Today’s Zoe moment on #GivingTuesday was one of the very best ever. I actually had three memorable moments, but I will focus on the one that gave us the most joy. I started my visits in the lobby of Virginia Piper Cancer Center and Tina’s Treasures. It seemed as if the staff was more excited than usual to see me, so I spent quite a bit of time going from person to person and taking in their cuddles. A few patients came into the lobby and I greeted each of them, but for some reason I wanted to ride the elevator with one a certain gentleman, and coincidentally, we were both going to the fourth floor and to the same office. As mommy opened the door to the office, I looked at the crowded reception area, found a lady sitting in the corner and decided I wanted to visit with her first…it was the man in the elevator’s wife! I soon learned it was their first visit, so I knew they needed a little comforting. I visited with each person in the reception area and then did my tricks in the center area; when I was done, everyone clapped. I sat there and barked a few times as if I was thanking the crowd. Mommy couldn’t believe it! Then we went in the back area where infusions are given. Everyone was expecting me knew since they heard me barking. I sat in laps, cuddled, did tricks, and heard stories about their dogs; mommy and I were most fascinated hearing about Buddy who is a K-9 officer! We had to leave by way of the reception area and there were two people who were not there earlier, an elderly gentleman who was the caregiver of a middle aged handicapped man in a wheelchair. I don’t know what their relationship was, but I know that there was a very close bond between them….maybe even father and son. I went right up to the man in the wheelchair who at first seemed frightened of me, so I sat very still on the floor facing him and when mommy knelt down near his chair and picked me up, I could tell he wanted to pet me. I knew by the way he looked at me. “Her name is Zoe; would you like to pet her?” mommy asked. The man pulled his hand back into himself, and he looked down sheepishly. “You can pet her, Phil … watch..…I’ll do it first,” his caregiver said. Then mommy slowly took Mr. Phil’s hand and placed it on my head. Mr. Phil started to smile and grin. His caregiver smiled too, and said ”She’s a nice dog. Isn’t she? Don’t be afraid.” Here’s where my Zoe moment got really special….for whatever reason, I started to lick mommy’s cheek with a kiss. “That’s the way Zoe gives kisses!” mommy said and I kissed her again. Mr. Phil watched intently then he made a kissy sound with his lips and awkwardly gestured to his face. “Do you want Zoe to give you a kiss?” she asked Mr. Phil, but looked to his caregiver who was already nodding in approval. Mommy held me close to Mr. Phil, and I kissed the tip of his nose. He giggled and then laughed so loudly that others in the room laughed too; he made the kissy sound again and pointed to his caregiver. He repeated the kissy sound louder and pointed again with bit more aggression. Mommy took the cue and moved me closer to Mr. Phil’s caregiver who I promptly kissed on the cheek. This time Mr. Phil clapped in excitement. Mommy then gave each of them one of my little information cards. Mr. Phil didn’t want to say goodbye or pet me; he was just looking at the card. “Let me put that in your pocket, so you don’t lose it,” his caregiver said. He placed my card in Mr.Phil’s chest pocket, and Mr. Phil patted it gently and held his hand on it as a child does when he is going to say the Pledge of Allegiance. “Thank you for the time you spent with Phil; you don’t know how much this means to us,” his caregiver said and there were tears in his eyes. We didn’t realize how many of the patients in the reception area were watching us, but when we got up to say our goodbyes, we realized the whole room was involved in my Zoe moment and a few had leaky eyes. As we walked out the door, mommy stopped and looked back through the window, Mr. Phil’s caregiver waved and mouthed another “Thank you…thank you.” .
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 02:29:43 +0000