I Believe in Angels #5

My last visit with Mr. W. was made on July 23, 2013.  

I still think about my last visit with Mr.W and appreciate the visits we had.

 Although everything looked the same from the hallway: the cart with treats, the white board, the open door, the darkened room with a drawn curtain - today’s visit was different.   Mr. W. was lying in bed and not sitting in his chair. When mommy gently moved the curtain, I did not run into the room as I had done before. I just walked in slowly, sat down and didn’t move.  Mr. W’s daughter who had been standing near her dad with her back toward us, turned and said, “It’s not a good time for a visit.”  So, we quietly left his room, went past the nurses' station and sadly continued our visits with other patients.  When we walked out of the second room, Mr. W.’s daughter was waiting for us.  She had been crying and said, “My dad would not have appreciated your visit today, Zoe. He…doesn’t…he…”   No more words were spoken; our eyes spoke for us.

 Mommy picked me up and  Mr. W.’s daughter hugged both of us and said, “Thank you for visiting my dad.” We knew then that Mr. W.’s earthly journey would be ending soon and that this most likely would be our last earthly visit with him and his wonderful family.  

Mommy and I left the care center that Tuesday afternoon with heavy hearts but wonderful memories of the kind, gentle man we fondly called, Mr. W..

 

I Believe in Angels #4

Visit #4 This visit was actually made on July 16, 2013

 

Riding home in the car that day was very sad.  I knew my time with Mr. W. would be ending soon.

Outside his room was a cart with cookies, ice water, snacks and a white board. Scrawled across the top of the board were the  words  “ Going Home” and in different color markers in a variety of printing and cursive were notes from family and friends with messages dedicated to Mr. W. - the man I had only met 12 days ago ago, but somehow learned to love.  There was an unexplainable joy that I felt in his presence. On my prior visit, Mr. W.’s family was making the difficult decision concerning hospice care, so  I was not sure what today’s visit would hold.

The door was open, but the curtain was drawn and the room was dark.  Mommy thought it best to ask the nurse if was ok for us to visit.  She said, “Absolutely.”   We walked into the room slowly and found Mr. W. asleep in his recliner with his daughter and son-in-law by his side.  His daughter nodded and motioned that it was ok to interrupt the quiet of the room.  His daughter said, “Dad, Zoe’s here to visit.”  Slowly Mr. W. opened his eyes.  The change in Mr. W’s energy level and strength was truly significant, but when his eyes focused on me, my tail was waggling and his smile lit up the room.  He took his hand from under the covers and mommy put me next to him so he could pet and cuddle with me.  Then mommy held my paws as Mr. W. leaned his head forward toward me.  I knew what he wanted, and I was very gentle with a light kiss on his head.  Although he could barely speak, I knew what he was whispering, so did mommy.  She put me on the floor, and I did all of my tricks, saving my salute for last.  Mr. W. and his daughter clapped.  Then he held out his hand and mommy gave him a treat to give to me.  Of course, I was ever so grateful.  Before we left his room, mommy told him about my new trick that wasn’t quite yet perfected, but we could give it a try if he wanted.  He nodded.  So, mommy told me this sequence:  “Zoe down.”  I did it.  .”Zoe, cross your paws.”  What? She repeated it.  I not only crossed my paws, but I also put my head down as if in prayer.  Mr. W. smiled again.  We went to his side, and he nuzzled my face one more time before we went on to see other patients.

As we were leaving the care center, we went past Mr. W.s room and I got to write a note on the white board: 

I Believe in Angels #3 -

 Visit # 3  I thought this visit was so special I gave it a title: When Hearts Are Breaking.

When I entered the lobby, I noticed three very serious looking people seated at a table talking quietly and reviewing lots of papers. I recognized two of the people, one of them was Mr. W.’s daughter, Miss Susan who I had met when I visited for the first time. I knew better than to interrupt, but as we were passing she said, “Just a minute, that’s Zoe; come here girl.” She asked mommy if we could visit with her dad, probably because she knew I could cheer him up. I can't remember exactly, but I think she told us how Mr. W.s dog came to visit on Sunday and the dog was quite anxious, but the visit was still a good one. She showed us a picture of Mr. W.'s dog, and guess what? Guess!!! He looked almost like me, except he was bigger. Mommy said that we certainly would visit his room. Then his daughter said, “That would really please my dad. He’s told everyone about Zoe’s salute and…and…today we are putting dad on hospice care.” I could tell their hearts were heavy, and so was mommy’s because her daddy was on hospice before he passed; that was nearly nine years ago. Mommy said she remembers that day as if it were yesterday. They chatted for a while, and I sat patiently waiting to make my visits for the morning.

Walking past the administration offices and down the short hallway toward Mr. W.'s room, we stopped to visit a few other patients. Somehow I wanted to go directly to Mr. W.’s room which was (depending on the direction from which you entered) either the first or the last room near the nurses’ station. Today, it was the last room. When we got there, the door was open, but the curtain was drawn. Mommy said, “Come on Zoe, we will come back later; there are a lot of people in there now. They’re busy.” But, it was too late…I already started to enter, and Mr. W. saw me peeking under the curtain. It was just Zoe height, about ten inches off the floor. His daughter said, “Oh, he sees the dog. It’s okay; come on in Zoe.” Everyone seemed very somber except for Mr. W. who was seated in the same chair as on our prior visits, and he had a bright smile on his face.

Mr. W. was holding the hand of a nice lady; I think she was his wife. You could tell they loved each other. I was at the foot of Mr. W.’s chair, and he tried to reach down and pet me, but couldn’t quite reach, so mommy picked me up. He had the biggest smile on his face, and he invitingly cocked his balding head toward me. I knew exactly what he wanted – a Zoe kiss! He cuddled with me a little and then motioned with his right hand to his forehead. Mommy said, “Do you want Zoe to salute?” He nodded. Mommy put me on the floor and told me to sit at attention. I did that just fine, but then I looked around and realized I was surrounded by, I think - eight people. One of them was a really tall man with a big book that had a ribbon it. I guess I sort of froze because I did NOTHING! Mommy, said, “Oh come on Zoe, let’s do your salute to the military…for Mr. W.?” She touched my right ear…I looked at Mr. W.; he was watching intently. I did my entire salute routine flawlessly. Then Mr. W. motioned a little circle with his hand. Mommy asked if it was okay for me to do my other tricks; his daughters nodded, “Yes.” When I was finished, they all clapped, and I did one last twirl with a jump about two feet off the floor. I left his room feeling very good about the levity I brought to that very serious situation. But, then mommy had to get some tissues...I guess something got in her eyes.

I will tell you more next time...

Sleep well tonight my friends. Did you know that a dream is a wish your heart makes when you are asleep? That's what my friend Cali Lollipop, says! So, I hope all your wishes come true.

I Believe in Angels - #2

July 7th

 Today’s visit with Mr. W. was  as special as my first.  Once again he had company but made me feel welcome and comfortable by snuggling close and briefly removing his oxygen.  He didn’t say much, except for his eyes!  It seemed as if his eyes had such joy and a beautiful peacefulness in them; this might sound funny, but I could read his feelings in his eyes just like humans can usually read their dogs’ expressions through our very expressive tails. Well, my tail waggled and waggled the entire time when I was with him.   He knew I was happy, and he knew exactly where my special petting spot was just behind my ears.  There was no mistaking my level of comfort and joy in his presence.  When Mr. W. smiled, I sort of melted.  He asked me to salute for him; I think that was his favorite trick, and this time mommy let him give me my treat.  Another successful visit!