Wednesday, May 23, 2012
I Drop Bread Crumbs!
A quip of our first visitation alone at the hospital For Paws for Patients. It actually went better than I anticipated. I was able to find the Cancer Center okay, and there was only one patient. The important thing, I was able to find my way in and out! Most of you know I am directionally challenged. Marlene had to correct me on my last visit as I tried making a turn down a hallway, instead of just going through the doorway! What can I say, it happens? A lot! Leaving the C.C, we made our way to the ER, no mistaking it's location. We probably visited ten to fifteen patients either waiting on treatments or a room. I admit, there was a point I was just standing trying to get my bearings, when a gentleman addressed me by asking if I was looking for something and if he could help? I said, "Yes, I was looking for the way out! About that time I noticed the EXIT sign just above my head. He said, I know what you mean, I generally drop bread crumbs, but the birds always eat them. I don't know why I've never thought of doing that?! I carry Cheerieos for Max, bet they would work!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
PAWS FOR PATIENTS- - -11
PAYING IT FORWARD!
We went to work today and I'm liking it!
What a difference a couple of weeks make? This was our second official shadowing
with the leader, Marlene, for Paws for Patients! We probably visited with about thirty five patients, staff were not included in this number. There was some official meeting near the Volunteer Office that was just concluding, several individuals stopped to greet Max and Joey, some even asked to take their pictures! Having the stroller made such a difference for me. Yes, at the end of our schedule, we both were tired, but not exhausted! I CAN DO THIS!
Max and Joey brought smiles to everyone they had contact with, young, old, men, or women! We were often told what a wonderful program this was. We were asked several times who the dogs belonged to? When we said, they belong to us personally, they responded with thanks for volunteering our time and bringing our pets to visit!
The one thing I was taken aback with, is I thought about what we were doing, was for the patients. I hadn't thought about how it would make me feel?
Max has brought so much joy to me during such a very stressful time in my life, I just wanted to Pay it Forward!
PAYING IT FORWARD!
We went to work today and I'm liking it!
What a difference a couple of weeks make? This was our second official shadowing
with the leader, Marlene, for Paws for Patients! We probably visited with about thirty five patients, staff were not included in this number. There was some official meeting near the Volunteer Office that was just concluding, several individuals stopped to greet Max and Joey, some even asked to take their pictures! Having the stroller made such a difference for me. Yes, at the end of our schedule, we both were tired, but not exhausted! I CAN DO THIS!
Max and Joey brought smiles to everyone they had contact with, young, old, men, or women! We were often told what a wonderful program this was. We were asked several times who the dogs belonged to? When we said, they belong to us personally, they responded with thanks for volunteering our time and bringing our pets to visit!
The one thing I was taken aback with, is I thought about what we were doing, was for the patients. I hadn't thought about how it would make me feel?
Max has brought so much joy to me during such a very stressful time in my life, I just wanted to Pay it Forward!
Friday, May 11, 2012
MENTAL RAMBLINGS OF AN OLD LADY!
I'm entitling this, "Mental Ramblings of an Old Lady!" By old, I speak only of a number. It does not refer to how I envision myself internally. Being old means you have lived a long time, and like material things, after awhile you begin to show wear and tear! That's what I see when I look in a mirror, it is not how I see myself in my mind's eye.
My first ramblings of the day:
Being out of coffee this morning, I don't know how that could happen, I tried a cup of hot tea, icky! It could not compare, it didn't even have caffeine! So, it was off to McDonald's, Max sitting right beside me. When we returned, it was coffee on the patio. Max knew it was special because I brought his food outside and he was enjoying this as much as me. When he finished eating he took a leisurely stroll around the perimeter of the yard. He walked close enough to the wall his body touched it, and where the wall juts out, he stayed ever so close. On occasion he stood up on his hind legs to sniff at the top branches of a bush now and again. After making his way all around, he came back and took a place on the patio next to my chair. Looking down at him I thought to myself, "I hope you feel half as happy as I do right now, having you beside me?!
When he was patrolling the perimeter, I wondered if this might be an inbred behavior? The Yorkshire Terrier was bred in Ireland for the purpose of killing rats in the mines. Being a very dark place, undoubtedly forced them to use all their senses. Anyway, whatever the reason, it is part of Max's everyday routine, making certain we are safe!
My next ramblings were concerning life, (mine) aging, whatever that means, etc!
