“Hi little Kirby, I want to hold you.”
That’s how we were greeted in the hallway today. Our client was sitting in her wheelchair and a nurse was trying to coax her to stand up and take a few steps with a walker.
But no go.
She wanted none of this walking business. So I thought let’s show her what Kirby knows how to do and see if WE can coax her to walk a few steps.
“Why don’t you walk a few steps to Kirby and then you can give him a hug.”
Slowly, very slowly she tried to get her balance and stand up. The dear nurse just looked at me and smiled and we took it from there.
I asked Kirby to sit about three feet from her and Wait. Sweet boy looked right at her and Waited.
Every step she took I asked him to Back Up so he was always about a few feet from her.
Before you knew it she had walked quite a distance and never realized her sweet Kirby was moving further and further back.
This was a prime example of AAT (animal assisted therapy) at its best. One dog, one client, one health professional, one volunteer and many many steps.
Kirby was a little star today. Many people passed by in chairs, walkers, with equipment but that little dog stayed on his mark and Waited. Waited for his friend to reach him.
The reward for both client and dog was the same – a great big hug.
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