Last night was an amazing night. We (Nanuq and I) went to CSH, Petersburg, Virginia. We entered and rode the locked elevator to the second floor. Then we went through a few more locked doors to get to our destination. There is a large activities room we are allowed to use so the patients can visit with us.
On many visits, we have observed a gentleman who always carries a stack of papers with him. He keeps his head lowered, never making contact with anyone. Once or twice, I have pulled toward him and he has given me a little smile. He must deem his papers very important, because he "never" puts them down.
Last night, he came and stood in front of me (sitka). Mom said, "you can pet him if you would like." He grinned, leaned down and petted me. The humans watched with amazement as he talked to me and interacted with me and then with Nanuq later on during our visit. He has been in the psychiatric for a "long" time and noone had ever heard him speak.
The humans were amazed and filled with excitement with this gentleman's progress, but they did not realize GOD had yet another miracle to work.
I can not stay as long as Nanuq, because of my hips and knees. Mom takes me outside after the first hour. One of the staff escorts us back through all the locked doors and into the front courtyard. I rest while we wait on Nanuq and Dad.
After I left, Nanuq continued to visit with the patients. He even played a game of sorts with the man who found his voice. As Nanuq's time came to a close and he was escorted back to the first floor a young woman approached he and Dad. She said, "what breed is he?" Dad answered her and she attentively listened and continued to talk to Dad.
After the patients were taken back to their rooms, one of the staff members told Dad that this patient who had just spoke to him had been in the facility for over 3 years and had never uttered a word that she could remember.
Mom prayed and asked for prayer earlier in the day. She prayed that GOD would use us (her furry kids) in a way like never before. Most certainly, GOD ANSWERED!
Another day in the life of therapy dogs~~~
Woofs and Wags,
Sitka
