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How Wally changed the world - almost

I don't know if you know this but I often think in terms of essays or blogs. An example might be that I am out at an event and something funny (it's almost always something funny that triggers this writing response) happens. In my mind, while I'm supposed to be 'in the moment', I am instead often putting together an essay or blog. Good thing that these don't often make it to print or the 'cloud'.


Yet I cannot suppress the humor and joy of a morning spent with my dear friend Aimee who has had very little humor or joy in her life since last December. And it was all because of my keeps-me-on-my-toes puppy, Wally.


Aimee has a Chiara Malformation which is a growth on the brain that for may patients goes either undiagnosed their entire lives or causes little problem. Not so for Aimee. Hers was discovered last November and while dealing with what she thought were migraines. The pain became so severe that she went to emergency room where a CT Scan revealed the malformation. It was hindering the flow of spinal fluid and causing intense pain. She had surgery over Christmas (I believe it was on Christmas Eve!) and hoped that it would alleviate her pain and she could determine then how to go about living her life. It didn't happen quite that way. Her pain did not go away and in fact at times has been worse - she has investigated and participated in all kinds of treatments and nothing has improved her pain.


Now Aimee has always had a sunny and funny personality. As a matter of fact while I was creating essays in my mind, Aimee would often be providing additional fodder! But in recent months, we've had few occasions to glimpse her amazing humor and hear her beautiful laugh or witness the glorious smile. Pain clouds her demeanor.


Yet this morning, she came by to drop a book and we went outside on the deck to chat. Of course Wally could hardly contain himself because here was another person to lavish attention and affection on him. He brought her toys and gave her kisses. Be not convinced, however, that this charming canine did not eventually resort to his tricks - like attempting to chew on planters, plants and wood. Or whining to go inside. Then whining to come back outside. To chew his bone, loudly, up against the window. To get his chain tangled on the deck. Or to chase flies, butterflies and wasps. And when let out to play with his doggy friend down the street, to splash loudly in the stinky pond next door and then come back 10 minutes later with the neighbor's cat food bowl. (the food long gone)


And Aimee smiled at one point and said, "Just like a toddler" and a little later commented that it was no wonder I didn't get much done. And when he came back, cat food dish in mouth, she laughed. She laughed. Wally made my dear friend laugh. (That's Aimee on the left with her son Gabe who is on the Saugatuck Football team that made it all the way to Ford Field last Thanksgiving!)


So my damn dog, became my dear dog because he was able to bring the light and joy back to Aimee's life if even for just a moment.

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