The story of a life saving Parrot, amidst the chaos and order of hospital life.

The world was burning, a new US president was being sworn into office, it was Martin Luther King's Day and a few days short of my friend's February 6th birthday. She now finds herself being prepped for life saving surgery.

Almost all happening on the same day.

Novel had previously met, spoken to and made fully aware of 'what to expect when expecting surgery'.

On January 20, 2025, at approximately midday in the UK, our Vocal friend, Novel, had a grueling 3-4 hours Open Heart Surgical operation. Thanks to Dr. Choo Yen Ng, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon and his very professional team of specialists, the surgery went very well.

She remembers the Anesthesiologist gently pricking her hand, falling asleep and waking up in the recovery ward with no idea of the happenings of the last hours of her sleep phase of the surgery. Various strange tubes protruded from her entire body, as a live puppet of herself dangled above a bed, watching in a dream state as she looked on, puzzled.

Morning in the Hospital

As Novel slowly opens her eyes in the hospital room, the first thing she notices is the sterile scent mingling with a light hint of disinfectant. The room is quiet, save for the gentle beeping of medical machines and the occasional footfalls of nurses outside. It's a sea of white sheets, pastel walls, and fluorescent lights.

It's a new day, and Novel's first conscious thought is a wave of gratitude. For the doctors. For the nurses. For waking up. The realization that she just underwent open-heart surgery is surreal. His chest feels heavy, bound by the tight bandages that cover the surgical incision. Despite the discomfort, there's a peculiar sense of relief.

Thank you all, for being kind, caring and nurturing throughout the entire royally great, albeit painful experience.

Now we are on the ward where the long-term care begins in preparation for returning home.

Respectfully, she gave thanks to the creator, the hospital's capable team, nurses, student nurses, porters, doctors, assistants, food specialists, water specialists (yes, checked the potency of the water in the taps) and the many people who offered prayers and well wishes for success in returning to a new outlook on life.

For the next three months to a year, I can only sleep on my back. If I try to snooze in any other napping position, my body will wake me up. Painfully! My nurse Revinna, advised me.

As I lay there on the hospital bed, watching a non-stop flow of staff, visitors, doctors and patients in a constant healing march to hopeful recovery and home, I noticed a rather curious thing.

Some patients had a red plastic parrot hanging on their IV drip walker. Where can I get such a thing to hang by me in the hospital, I mused? The bird had such a calming effect upon me. This anomalous thing prompted me to ask Poitr, my very soothing voiced friend who came every day to make certain that I was in a sterile environment, for the explanation.

"I am so glad you ask, it is a tradition passed down from years ago when a father clipped a plastic good luck charm onto his daughter's IV walker".

Novel promptly fell asleep as the Codeine, Paracetamol and or Morphine kicked in. 🥱 🥱 🥱

Next morning, we began again, things were still a bit fuzzy and we were all over the place, lack of sleep and general restlessness being the signs of the times in the hospital.

Poitr and the The Red Parrot story. There may be a bit of inconsistency, but the gist of the story is:

A young patient had been for some time awaiting a heart transplant, with no luck. To cheer her up, her father hung a beautiful red plastic parrot on her IV walker.

Miraculously, the next day she received a heart and a very successful operation.

On being discharged from Royal Papworth Hospital, she left the parrot with another patient awaiting a heart. Two days later, the patient also received a heart and a successful surgery.

From that kind action arose the tradition of hanging a red parrot, or animal of choice, on the walker, or in the patients room for luck.

Oops! Asleep again.

"As I watched the contrasting lives between those hoping to live for a few blessed years longer, a red parrot being there hope, and those forging ahead with a promise for many more years of unchallenged health and vigor, there was a very noticeable shift in the space-time continuum". A permanently groggy Novel, recalls.

"I was so very thankful for the halved working portion of my still functioning heart, and I felt so deeply for the patients who may or may not make it long enough to receive a close enough matched heart to sustain the rest of their lives"! Novel explained, staring out into the fast approaching twilight, both in the morning's dawn and in the evening's dusk.

In-Hospital Recovery

Over the next few days, Novel is visited by a slew of healthcare professionals. They check her vitals, change dressings and monitor her progress. The physical therapist visits, guiding her through gentle exercises to regain strength and mobility.

It is during this period that Novel forms a bond with the red plastic parrot hanging on IV drip stands—let us name it Polly. It's a quirky little mascot that becomes a source of upliftment for the patients, her and the hospital staff.

Someone sneezed and a new anecdote becomes another form of bonding as a person yelled:

"Bless You".

Nurse Lynn, not to be outdone fires back an ever cleverer rhyme.

"Sneeze on a Saturday, see your sweetheart tomorrow".

In our primary school days, she says, when we sneezed in succession, we'd say:

“One's a wish, two's a kiss, three's a letter, four's something better, five for sorrow, six, see your sweetheart tomorrow"!

Just make sure to sneeze the apt number of times for the answer to your wish.

Each day, Novel gets a bit stronger. The pain from the surgery subsides just a bit, replaced by a renewed sense of optimism. She watches TV, reads books, and occasionally stares out the window, dreaming of the day she’ll be back in the comfort of her own home and pain becomes a distant memory.

The Day of Release

The day finally arrives. Novel is being discharged. The excitement is palpable, yet tinged with a little apprehension. She’s eager to leave the clinical environment and sleep in her own bed but anxious about the road to full recovery ahead.

The nurses, doctors and various specialists go through the release instructions. Medications are meticulously listed, follow-up appointments scheduled, and dietary restrictions discussed. The doctor gives another light-hearted pat on Novel's back, assuring her that she's done quite well and is on the right track to a total recovery.

Novel's family and a few friends have come to greet and celebrate her release from hospital, joy radiating from their faces. She’s finally going home, and with each step, she feels a little bit more like herself – ready to embrace life's next chapter.

Walking Out

As Novel steps out of the hospital, she feels the cool breeze and fresh air on her face, the rain had only just washed the world anew. Joyfully, she takes a few cleansing and renewing breaths.

Polly, now peering out the window of an expectant patient's window, is more than a plastic parrot. It's a symbol of hope and miracles yet to come, resilience and journeys to recovery. The outside world seems brighter, sounds crisper, and everything feels a bit more precious.

Whatever the world chooses to throw at us next, we are ready to fiercely punch the day in the face.

Her appetite had been practically non-existent, but she looked refreshed. Almost 10 pounds lighter and seven days later, we were ready to go home.