For one terminally ill patient, no hospital treatment could improve him quite like a visit from his dog.
James Wathen, 73, is a terminally-ill patient at Baptist Health Corbin in Corbin, Kentucky. Wathen’s condition was difficult to improve because his body was frail and his spirit was weak. When Wathen mentioned that he was missing his beloved one-eyed Chihuahua named Bubba, the nurses made every effort to reunite Wathen with his dog companion.
After Wathen was admitted to the hospital, nurses followed Bubba’s trail to the Knox-Whitley animal shelter, where they learned that the dog had been placed with a foster family. After being separated from his owner, Bubba had been displaying similar signs of emotional distress.
The nurses were finally able to reunite Wathen and Bubba on Saturday, October 11. Wathen became more animated and emotional as he petted and played with his dog.
“When Bubba was brought to James, he began to weep, and then Bubba began to snuggle James, and it makes you realize that animals are not just pets, but loved ones,” Deanna Myers, Director of the Knox Whitley Animal Shelter, stated on Facebook.