I've passed some of these ramblings on to my daughter, and for what that's worth, we've had some good laughs as well as insights as to what is to come for her. One of my observations on aging when I was very young, was that old people, like my grandparents, had very thin lips and lots of lines around them. And because they, as most, in that bracket, also had false teeth, my conclusion was the loss of teeth was the cause! This is called "Lollipop Logic!" Guess what, I still have all my teeth, much thinner lips and lots of lines! Another mind boggling awareness was looking at old photos from time to time, thinking, "Gee, I looked pretty good then, better than now!" Then, some years on down the line, I would have that same insight again! I don't recall how many times I went through this before my realization, APPRECIATE WHO YOU ARE AT THIS VERY MOMENT, it doesn't get any better. So, now, when I look in the mirror I say, "Girl, you look great today!" So, ladies, take it from one who has been around a long time, APPRECIATE YOU, RIGHT NOW, TODAY!
My last rambling for the Day!
I have only just realized my brain keeps telling me, "You, can do this, and then my body says, "What the $#^&#, ARE YOU DOING, HAVE YOU COMPLETELY LOST IT?!! This is what my body said after agility training with Max, signing up for another class and Therapy Visitation at the hospital in one week! No one told me my mental and physical beings could be so inverse!
My Dad never talked about aging, other than the good stuff, like how good retirement was. Once when his doctor asked him if he exercised dad said, "Yes!" "What do you do?" "I sit on the porch and rock!" Final remark from doctor, "Rock harder!"
There are lots of things I use to do, I don't even want to do anymore. But here is where the hard truth comes in, when and what I want to do, I want the capabilities of doing without my body screaming at me!
I'm entitling this, "Mental Ramblings of an Old Lady!" By old, I speak only of a number. It does not refer to how I envision myself internally. Being old means you have lived a long time, and like material things, after awhile you begin to show wear and tear! That's what I see when I look in a mirror, it is not how I see myself in my mind's eye.
My first ramblings of the day:
Being out of coffee this morning, I don't know how that could happen, I tried a cup of hot tea, icky! It could not compare, it didn't even have caffeine! So, it was off to McDonald's, Max sitting right beside me. When we returned, it was coffee on the patio. Max knew it was special because I brought his food outside and he was enjoying this as much as me. When he finished eating he took a leisurely stroll around the perimeter of the yard. He walked close enough to the wall his body touched it, and where the wall juts out, he stayed ever so close. On occasion he stood up on his hind legs to sniff at the top branches of a bush now and again. After making his way all around, he came back and took a place on the patio next to my chair. Looking down at him I thought to myself, "I hope you feel half as happy as I do right now, having you beside me?!
When he was patrolling the perimeter, I wondered if this might be an inbred behavior? The Yorkshire Terrier was bred in Ireland for the purpose of killing rats in the mines. Being a very dark place, undoubtedly forced them to use all their senses. Anyway, whatever the reason, it is part of Max's everyday routine, making certain we are safe!
My next ramblings were concerning life, (mine) aging, whatever that means, etc!
I've passed some of these ramblings on to my daughter, and for what that's worth, we've had some good laughs as well as insights as to what is to come for her. One of my observations on aging when I was very young, was that old people, like my grandparents, had very thin lips and lots of lines around them. And because they, as most, in that bracket, also had false teeth, my conclusion was the loss of teeth was the cause! This is called "Lollipop Logic!" Guess what, I still have all my teeth, much thinner lips and lots of lines! Another mind boggling awareness was looking at old photos from time to time, thinking, "Gee, I looked pretty good then, better than now!" Then, some years on down the line, I would have that same insight again! I don't recall how many times I went through this before my realization, APPRECIATE WHO YOU ARE AT THIS VERY MOMENT, it doesn't get any better. So, now, when I look in the mirror I say, "Girl, you look great today!" So, ladies, take it from one who has been around a long time, APPRECIATE YOU, RIGHT NOW, TODAY!
My last rambling for the Day!
I have only just realized my brain keeps telling me, "You, can do this, and then my body says, "What the $#^&#, ARE YOU DOING, HAVE YOU COMPLETELY LOST IT?!! This is what my body said after agility training with Max, signing up for another class and Therapy Visitation at the hospital in one week! No one told me my mental and physical beings could be so inverse!
My Dad never talked about aging, other than the good stuff, like how good retirement was. Once when his doctor asked him if he exercised dad said, "Yes!" "What do you do?" "I sit on the porch and rock!" Final remark from doctor, "Rock harder!"
