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Touching so many hearts, that's Corazon!

Our third visit to the oncology radiation and chemo areas today.  We've met so many people from all over the United States.  They may come from different areas, but all have the same look of fear, pain and confusion on their faces.  Cora has a unique way of bringing everyone together as one.  When we first entered the room everyone was sitting with their eyes down and very quiet.  One by one newspapers dropped on laps, books closed and smiles surfaced.  Conversation was shared around the small group about their own dogs at home.  Cora showed off her "achoo" trick grabbing tissues from the box for anyone that faked a sneeze.  There were stories about a favorite pup in Michigan waiting for her best friend to return, a Colorado canine that loved the snow and memories of a Pittsburgh gentle giant that loved to babysit.   Laying across the feet of her new friend, it was clear that the belly rub Cora was receiving was just if not more therapeutic for him.  A small woman who sat silently off to the side of the room watched with tears in her eyes.   A few minutes later we were alone with her as everyone else was undergoing treatments.  She held back the tears as she reached out to pet Cora and told me that she was there today for her first series of treatments.   She was there alone, her family back in the northern part of the state.  I could tell she yearned for someone or something to cling to and for that moment, it was a small dog.  Job well done Cora.

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