A life-saving transfusion from an eagle named Spirit, and a fuller medical picture

ORC and FOBBV both shared their fullest medical update yet, and it carries real hope alongside honest caution. Late Monday, Jackie received a successful life-saving blood transfusion, donated by Spirit, the resident bald eagle at the California Living Museum (CALM Zoo) in Bakersfield, and she seems to be holding her own. Spirit is a non-releasable bald eagle who has called CALM Zoo home since 2003 after wing fractures and eye trauma, and gave a quick, minimally invasive blood draw for the transfer; ORC thanked the CALM Zoo team for the collaboration, and Spirit was rewarded with extra trout. She also received an advanced CT scan at the Veterinary Medical and Surgical Group in Ventura, which showed no obvious signs of cancer and no metals in her body. Lead poisoning has been ruled out (zinc results are still pending), and swallowed fishing gear has been ruled out too. There is no reliable test for rodenticides, so although the teams do not believe that is the issue, she is being treated for it as a precaution. Her kidney values have improved, her energy is improving, and she is eating, both assisted and on her own; the many medications she is on may be dampening her appetite, and she is still being feisty with the staff. The central mystery remains her severe anemia, and a team of specialists is working to determine its cause. The care teams want everyone to know she is still in guarded, critical condition and things can turn in a moment. ORC hopes to share the next update on Monday, and asks everyone to keep giving the team room to work rather than calling or visiting.