Today’s visit with Marie was brief. She was very sleepy and kept dozing off. As James quietly approached her bedside, sensing his presence, Marie opened her eyes and smiled. It is difficult for Marie to talk – and her voice is very soft. Today is Wednesday… I thought I might be seeing James today, she said, in what seemed like a whisper. I maneuvered James so that his head rested on her chest.
Positioning is challenging because, unlike many patients, Marie does not want James to come up on her bed. This is the type of challenge I train my students to handle in class. It is important to make it possible for the patient to touch and feel the dog’s soft fur. In a case like Marie, smaller dogs are often easier for the owner to hold in their arms and place near the bedridden patient. With James, I moved a chair next to Marie’s bed, sat down in it, and placed the upper part of his body in my lap… and he – the experienced therapy dog – leaned his head over and across Marie’s chest.
She smiled and pet is head and ears, saying, I love to pet his soft long ears. During this time, Marie continued to glide in and out of sleep. I’m very tired today, she said, but I’m so glad you brought James to visit me. Sensing it was time to depart, I told Marie that James would be back to visit her next Wednesday. With her eyes closing, she said, That’s good. I’ll see you then, James.
Leave a Reply