We are sad : (

Today we headed to the vet at full speed. Tom, one of our budgies was sick, sick. Tom may only be a budgie but to my daughter he is a friend, a companion, a consuming interest. My daughter is disabled and has never had a friend. Ever.
So sadly Tom could not be saved.
How do I explain this loss at a level she will understand?
At the moment I have side-stepped the issue by saying Tom is still at the vets getting "fixed" by the doctor.

Sad day.