Animals 6th sense and healing properties--it's true!

[Laurie]

As this is a chinchilla story I was going to post on the chin side, but thought I would also share this with my hedgie friends as well.
Some of you may know, my beautiful sister, Lisa, has terminal breast cancer. She has battled this for 8 years and on August 1st we learned her cancer was back and, in fact, terminal.
She receives chemo every Monday for 3 weeks in a row then has one week off. So she's been getting chemo 3 times a month for almost 7 months now. She works 5 hours a day with the exception of Mondays and by the time she gets home at night she is exhausted. Because chemo has affected her sense of smell and taste she hasn't been eating well. We have all taken turns in the family cooking for her once a week and splitting up the weekends.
Thursday's are my day with Lisa and I go over to her apartment cook her dinner and then we watch CSI. Lisa loves to see the pictures of my chins and before she became ill she would come over to see the chins as well. She hasn't been over since August and has not met Bronwyn. She's seen pictures, but has not seen her in the fur so to speak!
So tonight I decided to bring Bronwyn over to Auntie Lisa's for a visit. I loaded her up along with dinner of Italian Wedding Soup and garlic cheese bread.
Bronwyn is normally a bit skittish when it comes to being held, but tonight when I opened the carrier she came right out and let me pick her up. Lisa pet her for a bit while I was holding her and Bronwyn never skwirmed! Lisa actually got brave enough and asked if she could hold her (for some reason my family is a bit afraid to hold the chins!) She sat down in her recliner and I gave her Bronwyn and showed her how to hold onto her. Bronwyn snuggled against Lisa's chest and laid her head on her and just snuggled for the longest time. Lisa pet her and got the most beautiful smile of her face.

I do believe animals sense when things are amiss in humans and because they are incredibly loving creatures they have the ability to heal.

These times are not good times for Lisa for obvious reasons, but also the company she works for is not doing well and they've had to let go some very good friends of hers and have also cut everyone's pay by 10 percent and are no longer matching 401k. Lisa's oldest son, Todd, got into an altercation on Friday and got his jaw broken. The next 42 miserable weeks he has to have his jaw wired shut. So on top of terminal cancer my sister is also dealing with the junk life just sends your way.

But tonight my beautiful Bronwyn helped my sister go somewhere else and be happy. And that makes me very happy.

I just wanted to share this story with my CnH friends.

 

[Essentia]

My cat is like that. If I am upset she is on my lap in a heartbeat. Now, she isn't a lovey cat and never has been. She barely even likes to be held, much less sit on your lap. If you're sick or upset though she is right there. She won't leave either until she decides that you're ok by yourself. This is one of the reasons I actually believe I love animals more than I love people. Don't get me wrong, I love my husband, family and friends, but a pet just does something that most humans aren't capable of.

 

[Melissa]

Ive always believed that animals have healing powers. Aero alway made my heart feel better. I never had a time when I got mad and then picked him up and he didnt make me smile. There was no way I could hold a smile in with him.

And Lola.. Physical healing powers. When I was down for the count with stomach problems (so bad mom had to come over and take care of the animals because I couldnt stand) Lola would curl up and lay on my stomach and the pain literally would go away. I think the heat and her body weight put pressure on my stomach but everything else I tried didnt work and only Lola did!

 

[eroomlorac]

Very wonderful story, Laurie. (Except for the Todd part). My old Border Collie who had to be euthanized in December was very in tune with our feelings. If she ever heard me cry, she would be there in a heartbeat, looking sad and pressing against me or laying her head in my lap. She was such the incredible dog in so many ways. My current dogs, not so much. I am glad Lisa found some joy and comfort in petting the chinchilla. You may have to make that a part of your Thursday night get togethers.

And does your nephew really need to have his jaw wired for 42 weeks? That is 10 months or so. Wow!

