Still More from Judy Gooding

Posted by TeamCharlie on February 2, 2009 under Wags for Hope | Be the First to Comment

This is the third post of guest blogger Judy Gooding.  She is one of our Wags for Hope volunteers who partnered with Eva, a sweet Doberman Pinscher, who sadly passed away in 2008.

Mrs. H was a dog lover who was always so happy to see Eva.  One day she mentioned a dog that she used to have.  She went on to describe it in detail and told me stories about it, and I could tell by the glow on her face that she had loved her pet very much.  I asked when she had had this dog, assuming that it was some time shortly before she came to the retirement center.  She said 1937 when she was 10 years old!  How our beloved pets wrap themselves around our hearts forever and how we love to talk about them no matter how much time has passed!

Mrs. S was new to the nursing center, so I wanted to be sure Eva showed off all her tricks  (pretty basic repertoire but perfectly executed!) to welcome her.  Mrs. S was so impressed with Eva’s talent, she asked if Eva had been on TV!  I said no, I didn’t think she was quite ready for that, but Mrs. S said, with complete sincerity, “Oh, I do!  I think she’s ready!”  I was pleased that she had been so entertained, but it was a sobering reminder of how little it takes to amuse and delight someone whose visitors are few and far between.

Mrs. R was a tiny, soft-spoken woman, confined to a wheelchair with severe arthritis.  Her hands were frozen into tight fists with just the index finger free, but she had the sweetest smile and most pleasant face.  She loved to pet Eva, sometimes poking unintentionally with that free finger around Eva’s eyes in her eagerness.  Eva never flinched or pulled away…just blinked her eyes to keep the wandering digit from making an invasion and basked in the affection Mrs. R heaped upon her.  One day Eva and I were visiting in the activities room with several of the residents.  A long table was stretched across the center of the room and Mrs. R was on the side opposite the door.  Eva and I spent quite a bit of time visiting the residents on the door side of the table until Mrs. R became impatient and said very slowly and clearly but with the sweet smile and pleasant expression still in place, “Bring her over here!”, using that free finger to emphasize the “here”!  Eva and I did not linger a moment longer before responding to that gentle command!

Eva and I were approached one day in the hallway of the nursing section, as we were visiting from room to room, by a man who was approximately in his fifties.  He asked if we had time to visit his father, a newcomer, who was quite ill but such a dog-lover that the son was sure he would enjoy seeing Eva.  As we were talking, the man was petting Eva, and I could see that they were quickly making friends.  When we walked into his father’s room, there were other family members gathered, and it was apparent that they were there to say their final good-byes.  I went to the father’s bedside, urging Eva to move up close so she could be petted more easily, and she reluctantly left the son who took such pleasure in having his hands on her.  I felt we should stay for only a short while, but the family thanked me profusely for taking the time to come by.  It was one of those visits that stayed on my mind for a long time, and I came to realize that I shouldn’t have been so quick to call Eva away from the son.  I think she sensed that he, himself, was in great need of comfort, and she was so happy to provide it for him.

Thanks, Judy for these heartfelt stories.  This type of volunteering can sometimes be bittersweet for us, as we sometimes witness things that make us sad.  But we all realize that the love we bestow on our animals as it is shared with the residents makes every visit worthwhile.  We look forward to more stories from you as your new puppy Spencer becomes involved with Wags for Hope.