INNER STRENGTH ◽ YOU
Paws on the Cold Floor
by Michelle Wyatt
One day, as I lay melancholy in my hospital bed, here he comes wagging tail and all, prancing and smiling as if he knew who he was there to see. “Yeah!” I don’t know if I said that out loud or just thought it; but regardless, my spirit soared with a smile!
Many of us have experienced the comfort of a loving pet and how they become members of our family, but the bond between people and animals goes beyond personal experience. Professionals have long recognized the healing effects of this relationship. In fact, there is an entire field known as animal-assisted therapy, where specially trained animals work alongside healthcare and education professionals to help reduce anxiety, encourage communication, and support healing. Therapy animals visit hospitals, schools, and rehabilitation centers, while service animals and emotional support animals help individuals in different ways.
So while I usually write from the perspective of an adult, this time I reflect back to my childhood and how the bond of an animal gave me inner strength and moments of joy during a painful time.
I spent a lot of time at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas, both inpatient and outpatient. When I was 15 months old, I was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
Fast forward to when I was an older child, I spent so much time at TSRHC it was like my second home. And it was not always fun, of course. However, I do not want to dwell on the details of my JRA, as it progressed…
Thank God, literally, that TSRHC had an amazing child life department filled with peers to play games with, art supplies to create with, volunteers to bond with, and the blessing of therapy dogs. The days the dogs came in, I could feel the shift of the room. Instead of different kids doing different activities until we had to go back to our hospital rooms, it was a group of kids being lifted up by the joyful sweet presence of furry animals.
The therapy dog I bonded with the most was not just at the child life center. My furry friend that came prancing in my hospital room was my favorite schnauzer from the Child Life Center. I forgot that I was in a hospital as I loved on him. (I wish I could remember his name).
First, I heard the door open, then the clicking of his paws on the cold hard floor. I peered around the curtain and sure enough here he came! Everyone else in the room disappeared. It was just me and my furry friend. Of course, those visits went by too fast. Saying goodbye was gut-wrenching at first. It was like someone let the air out of my tires and then squeezed them. Saying goodbye became less gut-wrenching as time went on, as our visits became part of my routine.
I know now more than ever why I have missed the love and support of a furry friend in my life. It is unmistakable how the bond with animals can impact a person’s life, no matter their age and no matter how short or long period of time. While I know not everyone has personally had a special bond with an animal, I do hope this sheds some light on what is out professionally and personally to fill up one’s cup of inner strength.