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December 26, 2021
Who is a good dog?
Laika is a good dog...
Ever since she was a pup, Laika has always had a strong sense of empathy for other people and dogs.
Before the pandemic related lock down Laika and I took a class that we hoped would be her first step to becoming a therapy dog that could visit people in hospitals and nursing homes and children in schools.
But the lockdown put that all on hold.
Until last week - when she really stepped up and came through in a big way...
As some of you know, we have been living with my mother while our new house is being built.
I usually spend my day working out of the office in her house.
Well, my mom developed a cough on Monday, and it wasn't getting better, so I took her to the ER on Tuesday. I was worried it might be a breakthrough case of COVID, but she tested negative and after giving her supplemental oxygen for a couple of hours they released her to go home.
The next morning, she got up early, showered and sat down to pay some bills on her laptop. She still had the cough but seemed fine and made herself her coffee and some toast.
My sister called her a while later to coordinate logistics for Christmas.
I usually go to the pool mid-morning to swim my laps but because I had spent the previous day at the ER I stayed a bit later than usual to finish up a project.
I was in the middle of texting my sister about her call with my mom and told her that Mom was giving me grief that I had "forced" her to go the ER the previous day.
That's when Laika came into the office and sat right down next to my chair and starting whining.
She had not done that before.
I looked at her and asked her "what's going on?"
I said "okay, I will get you a treat - just give me a few minutes."
She continued to whine, progressively getting louder.
That's when I heard the coughing and went into the living room to find my mom sprawled on the couch - she was flush, shivering and coughing.
I asked her where the pulse oximeter was so we could measure her oxygen saturation.
I found it on the floor and put it on her finger and the first reading was 76% - which is dangerously low.
She used to be a nurse and said there must be something wrong, so I took another reading and this time it was 75%.
I knew I needed to get her supplemental oxygen immediately, so I called 911 and the paramedics arrived shortly thereafter and transported her to the hospital.
Over the past three days we have had some nerve wracking ups and downs, but it now looks like she is on the way to recovery from pneumonia and hopefully will come home this week.
On this day after Christmas, I am thankful to still have my mom around to nag me - something she did earlier today during my visit.
I am also thankful to have a dog like Laika who saved my mom's life...
Who is a good dog?
Laika is a good dog....
