Therapy Dogs: I was sick and you visited me

Friday, March 12: "Operation was a success, the surgeon said he was able to do everything he set out to do. 445am: I’m awake. My sleep schedule is pretty messed up. Lots of pain last night, 8 or 9, but much better now; about a 2.5 . got Ice Cream w dinner! I was goofy last night, I would imagine I had done something then open my eyes and hadn’t done it. That’s why they absolutely didn’t want me to get out of bed until 5 AM this morning. And why they wouldn’t want me driving yet even if I could. It’s very strange to have your memory messed with like that. 

Before they knocked me out several doctors assured me I had a great doctor and shook my hand. They let me know all along that I did have a small chance of dying or being damaged for the rest of my life if things went wrong so they didn’t take any chances. It mattered that I was in good shape and then I’ve tried to stay in good shape my whole adult life because they didn’t find anything else wrong.

 

I am gonna have to make some lifestyle changes going forward, but I don’t know what those are. Obviously lowering my stress levels. Trying not to conquer the world in a week. I’m gonna have to get more regular and special check ups throughout the year beyond that I don’t know. 

 

I was never afraid because I had settled about my life in death years ago and so intellectually mentally spiritually I was already grounded and so that didn’t wake me out and they would always ask me if I was scared and I would tell him that I wasn’t and it was truthful. And so when the surgeon came in the room and asked me if I was ready, I said yes I am. Let’s do it. He said let’s go and we fist bumped each other and there went."

 

*** I've trained a lot of therapy dog owners and dogs over the years. I realized it was important, but after this, it takes on a whole new dimension. I kept my visitor list small since I was so exhausted and in pain. Having visitor helped a lot. I had one request, "Please: no long detailed questions, no arguing with me, no controversies."

For a couple of nights, I would hallucinate, seeing swarming worm creatures crawling all over the walls, some black but some red-orange. I would hear other patients cry out in their rooms, and the nursing staff was so patient with them. 

So, want to do a good work? Something meaningful? Get an appropriate dog and train your dog and yourself to just go and sit with the sick. Not every patient there had visitors.