Pat Durcan & Misty
Pat Durcan and Misty were featured in the Fall, 2009 Therapy Animals
National's magazine, "Interactions". They are on page 21 in the Therapy Teamss-State by State section. Congratulation to both of them!
Please read the article below and see the picture that appeared in the article.
Meet Ms. Dottie, an upbeat and absolutely delightful 92
year old who lives in an Assisted Living Apartment in San Antonio.
My Therapy Teams, Misty, and I have been visiting this facility for over 3
years, but I don’t really remember when Misty and I started to make a special
effort to see Ms. Dottie. Now
whenever we visit the residents we make sure to stop by her apartment.
She is always busy crocheting a Granny Square Lap Robe.
She has the Activities Director give one, anonymously, to every new
resident in the Assisted Living and Alzheimer’s Residence.
Believe me, this is no small task.
Look closely at the photo and you will see the one she was working on
when we visited.
Misty
picked Ms. Dottie out as a great lady right away.
When we visit, Misty is eager to sit on Ms. Dottie’s lap and get loved
on. Usually we make this our last
stop and Misty closes her eyes and relaxes.
Our conversations have netted a very interesting outcome.
It seems Ms. Dottie had been talking about Misty’s visits to her grown
adult granddaughter who lives in the
Chicago
area. Her granddaughter had to
have a knee replacement, but as soon as she was healed, she went to her local
shelter and got herself a dog.
Each time we visit, Misty and I hear more of
the story. I have seen photos of
Bailey and his owner. He looks like
a sweet black lab mix. Next thing we
knew, he was in obedience training.
He has recently finished his training and now visits facilities in their local
area. Who would have guessed that
Misty could have such a wonderful impact on someone so far away?
And look at all the wonderful conversations Ms. Dottie and her
granddaughter and I are sharing about the wonderful angel animals in our lives.
I am delighted to say I have been given one Ms.
Dottie’s sought after Granny Square Lap Robes of my very own.
I am saving it for when I am in an Assisted Living Facility.
It will remind me of this warm, caring, charming and delightfully vibrant
lady. And I pray that there is a
Therapy Animals Therapy Teams Team to visit me when I no longer have one of my little
Cavaliers.