Michael J.

Michael J.

Michael J is keeping you in touch everywhere you find Country music: on the air, on-line and with the iHeartRadio app! If it's happening in...Full Bio

 

A Veteran Never Forgets. A Story that will touch your heart.

Thank you Micki for sharing your story "Miracle at a VA Hospital" - Micki Nesbit

 When I lived in Rochester, New York. I was in a dog obedience training club that made an annual visit with our dogs to the Canandaigua VA Hospital.  Our visitation in 1980 stands out in my mind as if it happened yesterday.  That year I took my black and tan Cocker Spaniel, Dixie, who was very sweet, calm, and responded to hand signals so I could give her commands without bring obvious.

 

At the VA hospital; we divided into small groups to visit different wards.  The ward I went to was large with about twenty beds.  Since many of the men were sleeping, I took Dixie to the back of the ward where I found a man who was wide awake but did not respond to my greeting or my question if he’d like to meet Dixie.  After a few minutes of telling him about my dog, I picked her up and placed her on his bed near his hand, giving her signals to lie down and stay.

 

Since he showed no initiative to pet Dixie, I gently took his hand, guiding it over Dixie’s head and down her back.  A great many minutes went by when I began to feel movement in his hand.  When I felt he was truly stroking my dog on his own, I cautiously removed my hand from his.

 

I stopped talking and just watched.  I thought I saw the faintest smile emerge on this old soldier’s lips.  Perhaps another ten minutes passed.  He kept petting Dixie but never once did he look at me.  Very slowly and softly, he began talking to Dixie.  He told her how nice she was and that his family had raised spaniels when he was growing up.  I don’t know what made me keep my mouth shut but I did.

 

When I saw my group start to leave. I told Dixie to say goodbye.  She woofed very softly and we took off.  As I passed the nurse who had overseen our visit, I realized she was crying.  I still get chills when I remember her words.  “That man you were with hasn’t spoken for eighteen years.”


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