[dalnna]

Well, today was Abbie's third visit to the nursing home. We have stopped in to see "Miss Inez" every time we've gone but she's totally nonresponsive so we just sit there for a few minutes and then leave. Today, when we got to her room, her two daughters, son and a hospice nurse were there. I apologized for the intrusion and started to leave but they were interested in what Therapy dogs do and wanted to know if their mom had ever been responsive to Abbie. I told them, sadly, no, but we liked to sit with her for a few minutes anyway. They invited me to go ahead with Abbie and "have " her visit with Miss Inez. To my amazement...and theirs...Miss Inez, at their pleading, opened her eyes and looked at Abbie and tried to mouth some words. We couldn't tell what she was trying to say, but her family said they had not seen her respond like that in months! The nurse was so amazed, she asked for my card! She remained responsive to Abbie during our entire visit. What amazed me as much, was that Abbie seemed kind of stressed today and hadn't been willing to settle in with anyone in the entire nursing home, but curled up and laid with Miss Inez for almost 20 minutes! God Bless these dogs! They truely "know" what is needed.