Apr

29

Angels Among Us

Filed Under Treating PTSD 

columbines-chaseIt was almost night again. He got through one more day, but it’s the nights that we worry about. He gave us all of his guns, just to be safe; yet, we all silently understood that life could easily be disposed of in many ways. A life that seemed to have lost its joy, its hope, its sense of purpose. The year before he discovered he had prostate cancer. Surgery took care of future problems in that area. Shortly after that he lost his wife. Divorce can be devastating – feeling even more so than death, because your loved one is gone. Gone of her own free will, finally realizing that enough is enough. His sense of worth and caring is now at an all-time low. A few months later he came down with a serious case of West Nile virus. His body’s ravaged immune system made it impossible for him to work; he lost his job. Too much loss in so little time left his life tested by all the ghosts of the past – the ghosts from a place long ago, a place called Vietnam. The question ever present was how could he sustain the pain, grief, the disease? It was a question that kept all of us awake through the darkness. Something needed to be done to help him feel life was worth living. And this is when the miracle occurred. An angel appeared in the form of a soft, uncoordinated, four-legged, black Labrador who was given the earthly name, Wyatt. The small cherub gave unconditional love and joy. Now, when the lonely man woke in the night, the angel’s crazy antics made him laugh; something he hadn’t done in a very long time. The angel gave him a chance at a new beginning, a new existence beyond the solitude. This new place was called Hope.

Animals have a way of helping us through our trauma.  Dogs, horses, cats… it really doesn’t matter just as long as the heart connection is made. The mental health professionals call it “animal therapy”.  I call this, “Angels Among Us”.

(In our prior blog, one of our readers related his “angel” story as follows):

“For years and years I would constantly be told to “let go” or “forget about it” when it came to Vietnam.  No one understood that I had relentlessly tried that, but it wouldn’t let go of me.  For many years I managed to drink away many of the symptoms; unfortunately, that worked too well and I became addicted to my ‘medication’.  I learned why that worked and was told by Dr Palmer that if he could prescribe any one medication that we both knew worked, it was alcohol, “but the side affects are a bitch” he said.
So, since 1996 I have been soberly searching for ways to handle the distress and disjointed aberrations of PTSD.  As a result, I have found that immediate changes of venue, (physical location) and distraction help me to regain some steadiness.  My second reliance is my dog, Babe, an Airedale that notices everything.  She has awakened me during nightmares and licks me in the middle of the night if she detects something is not right with me.  In exchange, I rely on her to know the safety of my surroundings.  When she is calm there is no need for me to be alarmed.”  (Mike MacDonald)

 

Angels calm our worst nightmares. They help us feel safer, saner – protected by a celestial, loving presence. We become braver because of their undying devotion.  Yes, there are many angels among us, and they are called Chase, Bailey, Wyatt, Cody, and Babe…

Comments

2 Responses to “Angels Among Us”

  1. Peggy Aschermann on May 4th, 2009 7:51 pm

    “I rescued a human today.
    Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn’t be afraid.
    As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn’t want her to know that I hadn’t been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn’t want her to think poorly of them or me.
    As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn’t feel sad about my past.
    I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone’s life. She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her.
    Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.
    Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes. I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven’t walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.
    I rescued a human today.”

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