Pet Health Care
10/10/07

Mrs. Smith lay in her hospital bed trying to sleep so the pain would stop for just a little while. The doctor said her hip fracture would likely take 6 months to heal. She had lived on her own for the past 8 of her 80 years. It was hard for her to imagine needing help for almost everything for the next 6 months. Her grandkids were almost grown and leading very busy lives, with hardly any time to visit her except during the holidays. She thought of her flower garden, the house cleaning, cooking and grocery shopping and all the things she would not be able to do for herself. It was almost more than she could take. Maybe for the first time in her life she felt old and in the way and very, very tired.

The next day as Betty, her daughter, wheeled her out of the hospital, she tried desperately to be cheerful and upbeat, but Mrs. Smith would hardly reply to her questions. Betty had never seen her mother so despondent in her life.

Finally Betty said “Mr. Benson will sure be happy to see you.” Mrs. Smith cocked her head to one side and said “Hmmm, Mr. Benson. How is he doing?” “Well …” said Betty, “he hasn’t been eating his kibble very well and he’s chewing on his tail again.” “What” said Mrs. Smith? “Have you been putting his skin medicine on his food? I declare, and he needs his heartworm medicine about now. Has anyone been brushing him because, you know, you simply must brush him twice a week to keep his skin healthy? And Peepers the cat is due for his Revolution treatment.” Just outside the hospital doors Mrs. Smith’s youngest grandson had a little white terrier on a leash. As soon as Mr. Benson saw his master he jumped into her lap he gave her a fast lick on the chin and looked up into her suddenly twinkling eyes. “Oh just look at you, Mr. Benson, have they been neglecting you. You just wait ‘till we get home, I’ll fix up a special treat and we can have dinner together.” Betty smiled and looked at her son. “Your grandma’s gonna be just fine, sweetie.”