I got up early and after walking the dogs, Roger and I drove to Llandudno. I had to take my DBS paperwork in to HR and needed to complete my online mandatory training, something I cannot access on nights or at weekends as I needed the aid of their help desk.
Roger proved to be a wow with the secretarial and managerial staff and after some initial nerves
Slowly got used to the adulation, closing his eyes to the mew mews of the ladies .
I took him to the bedside of one patient who I had discussed his progress with.
Much is said regrading disclosing your private life to patients , but in the hospice some idle banter about ordinary things can often be a great leveller to patients undergoing stress towards their end of life.
I shared stories of Roger’s small adventures after coming to the cottage and she had offered me some sage advice of how to deal with a dog not blessed with a huge brain.
Like most of my Welsh who visited patients, Roger was gentle and inquisitive with my patient.
He lay next to her, with his paws either side of her elbow and he let her pat his head gently with a boney hand without playing with the tie on her nightdress sleeve which dangled before him
She coo cooed at him quietly, telling him how smart he looked and she didn’t turn her head away when a single tear ran down the side of her face beside her ear.
Roger sniffed her face gently as she called out “ My sweet, sweet boy “
…and it was me who turned away and pretended I hadn’t noticed.
How thoughtful and kind of you to share yur family (this time Roger) with some of your patients. Bless you!
ReplyDeleteIsn't Roger looking like a sweet boy?
Hugs!
It’s not hard to share him, I love people’s positive reactions to him. I can’t stress how undoglike welsh terriers can be, they do just sit and stare , just like a child’s teddy bear
DeleteRoger is such a dear chap, naughty I know , but lovable none the less.
ReplyDeleteHis unpuppyish behaviour intrigues people who can’t quite believe he is still a puppy.
DeleteUf. THAT was a blessing.
ReplyDeleteWe used to have therapy dogs albeit on an ad hoc basis . Roger would be an ideal therapy dog
DeleteI think we should share our lives with our patients. I got in trouble once by a dialysis instructor because I was sharing things with my patient. I'm slowly draining all of the blood out of this patient, the patient should know something about me I think.
ReplyDeleteMy patients know about my grandchildren, my husband, my children. It's a two way street. I know about my patient's families as well. It builds a bond and it builds trust.
I'm glad your patient got to visit with Roger.
Disclosure can be appropriate I agree ( of course I do because I’ve disclosed) however you have to be careful that it’s something safe and almost non descript
DeleteOnce again, John, you elevate the ordinary (?).
ReplyDeleteRoger did mona
DeleteThat was a lovely story about Roger and your patient. If my end of life occurs in a hospice, I hope I have a compassionate nurse like you who understands I might enjoy the comfort of petting a dog one last time.
ReplyDeleteI want my dogs with me
DeleteRoger deserves all the adulation!
ReplyDeleteHe does indeed, he was a star x
DeleteOh! That face! x
ReplyDeleteHe has a gentle melancholic look about him
DeleteGood boy Roger! 2 meet and greets in one day and he did beautifully well. The perfect gentle boy. I hope you can take Roger back to visit your patient. She loved her visit with Roger.
ReplyDeleteI think the reaction of certain staff underlines just how much he is therapy for anyone
DeleteOh, darling Roger, knowing when gentleness and quiet is needed. I think I'd be the one shedding a tear at that scenario. I'd rather have a nurse who shares just a little of their life with me than a super-efficient, but emotionally cold one. xx
ReplyDeleteWell put….having said that, if I was on intensive care I want the best technical nurse lol
DeleteYou paint a lovely picture of the scene John.
ReplyDeleteAye I can tell a tale x
DeleteFinding common ground makes everything easier, and pets are ideal for this. I wouldn't have considered this to be sharing personal information at all.
