50 Visits and a Miracle

[Lisa & Eli, The Weimardoodle]

It has been a little over a year since Eli, the weimardoodle, began his journey as a therapy dog with Therapy Dogs Inc. It has been a year filled with lots of ups and downs on our way to complete 50 visits. Eli, primarily visits nursing home folks that are receiving care from Arkansas Hospice.   Some of his most favorite people have passed on, but there is always someone new to get a big dose of Eli's love.   I know that you all know how wonderful it is when you get when you share your furry friend.  Last week was very special for us.  Staff shared that one gentleman we visited had not "made sense" since he was admitted about 2 weeks prior to our visit.  After meeting and loving Eli, staff was amazed that Mr. John, was now communicating in complete intelligible sentences. Did Eli do something special to flip the switch on for this man?  I think not, any therapy dog could have been the catalyst.  I'm just thankful that it was my therapy dog that allowed me to see this miracle first hand.  Oh, and as result of the 50th visit, Eli get's his Therapy Dog Title (ThD) to all to his name.  Volunteering is GREAT!

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Lisa, this is such a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing. Good work, Eli! Finn just passed his Therapy Dog test so we are looking forward to getting started. We had a similar thing happen with an elderly couple on the street. The gentleman started telling Finn all about a dog he used to have. He went on describing the dog and what they used to do together. His wife had tears in her eyes and I did too when she told me he had Alzheimer's and it was unusual for him to talk let alone remember. Just a beautiful fleeting moment of clarity... A window into a love that must have been so deep. Hugs to you and Eli for the wonderful thing you are doing.