By Judy Colvin, Delta Society Pet Partner^®

Schnauzer Susie and I visit the Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Most visits are with 2 or 3 people at a time, not overwhelming for a beginning team like us.

On our first visits, other Pet Partners teams accompanied us. This was easier because the attention was dispersed, making serious involvement with patients less likely.

Now we go alone. After this change, I was doubting that I was up to the task. When visiting alone you tend to get more involved with the patients, some of whom are very ill. I considered terminating our visits. Slowly I realized it was not about me and decided we could and would continue visiting this facility.

During Susie's visits in the fall we met a lovely lady we will call Mary. Mary enjoyed Susie's tricks and Susie enjoyed Mary's back rubs. Mary's mother told us each week how Mary told visitors about Susie. When we saw Mary's mother in the waiting room, she asked us to visit Mary in the back where she was having her treatment. We were happy to fill this request. This was the last time we saw Mary. She sat quietly in her wheelchair with barely the strength to pet Susie. Mary died within a few days.

Susie and I visited the cancer center today. As we made her rounds a secretary told me she had recently talked to Mary's mother who had asked about Susie. The secretary told her that Susie was still visiting and still doing her tricks. Mary's mother wanted me to know how much Mary had looked forward to seeing us and that Susie had made her smile during the last days of her life.

Visiting the very ill can be emotionally draining on the human half of the team, but the knowledge that your pet and your effort brought someone a little joy when they needed it most is worth it all.

I love Susie dearly. I pray we have many years together as Pet Partners, but tonight I told her if she goes to heaven before I do, she doesn't have to wait for me at the Rainbow Bridge. It's okay with me for her to go to her angel Mary who will smile again when she sees Susie coming.