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A Very Touching Story TISSUE ALERT A Better Goodbye For the many years I worked at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center where pet visitation was prohibited. I begged, pleaded, and cajoled to have the rules changed, but always got back the same answer -- NO! So, I resorted to sneaking in the tiny furry ones for our patients who were never coming out. At least they, and their beloved pets, could see each other one last time. One morning, the Head Nurse on one of the units paged me to let me know that the parents of a 28 year old man were insistent that they HAD to bring his 14 year old Yorkshire Terrier to visit him, as he was dying. She wanted to warn me that they might complain about her to me, because the parents did not seem to accept the nurse's explanation of the rules. The parents did indeed come to my office. They were not angry. Their grief had taken them past that. They were at the point of accepting what they could see so clearly was happening, although they were deeply sad. They explained that their son and his dog had been inseparable since he was 14 years old and they brought her home as a puppy. The dog was back at the motel, where they had been living for the past 2 months while their only child was receiving experimental treatment for stage 4 Lymphoma. The dog was grieving as deeply as they were, and was not in good health herself. They didn't raise voices, or threaten. They stated their case with their hearts, which were breaking. Before they finished, I asked them how big she was, and if she was noisy. I found out she weighed 4 pounds and never barked. We plotted a strategy, and before long, Dad had returned to the motel and brought the dog to me outside the hospital. I explained to the little dog that she would need to hide under my jacket and be very quiet. She looked up at me with big brown eyes that blinked with great wisdom and understanding. Tucked away from sight, we hurried through the halls and up the elevators to the young man's room. I instructed the parents to stand with their backs to the door of the room, blocking the natural view of those entering. The patient was very, very weak. His bed elevated his upper body at 45 degrees. IV tubes and an infusion pump dominated his left arm. When we entered the room I placed the Yorkie on the bed on his left side. Her whole body trembled with happiness and she made tiny cries of joy as she quickly moved up to his neck and buried her nose under his chin. Her little tail was wagging so hard. Then, this young man, who had been semi-comatose for days, very, very slowly and laboriously, lifted his right arm and moved it painfully across his chest to rest on his dog, as he just as slowly turned his head to her. A tear trickled down his cheek. My composure was gone. It is a scene I will never forget. The sight of absolute love, reunited. There was nothing else in the world that mattered to them, or frankly, to me, at that moment. The _expression on his face, along with his parents, and that amazing little dog, are forever burned into my heart. Before I left I told them to call me immediately if anyone challenged them. Moreover, I'd take the dog back out to the car myself when they left. I dropped by to visit the nurse and reminded her of a few things she "owed me" and told her I was cashing in. Then I paged the physician in charge, who also owed me some "favors," and made certain he was aware and free of blame. The patient rallied the next day, after having spent several hours with his best friend the day before. He and his parents were able to talk for the first time in days. The dog rallied, too. They said it was the first she'd eaten in 3 days. When I visited again, the young man was alert, and the dog was sleeping peacefully, curled between his shoulder and chin. There was a peace in that room that had not been there before. The next day, in the wee hours of the morning before the sun rose, the young man breathed his last breath. When his parents left, they hugged me until I was certain my ribs would break, and we all cried together. They told me that for as long as they lived I would be in their prayers. Those couple of days were the best hours they had with him in weeks. They had said their goodbyes. Later, I learned that little Yorkie, too, died on that very same day. Like her beloved master, she slipped away. I know they went together. Several days later my boss called and asked me about something he needed and before he hung up he said, "Leslie, I know about the dog." "What dog?" I replied. "Leslie, I know about the dogs. Could you just let me know ahead of time when you do these things, so that I'll be expecting the calls, OK?" With a huge smile on my face, I said, "I can do that!" It was as much a sanction as I'd ever get, and I was grateful for it. by Leslie Bean |
Wow. I just dont know what to say. |
You work at M.D under the Melinhoma section. Have you seen Joe Schmidt? He is my dad and went there last year. He is completely healthy now! That is so sad. I never knew skin cancer was that serious. |
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I don't work there. This was sent to me. It was written by Leslie Bean. Glad you dad is healthy now. He must have had melanoma?? |
I cried like a baby :( very touching story |
oh yeah.. it got me!! What a touching story! i can see myself sneaking dogs in too! |
omg!!! im in tears now,,very touching |
My husband came in as I was finishing reading this, and asked me what in the world was wrong. I read this to him, through my tears and when I finished, he turned away with tears in his eyes too. We both think this lady was wonderful. Furbabies touch our hearts in ways some people would never understand. Thank you for posting this. Bless them, they are little angels now and they will be together forever. |
I feel dumb. |
My dad had melanoma cancer and went to MD. When I read the story, I thought it said melanoma instead of lymphnoma. The story was very sad, but I'm glad he got to see his dog before he died. |
wow i have tears rolling down my eyes..thanks for this heartfelt story... |
Thank you so much for sharing this story. Good thing I'm working from home today. The tears are flowing. |
I'm in tears! The story is so beautiful, and I have a connection to children who die of cancer...I just don't even know what to say here!!! |
Wow…that was a tear jerker. The power of the love we gzce for our animals, and what we get back. :) |
Wow, simply amazing. |
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I could see you doing the same thing Kelly (although I would too!) :) Thank God for compassionate people like this lady...she is an angel! |
Oh my, what a heart tugging story. :( I only made it to the 5th paragraph before the tears came. It's like the master and his Yorkie needed each other to feel at peace enough to let go. What a beautiful story . |
What a wonderful story! |
THAT made me cry. :cry::cry::cry: What a beautiful story. |
Ahh this is such a sad but sweet story....the power of love is so strong...especially the love of a pet...Thank you for sharing this. |
omg i cant stop crying... this is sooo sad but yet wonderful. poor guy n furbaby needed each other... |
thanks for the good cry, i have to leave work now! lol |
So sad! I didn't heed the TISSUE ALERT! I though it was about dogs getting sick from eating tissues and I ended up in a puddle of tears. |
Very touching story. Thanks for sharing. you hear people say this a lot.."its just a dog"...dog owners know "its not just a dog"..althought dogs can't speak, they feel and give unconditional love even more so than a human being. Sad most people don't understand that you're able to love a dog as much as you love a person. |
That was beautiful and I cried and I am making an amendment to my will. If fo any reason I end up in a situation where I am not expected to live long. I want to be with my Yorkies for whatever time I have left. |
What a beautiful story! God Bless that wonderful woman!:D |
Our animals are like little angels that remind us that unconditional love conquers all.. even "death"..... (this is my own opinion) thanks for the touching story.. i'm in tears still... Molly & Toby |
:fallen::eyetearss:snow::nursing::hands::big_hug:: cry2::ghug: |
What a wonderful story. Pets are so important, and I'm thankful this nurse realized this. |
:aimeeyork that was a very touching story. I had a rough couple of years, and was in the Critical Care unit..with severe burns. A older lady would bring her small dog in to visit. It ment the world to me .I was not dying, but I know how an animal can make me feel when I was there, alone in a hospital. This is what started me thinking about wanting a service dog at home. I went through the propper procedure and now have My Yorkie pup Suzi. :thumbup: |
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