ReplyDeleteIt’s the tip of an iceberg
DeleteWhen my husband was dying of cancer, the hospital allowed me to bring our two rescue shetland sheepdogs in to visit him. They lay on their own blanket brought from home in the crooks of his arms, and they were a dose of familiarity, comfort and the ordinary in a stressful and strange situation. Even when in a coma he seemed to know they were there, and was reassured. On their last visit they knew they would never see him again, and were quietly reluctant to leave. Dogs know so very much and have so much empathy in difficult situations. This is an assurance beyond that of PAT dogs; and I understand there is an end of life charity in the USA which uses only shelties as their visiting dogs which act more as companions than visitors. Well done, John. And well done, Roger. Yes indeed, you need to share with patients, if only so they assured there is still a real living world beyond their own.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this bittersweet memory Liz
DeleteI agree they know when someone is very poorly .
Mary when she was a bouncy youngster and Finlay my first welsh both visited one vulnerable and one dying patient and both did so with a stillness
You have exactly the right word; that stillness that is a pure animal psychic connection that little mysterious step beyond simple empathy. Thank you for this story, a typical John tale of insight and a putity of soul.
DeleteThe other word I would use is watchfulness
DeleteHandsome boy.
ReplyDeleteAll my welshmen , Finlay, Willian and Roger were and are lookers
DeleteBeautifully told, John. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you Marcia x
DeleteBittersweet. But, what a good lad that Roger is...
ReplyDeleteE
He’s so la king in confidence and so there was a method in my madness of bringing him into work. He needs to be introduced to lots of people regularly .
DeleteFuckin' 'ell mate, l am gone!. I could not walk 5 minutes in your ' work shoes ' and l thank you most profoundly from those of us who are far too feeble or just not emotionally strong enough to cope with your daily situations. Animals are always the great leveller and definately understand so much more that they are ever given credit for. Thank you for taking Roger to meet that patient today, l am sure it meant a lot to her, my dear friend never met, Tess x
ReplyDeleteAnd I’m sure I couldn’t walk 5 minutes in yours …
DeleteHorses for courses dear tess x
You could try......Size 5, but sadly it's gone from Tarts Trotters to Flat Hotters and they don't do a little something in red with a bit of diamonte. T x
DeleteI’m still in crocs
DeleteDear Roger is a gift from the universe John - a blessing xx💜💙💗
ReplyDeleteNot a gift he cost a fair bit lol
DeleteMy thatch who looks very similar to your Roger was only £130 as I recall but is very very chatty x 💥
DeleteRoger may soon expect rewards from the hospice for the therapy his visits may provide. I am thinking sausages or maybe M&S scotch eggs.
ReplyDeleteWe’d share
DeleteTearjerker of a post. All can be forgiven of such a sweet little dog.
ReplyDeleteBit of an emotional romp but I’m not apologising x
DeleteHere in the states I’m aware of some counselors who offer the option of a therapy animal (cat or dog) in their office to help ease the situation for their clients.
ReplyDeleteI know puppy yoga is popular too
DeleteBlessing nursing.
ReplyDeleteDoggy nursing
DeleteWell after I blow my nose and wipe away he tears I can only say that Roger seems to have a calling. Bless him and you.
ReplyDeleteHe’s turned a corner tonight. He spent the night in front of the fire and only a couple of minutes ago, came over for a cuddle then took himself to his crate in the kitchen to bed….finally he is home
DeleteI think Roger has found his niche. Well done!
ReplyDelete😃
DeleteWell, now, that's made me cry. As the final moments of her life trickle through her fingers, Roger has given her a special moment. Bless him. And her. And you.
ReplyDeleteHell.
Bless us all, each and every one.
Beautifully written. I feel quite teary now. Bless you for giving the lady a lovely moment with Roger. He does look rather like a teddy bear, a very gorgeous one
ReplyDeleteWill he and Mary have puppies?
No mary is too old now
DeleteCan you get him officially registered as a PAT dog, he would be brilliant at it, and you would make a wonderful visitor for people when your hospice days are over.
ReplyDeleteI think I will
DeleteWill do
ReplyDelete