Im still not quite sure I saw what I saw. I was running behind this afternoon and so I really didnt have time to see one more patient. And it wasnt the usual day for visiting that particular SNF anyway. But, it wasnt too far from where I was headed, she had been slowly declining, and she was Hachis favorite patient, I was debating whether or not to go but it just seemed like I SHOULD. Hachis favorite is Rose. I just felt like I should be there. I had no information about her condition, there had been no alerts from the RN, but I felt pulled. So I went to her SNF. I entered the building, signed in and headed down the hall. It was dimly lit in Roses room but I saw what I assumed to be family, which turned out to be correct. Roses only daughter and granddaughter together with a nursing assistant and an aide. The two staff members quickly left and I introduced myself and Hachi. She knew about Hachi from her mom. It was plain to see Rose was near death. Her daughter told me she had just been thinking, hoping the chaplain would come. I told her Id felt a pull to be there. Hachi jumped on the bed and sniffed at Roses hand and curled up next to her side. I placed my hand on her head and began to softly pray prayers for the dying. I finished and looked up. The daughter and granddaughter were crying and Hachi had moved to the foot of the bed and he was resting his head on the footboard gazing intently up and slightly to the right. 15 seconds after the prayer, after Amen, Rose took her last breath. Hachi turned and laid at her feet in the Sphinx position, fully alert, eyes on Rose. After 5 minutes or so, a facility nursing assistant came in, ascertained that Rose had expired and left to get an RN to verify her passing. Hachi never moved. A few minutes or so later an aide came in and attempted to pick up a stuffed animal next to Rose. Hachi growled, and moved as if to nip her hand. He has never, ever done anything like that. Hes been pawed at, surprised, roughly grabbed and never a hint of a growl. I was stunned. And then more so when he returned to Sphinx position at Roses feet. I comforted and listened to daughter and granddaughter all the while aware something was going on with the Wonderdog. Hachi is a friend to everyone but it was apparent from the first meeting that he and Rose had something extra. He was affectionate with her in a way different from any other patient. After a few more minutes I said to Hachi, lets go. The normal response is he immediately jumps up and off the bed, very eager. He didnt budge. I waited a minute then said it again a little more forceful. He didnt flinch. Cmon lets go, you want to go? Nothing. Then he sat up, looked at Rose, looked at me, looked at Roses daughter, turned his head back, up, and to the right, where hed been looking before and then jumped off the bed. That dog saw the angels coming for Rose, he guarded her during the transition and he waited until her spirit was safely gone before he would leave her. I saw all this and Im having trouble believing what I plainly saw. I am a stunned witness.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 00:48:46 +0000
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