There are lots of things I use to do, I don't even want to do anymore. But here is where the hard truth comes in, when and what I want to do, I want the capabilities of doing without my body screaming at me!
Friday, May 4, 2012
Paws for Patients
I was here yesterday and complained about the new format, I didn't like it then, I don't like it now even more! After working on a draft for over an hour, went to the preview, all went well until trying to download an image. With one touch of a button, everything on the page flew out like it had wings of a bird. Needless to say, I was unable to recapture any of the document! Where is that place in cyber space? I know I have a bunch of stuff out there.
You may or may not be aware that my little Yorkie, Max and I are a Therapy Team. We passed our evaluation with The Delta Society the middle of December, 2011. We have been accepted as volunteers with The Paws for Patients program at Chandler Regional Medical Center. The hospital is in close proximity to our home making it conveient location for us. Tuesday, of this past week, we had our first official visit as a Team! A rewarding experience indeed! Getting here has required due diligence, Max would be the first to tell you if he could! I'm so very proud of his accomplishment!
We met with the Paws Program Director, at 9:00AM and spent the next two and a half hours shadowing her and her dog, Joey. Our first stop was The Volunteer Office to check in, but enroute, she let Joey off leash. He knew exactly where to go as he turned into one of the open doors in the hallway. After entering the room, I released Max too and he eagerly followed Joey greeting office personel and receiving TREATS! That was just the beginning of many similar experiences during the morning.
Our first actual patient visit was in the Out Patience Cancer Center housed in a seperate building from the hospital, then back to the ER and on to the third floor of the hospital, where we encountered most of the patients we were to see. One of the first, was a young man late twenties maybe? We knocked on the door and inquired if he would like to have a visit. His response, "Yes!" As we entered the room, he eyed Max, and very emotionally covered his face with his hands and said, "Oh, I'm going to cry, he looks exactly like my dog, and I miss him so much!" He cradled Max in his arms while stroking him! This one little incident made everything we've worked so hard for, worthwhile! I will never forget this!
The problem, I did not realize how physically challenging this would be for me! A little over two hours on my feet, never sitting down, was almost too much. Actually, it was too much. I was exhausted! If I am to continue some things will have to change for me. With advice from The Director, I have purchased a stroller for Max. I carried him a good part of the time, as well as his water and some personal items. So that will help, and I may have to cut my time too. It is so difficult to admit, I just don't have the energy I would like, but then, who does?
You may or may not be aware that my little Yorkie, Max and I are a Therapy Team. We passed our evaluation with The Delta Society the middle of December, 2011. We have been accepted as volunteers with The Paws for Patients program at Chandler Regional Medical Center. The hospital is in close proximity to our home making it conveient location for us. Tuesday, of this past week, we had our first official visit as a Team! A rewarding experience indeed! Getting here has required due diligence, Max would be the first to tell you if he could! I'm so very proud of his accomplishment!
We met with the Paws Program Director, at 9:00AM and spent the next two and a half hours shadowing her and her dog, Joey. Our first stop was The Volunteer Office to check in, but enroute, she let Joey off leash. He knew exactly where to go as he turned into one of the open doors in the hallway. After entering the room, I released Max too and he eagerly followed Joey greeting office personel and receiving TREATS! That was just the beginning of many similar experiences during the morning.
Our first actual patient visit was in the Out Patience Cancer Center housed in a seperate building from the hospital, then back to the ER and on to the third floor of the hospital, where we encountered most of the patients we were to see. One of the first, was a young man late twenties maybe? We knocked on the door and inquired if he would like to have a visit. His response, "Yes!" As we entered the room, he eyed Max, and very emotionally covered his face with his hands and said, "Oh, I'm going to cry, he looks exactly like my dog, and I miss him so much!" He cradled Max in his arms while stroking him! This one little incident made everything we've worked so hard for, worthwhile! I will never forget this!
The problem, I did not realize how physically challenging this would be for me! A little over two hours on my feet, never sitting down, was almost too much. Actually, it was too much. I was exhausted! If I am to continue some things will have to change for me. With advice from The Director, I have purchased a stroller for Max. I carried him a good part of the time, as well as his water and some personal items. So that will help, and I may have to cut my time too. It is so difficult to admit, I just don't have the energy I would like, but then, who does?
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