Josie smiling

Josie smiling
One ear up and one ear down...my trademark look

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Josie bringing her love to patients anyway she can

















I don't know if any of you remember me talking about a patient named John and his wife Gertrude, whom we got quite attached too. (Re: Pediatrics and Germany! post) Well, on Monday, I actually dropped Josie off at their house in the afternoon so they could watch her while I was at work. That is how close we have become. When I went to pick her up after work I sat with Gert and she told me how much fun it was for both of them watching Josie and having a dog in the house again. They used to have a German Shepherd named Rex in their younger days, so watching Josie was a big thrill for them. Josie hung with Gertrude in the kitchen for a while and eventually ended up sleeping with John on the couch. All-in-all it was a fantastic visit. It felt really great to give them the opportunity to spend some "alone" time with Josie. I mean, Josie and I visited John and Gert while John was in the hospital almost every day since November, and then once he was in Rehab, we visited him there too. He has been home now for about 3 weeks, which is great. He is on the road to recovery!!

Unfortunately, I received a call from Gertrude yesterday morning that John had been brought to the emergency room and was being admitted to the hospital. He had contracted pneumonia. So Josie and I went to visit him and Gertrude last night. We had a good visit, although John wasn't doing too well, but he was stable. He was basically just unsettled.

I heard from Gertrude this morning that he slept last night and that he was doing a little better (yeah!). Josie and I will be going there right after work to spend time with the two of them. Hopefully, the doctors will get his pneumonia under control and out of his system and he will recover and he can go home (soon). But if it takes a few days or weeks, as long as he recovers, well, that's what matters. I know he is fighting an uphill battle, but we are right there along side them both. And I know Josie's visits make a difference and mean something to both of them.

Now, the photo above is of a patient we visited on Monday night after I picked up Josie from John and Gert's and went to the hospital for a visit. We went to the ICU unit. We met a nice woman whose husband had been in ICU and had been unconscious for a week. He finally woke up and she wanted us to visit him. I wanted to show you how she lays on the bed and how patients hold her "nose" for comfort. They just keep petting and stroking her nose and face. She can lay there for hours like that. See how her paws are outstretched too. Sometimes they hold "paws" with her. The red blanket is a blanket that I lie down on the patients bed so Josie lays directly on that blanket as to not get "doggie hair" all over the hospital linens. That patient is doing VERY WELL and they really appreciated our visit.

I'd just like to ask all of you, if it's not too much trouble to please keep John and Gertrude in your prayers for us. I will keep you up to date on their progress and Josie's visits. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Much love everyone.

Dog-Ma Thought for the Day:
Always stand by the one you love,
And remember to lick their face. (slurp)

23 comments:

  1. Hi Josie,

    Thank you for visiting my blog. We LOVE to make new friends :) We will say a prayer for your friend in the hospital.

    Kisses,
    Emma Rose

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  2. I've said a prayer for them now and for everyone who is suffering.
    Love, Tina

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  3. Hi Josie....Madi says to tell you when I'm taking pictures of things other than her she is HAPPY....sometimes she gives the flashy monster the death look. HA

    Josie you have a very special gift with the sick. We so admire all that you and Mom do.
    Madi and Mom

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  4. Josie,
    I agree with Madi, you do have a very special gift with people. That brings them great energy and thats good.

    About Miss Molly, your right, it is her loss. I keep telling her, Hey Molly, its just us girls playing together, Girls just wanna have fun together. Right??? Mom says sometimes 2 girls dont play as good together. I dont understand that cuz I would love to play with her. She has always been snobby to me but we have other girls in the neighborhood and she isnt snobby to them so Go figure!!!


    wags and smiles to ya
    Jazzi

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  5. I will put them on my Reiki energy healing list. How cute that people hold paws with her!

    Aine

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  6. Hi Josie,

    Lovely blog thanks for visiting mine :-)

    Wizz

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  7. I'm glad you got to make John happy, Josie! It's nice to get the extra attention, too!

    Bunny

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  8. Josie, thanks for letting your mom share that picture of you. It tells us a lot about all the "hard work" you do! You are such a special girl to visit and give your heart to people you don't know. I love how some of them are special enough for you to make long lasting relationships with. I sure hope John gets better soon.
    Snuggles,
    Twix

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  9. Mom made sooooo many of those faces whilst she read this post!

    Inkhredible work the two of woo do!

    Thank woo fur sharing!

    Hugz&Khysses,
    Khyra

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  10. Hi Josie, thanks for stopping by my blog. Your one ear up and one ear down definitely gives you a distinctive look. I love your header picture too. Our Mika is one ear up and one ear down as well, he's pretty naughty but getting better now.

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  11. Hi Josie and Mom,

    It is great to see a photo of you working, I agree with Madi and her Mom that you have a very special gift. You share your love with people and never ask anything in return, that is truly beautiful.

    I hope John gets better soon, he will be in my thoughts.

    Your Dogma Thought of the Day is wonderful, it gave me a big smile.

    Hugs & Purrs,
    Judy and Cindi Lou

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  12. You do such a great job in making others feel better! You are so special. Keep up the good work!

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  13. Hi Josie! I'm McGIllicutty, an Irish Terrier. I'm just beginning classes to become a therapy dog. It's tough work training for this (especially for a terrier and an Irish man combined). I think you rock! Please follow my blog: www.themcgillinator.blogspot.com

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  14. Hi Josie! You asked if Sagira still does her TDI work and the answer is no. :( Sagira is "fear barking" right now. When she was in the hospital if someone would come running out of a room or something it would scare her and she would bark once. But I didn't feel this was appropriate behavior for a TD and decided not to renew her this year and have pulled her from the hospital. We plan to work with a behaviorist in March to see if we can get this corrected. If we do, we will try again at that time. But I wanted it more than she did and I don't want to make her do something she doesn't want to do. So that is why she is in so much agility right now. She LOVES agility and puts on a show for everyone, it is really cute.

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  15. You are so sweet for others
    we will also think positive and pray ......

    ((HUGS)) Kareltje =^.^=

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  16. Hi Josie,

    You are a very sweet and nice doggy. I could never do what you are doing cause I'm not real friendly with strangers. Thanks for being such good medicine.

    Waggles,
    Bijou

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  17. Hi Josie,
    Thanks for stopping by my blog. I love reading about therapy dogs, I think they can do such amazing things.

    My Oreo has one ear up, one ear down too :)

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  18. Josie,

    You may call me Gillie! That's what lots of folks call me. I answer to almost anything...McGillinutty, McGillicutie, Silly Putty (sounds like my name and I come to it--fall for that trick every time). I prefer Gillie, the most incredibly handsome, intelligent, great, Irish Terrier. So, you can call me that too!

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  19. Your friends are in our thoughts. Keep up your great work Josie!

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  20. Josie, i am very proud of you. Keep up the good work and help others to understand the importance of this special work. Your kindness will go a long way for just being you.
    S.

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  21. Josie, you are one sweet angel! I will remember your friends in my prayers.

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  22. What a beautiful and inspiring story you have! I really enjoyed reading and I pray for your new friends!

    Hope you can find time to stop by our blog for a visit soon!

    http://kissedbyadog.blogspot.com

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  23. Oh Josie, the work you and your mom do is so very special!
    Much love to you both,
    Cloud

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