Day 151

10/12/22

This amazing boy...just when I think I can't love him more, something happens to make even more room for him in my heart.

Ranger and I headed to Mercy Hospital yesterday and started our typical rounds. He has certain places he loves to go (He knows where the treats are kept!), so we tend to have a pattern to our visits. Always, there are people we encounter who change the course of our journey.

When we meet people during our Therapy Dog visits, Ranger will stop, let them pet that big head and always calms everyone with those big brown eyes. As people visit with him, they tend to feel comforted and often share what brought them to the hospital. I will ask their first name and tell them I will keep them close to my heart and send healing thoughts their way...

Shirley was facing radiation for her cancer.
Bob was a heart patient who was suffering setbacks.
Barb was missing her pets.
Mary needed a bone marrow transplant.
Bill was in surgery for kidney cancer, so we sat with his wife.

The list goes on, but I always write the names down in a book of "Caring Thoughts" and send them strength. We rarely find out how these people progress over time, but every once in a while, serendipity plays a part in the story.

Last week, you might remember that we were stopped in the hallway by a woman with the saddest face and red-rimmed eyes. She petted Ranger and asked if we could go into the ER and calm her husband. We asked and were allowed to go back. (They recognized Ranger.)

When we walked into the room, I met a man named Dave who was terrified and panic-stricken. After introductions, Dave explained that he had been in a number of times before with chest pains, but now they were talking surgery. He told us that he WAS NOT going to let them do anything to him because he had lost a couple of friends that way. For every tale he told, I countered with a success story. Pretty soon, my happy endings far out-weighed his sad ones. He was petting Ranger the entire time and seemed calmer minute by minute. We stayed for quite some time and, when we left, I told him I would keep him close to my heart. I added that I felt it would all turn out fine. I honestly believed that.

Forward to the next visit to Mercy. We had a request up on 4 Heart, so Ranger worked his magic for one patient and continued on to calm staff and other patients as well. As we were about to leave the ward, we heard a loud voice say, "Ranger! Hey! That's my buddy Ranger!" We stopped in our tracks and, much like cartoon characters, quickly turned and approached the room.

Ranger stuck that big head around the curtain while I washed my hands at the door. That Therapy Dog's tail began to wag as fast as it could and he headed right for the patient. It was Dave!

He told us that he had agreed to surgery (five bypasses) and felt like he had a new lease on life! The reunion between dog and patient was heart-warming! Dave and his wife thanked us for being there in the ER the week before and told us he was heading home today. Another success story!

Ranger and I said our goodbyes to a very grateful couple. Serendipity can be an amazing thing! I am not sure what the chances were that we would see Dave again, but I was ever so thankful.

As for Ranger, he just takes it in his stride and heads for the next person to love. What a special boy!