During National Pet Month, one Brooklyn Heights parrot is being recognized for her resilience after overcoming a serious medical condition with the help of veterinarians at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center in Lenox Hill.
Roxy Nissman, a 14-year-old female eclectus parrot known for singing along to disco music in the shower, will be honored at the organization’s 18th Annual Living Legends Luncheon on May 13. The annual event celebrates remarkable patient stories, and Roxy is the only bird among this year’s honorees.
For Amanda Nissman, Roxy is far more than a pet.
“She’s like my baby,” Nissman said. “She’s really part of the family, and we would’ve done anything for her.”
Living with Roxy in Brooklyn Heights has brought constant entertainment to the Nissman household. Amanda described her as “really, really fun” and said the bird especially loves music and shower time.
“She goes into the shower on a special bird perch with suction cups on it, and I’ll play music,” Nissman said. “I really like ’80s and disco music. So I’ll sing and dance around, and she’ll be in the shower. She’s such good energy. She’ll go, ‘Woo,’ when I dance around, and then she’ll sing along to the songs as well.”
Among the parrot’s favorite songs are Kim Carnes’ “Bette Davis Eyes” and Prince’s “Kiss.”
The family’s joyful routines were interrupted when Roxy suddenly became lethargic during a stay in Miami. Nissman noticed the parrot tucking her head behind her wing during the day — behavior that immediately alarmed her.
“She’d been a very vibrant, energetic bird up to that point,” Nissman said. “We were really concerned because birds try and hide it when they’re not well because of predators. By the time they get to the point of showing symptoms, it can be really bad.”
After struggling to find emergency veterinary care over the weekend, the family finally got Roxy examined that Monday morning. Veterinarians discovered multiple masses on her body, sending them into what Nissman described as a frightening and emotional search for answers.
The Nissmans soon connected with AMC and avian specialist Dr. Katherine Quesenberry, whom Amanda described as “one of the top avian experts in the world.”
“We knew that we wanted to make an appointment with her and do whatever it takes and follow her advice,” she said.
After months of testing and diagnostics, Roxy underwent surgery to remove a large mass. The operation proved difficult, and veterinarians decided against removing a second mass after she lost a significant amount of blood during the procedure.
“They made the decision, which was really smart, to just go with the one and then come back if they needed to,” Nissman said. “Luckily we haven’t needed to on the other one.”
Roxy spent more than a year on antibiotics, which helped shrink the remaining mass. Nissman said the parrot has gone roughly eight months without medication and continues to do well.
The experience reinforced the family’s commitment to giving Roxy the fullest life possible. Nissman allows Roxy to fly freely around their apartment and carefully adapts their home to keep her safe.
“She’s living in our world,” Nissman said. “The least you can do is let them be as happy and mobile and all those things as possible.”
That philosophy includes avoiding Teflon cookware, monitoring electrical cords and constantly providing new toys for Roxy to destroy and enjoy.
Now, as the parrot prepares for her Living Legends recognition, Amanda believes the bird understands the excitement surrounding the event.
“We tell her everything,” she said. “When she got good medical reports, we’d tell her, ‘Oh, your blood work came back really great.’ She knows. She listens.”
Nissman said she hopes Roxy’s story reminds people of the emotional bonds animals create and the resilience they often show during medical challenges.
“Animals are incredible,” she said. “They teach us so much about love and good energy and being kind and always being there.”