Interestingly enough, after the shootings at the NIU campass here near my hometown, therapy dogs were brought in to help the students heal. They were also brought in again this month as it had been the one year anniversary of the shootings. Those students who wanted to snuggled the dogs, talked to the dogs or just cried into the dogs fur. It was very touching and the dogs were so sympathetic, you could see it in their eyes. :heart3:

 

[Laurie]

Sorry Carol, I meant 42 days for Todd's jaw! And yep I think next week good old Mick St. John and Wesley will make the trip over to Lisa's!

 

[eroomlorac]

Sorry Carol, I meant 42 days for Todd's jaw! And yep I think next week good old Mick St. John and Wesley will make the trip over to Lisa's!

Though 42 weeks might have taught him a better lesson! (I'm so mean!) :realmad:

 

[macygray]

That IS a wonderful story, Laurie. Poor Todd though - I am sure 42 days would seem like 42 weeks, poor boy.

I have never really thought about that - about animals and the healing powers but I sure believe it. Thats a lovely story.

 

[starleomach]

That brought tears to my eyes

 

[Harleychin]

Very sweet story.:tissue:
I believe!

 

[Parkerspetchins]

That is an awesome story.

 

[Zie]

My dog is like that. When my grandma comes home from Chemo (she, too, has breast cancer) My dog just snuggles up to her and tries to make her feel better. I think my own Mozzy is like that. He's still getting used to me, but we had a really nice moment yesterday.

 

[Megan]

That is a great story. I think maybe you found a partner to go with you to visit Lisa

 

[Courtney]

I think animals have a greater sense about illness than a lot of people give them credit for. My dog (before he passed away) would never leave my side when I was ill. If I was home sick, he'd refuse to leave my bed. My mother would actually have to pick him up and carry him outside. Taz is the same way with my mom.

When Hemi was alive, she wouldn't wheel when I was sick. One night, I was violently ill and she spent the night in the corner of her cage closest to my bed, just making nose and staring at me. When I'd dash for the bathroom, she'd scurry along her cage to the other side, and wait for me to come back into the room. When I did, she'd make the quietest, gentlest noise, as if she was checking on me.

It's really amazing how intuitive animals are. They always seem to know the best way to cheer someone up, or when to be extra gentle. Taz is normally a rambunctious ball of energy, but whenever there is a child in the house or a pregnant woman, she is as calm as can be.

 

[Midwest Exotics]

Awwww thats absolutely such wonderful news. It brought tears to my eyes & totally couldnt agree more! Animals are healers & tend to brighten anyones day!

Happy your sister found some joy for the evening in a furry friend that also needed a little bit of a 'healing' handling.

 

[addictedtochins]

Great stories, my horse could and would act nuts with me sometimes but always was perfect with youngsters or newbies. I have, in the last few years become more sensitive of subtle animals feelings. Now that I think about it I think Steve Irwin was probably the first person who made me aware of watching animals and their body language. They are so much smarter and sensitive then most people realize.

 

[3CsMommy]

Okay, I got misty eyed reading that, and my MiL's dog came in to 'check on me' when I did. The irony is only surpassed by the sweetness.

*still thinking good thoughts for Lisa*

 

[Ash]

Isn't it amazing? Last night after a really bad day, I came home and sat down, and Speed jumped into my lap to just love on me. There's some pics in the "Other Pets" section.

 

[Chinniechantel]

What a great story Laurie. You should become a published author one day- get to work! Animals for sure have a 6th sense, they have proven it with cancer detection with dogs, and I don't understand why more experiments are not being done. Anyway, I am so glad Lisa got to witness such a nice chin moment- she wouldn't want one of her own would she? If you could do the cleaning and stuff? Idea anyway, but it could be just too much work for everyone. But if she spends a lot of time alone, it may be very helpful. As usual she is in my prayers and we are fighting for a full recovery.

 

[pamszoo]

I'm so happy your sister got to feel the love of a furry friend.
Animals just "get it". They always know exactly what we need, even when we don't.