A Little Red Wagon Full Of Hope: Tips And Inspiration From A Loving Caregiver by Opie Kathy

Author:Opie, Kathy [Opie, Kathy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gabriel's Horn
Published: 2015-05-08T16:00:00+00:00

It’s well known that animals make wonderful companions, increase a person’s self-esteem, and can help fight off depression. Our two black pugs, Dillon and Dublin, and our Norwegian forest cat, Twister, have always brought great joy to our household. When cancer struck our home, they brought so much more. Our pets remained constant and gave us a sense of normalcy. Our four-legged friends shared our good and our bad days. They didn’t inquire how Conner was feeling when he became bald or a tube appeared in his nose. They didn’t complain about the long hours they were quarantined at home due to Conner’s weakened immune system.

One late afternoon, we had just returned home from the hospital utterly exhausted. No sooner had I slumped into the couch and Conner fallen back onto the loveseat, than Twister jumped into his lap, wanting to be petted. He rubbed his soft furry face on Conner’s hands. At first, Conner gazed down at Twister with tired eyes, his skin pale and drawn. But soon Conner began to gently pet Twister’s smooth tawny fur as our cat purred in appreciation. Dillon and Dublin crawled up next to me, their adoring black eyes looking into my own as they let me bury my fingers deep within their soft black coats. Our tension seemed to evaporate.

Our friends and neighbors appreciated how important our pets were to our family and offered to help us take care of them when we weren’t able. Pet walking was scheduled into our Care Calendar twice a day when Conner and I were at the hospital and my husband was away at work. One friend reassured me, “Thanks for giving me the opportunity to help you by letting us walk the dogs for you. That is something I can do.” Pet sitting and dog walking allowed friends an enjoyable way to assist our family without intruding in our private suffering.

The seven- and nine-year-old girls next door were our best dog walkers. I remember our door bell ringing in the morning and the giggles as I answered the door.

“Hello Mrs. Opie! Are Dillon and Dublin home? We came over to take them for a walk!” Each girl wore shiny new rubber boots and a matching purple and pink rain parka. Our two wiggling, yipping small black dogs snorted and howled as they ran between the girls’ legs. Dublin jumped up for dog kisses as the girls cried out, “Oh, so cute!”

“Thank you! You’re our best dog walkers! Dillon and Dublin just love you!” I beamed and reached inside the doorway to get their leashes.

Decorating the Hospital Room with Pet Photos

When Conner was admitted to the hospital, I taped photos of our dogs and cats, along with the pictures of our family, to covered posters and then attached them to the cupboard space in his room. Our pets’ furry, cute, sometimes goofy faces brought joy and familiarity to an otherwise stark, sterile room. A healthy boy and a pre-cancer family smiled back at us in those photographs, giving us a temporary respite from our current hardships and hopes for a better time.

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