Our first day volunteering with Mayo Clinic's Caring Canines program. It's a humbling place where hopefully we can bring some smiles to both patients and staff. Cora made herself right at home in the Radiation and Chemo area where we are assigned. Even the most leery eyed gentlemen broke into a grin when she demonstrated her "hookie pookie"and then gave a big salute. We then wandered into a waiting room filled with new members of the "glow club". These are the people waiting to receive a tour of the area that they will receive their radiation treatments. I sat down next to a woman who's face was marked with fear. Cora laid down at her feet and I could hear her sigh of relief as she reached down and started petting Cora. She told me that Cora's presence made the waiting a little more bearable. I asked God as we drove down the long drive to the Mayo to "walk with me" and give me the strength that I needed to be a volunteer and handler for Cora with this program. He did more than that, he sent two special angels to be by my side, my Mother and Grandmother.
Cora and I had a busy 2 days at Mayo this week. It's always brings a smile to my face when I see the positive reception that is given to us by the patients and their families. Today brought not only that big smile, but also, filled my heart with pride. A gentleman that was waiting for his radiation treatment had several questions about therapy dogs and how they functioned in the medical setting. After several minutes of telling him about the training involved and how we volunteer our time with the dogs, he looked down at Cora who was stretched out across his feet and said, "You are heroes, to be sharing in our moment of weakness"! Wow, I never would have imagined anyone calling us a hero. Looking up the true definition, it states, "a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act". Strange thing is that I look at these patients and draw strength from them. They stare cancer in the face, ...
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