Part 2 Jake w/me in hospital

[Guest guest]

Hello again,

Before I went into the hospital I found out that Jake (service dog) was

supposed to be with me in ICU, it's the law. This is because I'm the one in

the hospital and I'm not visiting someone else that's in ICU.

I was a little concerned because I knew I wouldn't be able to take care of

him, feeding and drinking water. Jake will NOT take anything from a

stranger. The poor guy didn't eat for 2 days!!!!

the nurse in ICU, was just Super!!!!!!! But first I should tell you

about KC. She is the lady that took care of the scheduling for Jake to go

out.

Jake was with my in pre-op while they put in the IV and man was that ever a

job. I don't have any veins to find and without drinking water that made

things worse!!!! The man that was trying to put in the IV had to call in

someone else!!! Jake was with me the whole time and he probably thought I

was going to pet him to death.

My son, his girlfriend, a nurse, the guy trying to put in the IV and another

one who finally got the IV in plus there was a camera crew there filming

this. So, in all there were about 8 people in this room besides me. And

Jake was just wonderful through it all. He wasn't shaking or anything.

Just before the rolled me into the operating room they took Jake. They had

to have given me something because I don't remember them taking him from me.

And the next thing I knew I was in recovery asking how is Jake doing.

He was supposed to be with Marsha while I was in surgery but KC had other

plans and everything worked out just fine. I kept bugging them to get to ICU

so that I could see Jake for myself and about 6PM I was finally wheeled into

ICU and there was Jake!!!!!!!!!!

The beds in ICU are smaller and I was wondering how this was going to work.

But Jake was just glad to be with me again. KC is who brought Jake to me.

We had just spoken over the phone before and this was our first meeting.

Jake did everything but eat for her, which I already knew.

KC was VERY worried about Jake not eating or drinking. I told her please

don't worry, when I can move easier he will eat just fine. I had brought a

squirt bottle with me for him to drink from since I knew he wouldn't drink

from his dish. I also had to feed him by hand!!!

But in ICU I couldn't do any of this so I asked my nurse if he would

mind squirting the water into Jake's mouth. He was so sweet and I don't know

how many times he did this for Jake but Jake just drank away!!!!!! As long

as Jake was with me, he didn't mind someone else giving him water. Jake knew

I couldn't do it.

At 10PM an EMT came in to take Jake out. This is when it finally hit me what

was happening with Jake. KC had this schedule all set up for walking

Jake!!!!!!! Someone came at 8AM, noon, 5PM and at 10PM every day I was in

the hospital!!!!!! She had the schedule tape to the door along with baggies

for Jake, just in case....you know what. LOL

These people showed up with Jake not wanting to leave me but as soon as I

said it was OK, he left with them and they weren't gone very long.

One night, 10PM, someone didn't show up and I didn't have a clue at the time

about where the schedule was. They were so on the ball at the hospital, I

didn't have a clue that it was right in the bag!!! I couldn't remember KC's

last name and it finally came to me!!!!

They called her and at 11:30PM KC showed up to take Jake out. She said she

would make a copy of the schedule and put it up the next day and that next

morning I found the schedule. The lady that came at 8AM told KC we found

everything.

This lady took Jake out 5 times. These are all people that work in the

hospital that do this service!!!!!!! Michele told me that if she took Jake

out and came back the same way, Jake was fine. But it she tried to go back

to the hospital a different way Jake was anxious. It's like he was

saying....this is NOT the way back to my moms room!!!

Also, when they got into the elevator the door would open, Jake would step

out and step back in because he knew it wasn't the floor. Finally, when they

got to our floor he would just walk to the room. He knew when he was finally

on the 7th floor.

All of these volunteers were just SUPER and I know that Jake was not upset

the whole time we were there. They all took such good care of him. And for

not knowing anyone up there, I had a LOT of visitors!!!!!! They came in to

see Jake.

Sometimes I had to remind him that I was the patient. He wanted to sleep in

the middle of the bed!!!!!!! One day we had a dog visit us. He was a

therapy dog and we have a picture of the 3 of us.

I feel that Jake is a GREAT part of my healing process and when we got home I

thought he was going to tear up the house. He went bananas that we were

finally back home!!

He finally eat for me when I was in a regular room and we were lucky to get a

private room!!!!! And all the patients wanted to see him but we weren't

allowed to go visit.

The people that took care of Jake for me are angels and deserve more praise

than I could ever give them. I am soooooooo thankful for their help and

especially their kindness towards Jake.

Well, I'm starting to get a headache so it's time to close this part.

love, hugs and prayers,

Foxy