It was March of 2004 when she had a terrible accident that turned out to save her life. While swinging on her jungle gym it broke loose, down she went toy and all. Her large toy fell and hit her on her right wing. At first, I thought it had broken her wing, after careful examination, determined that it was just bruised. About a week later I noticed that her right wing was drooping a bit, so I examined it again. This time I felt a tiny bump on what is known as the finger joint of her wing. I immediately made an appointment for the vet. My local avian vet determined that it was a possible cyst brought on by trauma of the fall. She gave me medicine for the pain and sent me home. Unfortunately the lump kept growing so I made an appointment for another vet to see her.   The other vet told me the same thing the last one did. I was skeptical, but went home with her and waited another precious week. By this time the lump doubled in size and I started to panic inside. I called the second vet again, but this time I was firmer in my belief than the first time. As soon as he examined her his heart sank. His and my worst fears were becoming apparent. This was not a cyst, but a tumor growing. What kind of tumor was it? He suggested that I take her to the University Of Pennsylvania Veterinary Clinic asap. He had a friend of his teaching a class at that time and would have him look at her. I thank God everyday for finding Dr. Avery Bennett, Dr Jeleen Brisco and the team of assistants, for they saved her life. The tumor turned out to be a rare form of cancer. The location and size of the tumor warrented the removal of her right wing. It was May 24th that her operation was performed to remove her wing. I remember it like it was yesterday. She came through it like a champ. I was a mess!

During her recovery after the surgery, she knew someting wasn't right. She was off balance and fell a couple of times before she got the hang of climbing in her cage again. She was also self concious of not having her wing. She somehow knew that something was different about her, but she wasn't sure just what it was. When people came up to her and wanted to look at where her wing was removed, she turned around as if to say "Please don't look at me, I am ugly". The more I took her out, the better she became. She got her confidence back and in about 6 months was back to her lovable self.Rio has been declared cancer free so far. She still has to be scanned every year for fear of the cancer returning. Today she is healthy and happy and gets around just fine. She still does her tricks, but now only has one wing to raise, and she does it so proud as if to say "Hey I'm sill alive!". I love her so much and thank God everyday that I still have her around. She will alway's be my baby.She is an amazing and incredible companion. She put the "MA" in MaCaw!!!!

Her Surgery and all of her history was documented by the University Of Penn so that all Vet students around the world can access it through the internet. Her Surgery is now part of Avian medicine history.

Her picture hangs in the University of Pennsylvania Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Clinic. She is the Mascott of the Exotic wing. She is a true Star!

Her star quality has not stopped at just medicine, she has been featured in magazines such as Page Six of New York and landed on the Cover of RV living magazine.  Handicap??? What Handicap???