by Margaret Wherry
An old broken down cowboy was admitted into the Alzheimer’s Unit at Edgewater. When he came through the door both his hands were tightly clenched into fists. Seeing his distress the staff reached out to ease him into his new home. Even after he settled in, nothing the staff did, no matter how hard they attempted to comfort and relax him, changed his fists. His fists remained locked and locked they stayed until the day the cowboy encountered the Golden Retriever, Misha.
Earlier that year during the annual Kathleen Cailloux Humane Society Day held at Louis Hayes Park, Judy Phillips, the conceiver and leader of the local Pet Therapy Program, noticed how gentle Misha was with children and knew she was the kind of dog that would work well with nursing home residents. Judy encouraged Misha’s owners Nancy Swanson and her daughter, Katy to enter Misha into the local program. This is how Misha happened to meet the old cowboy with locked fists.
As Misha entered the Alzheimer’s Unit at Edgewater she was lead by Katy to the cowboy. There the attendant took the cowboy’s hand, still locked into a fist, and rubbed it into the soft fur on Misha’s back. Misha turned her head around toward Katy and Nancy as though to ask, “Am I doing right – doing what you want?” The aid continued to gently move the clenched fist simulating as best as possible a petting motion on Misha’s back.
Slowly the cowboy’s hand started to open up – his fist began to unclench. All in the room watched as a change came over him. The dead pan look on his face gave way to unexpected strength. It was as though the hidden memories of times long ago - the dogs that loved him and he loved - flooded back into his being. As his fist opened and his fingers touched the hair on Misha’s back, new life came into his eyes. For a brief time he was, once again, the cowboy he used to be.
Joy spread throughout the room. The attendant got so excited she ran out to fetch the Edgewater director and other staff so they too could be part of the miracle.
Once the cowboy’s hand opened, it stayed open. On his own he began to move his open hand in a slow modified petting motion. Misha too sensed the importance of the moment and chose to let the cowboy pet her as long as he wanted. When the attendant returned with the director and staff the cowboy was still petting Misha. It was the first time any of them had seen him open his fists since he had arrived at Edgewater.
All the patience, love and effort the staff poured into their residents came back to them in the form of new hope and purpose as they witnessed life return through the face of the cowboy. Misha stayed still, doing her job. The cowboy continued to pet the soft fur on Misha’s back. It was a Moment to Remember.
We are interested in learning and recording special moments that have occurred with your dog(s) during their time at Pet Therapy, the Canine Literacy Program or during special events with pets while attending Humane Society activities – where ever a dog has made a difference and brought healing and life to those in need.
Please send your stories to Margaret Wherry at mwherry@windstream.net or call me at 830-895-5179.
Posts
