us

Have just been reading the list of Toxic and non Toxic plants list and was shocked to read that apple branches and bark is Toxic :glare: I have been using apple branches for years and my budgies love the bark with no adverse effects....I was advised by my vet many years ago to use it and also in budgie books it tell us to use apple branches...who is right? I don't want to go back to unnatural perches so what do I use in place of the apple branches? Help!

Just wondered if it was safe to give budgies Monkey nuts...the natural nuts that come in a shell...thought it would be something they could play with and eat...all advice appreciated. Thanks :glare:

Thanks for your help Sorry but I find Wikipedia isn't always accurate...thanks anyway.