Cooper

Debra and Cooper

The Best Medicine

When we lost our last lab to lymph node cancer, I was determined never to go through the agony of putting a dog to sleep again. Even though you know it was for the best, the loss is so great your heart breaks. I thought my husband and I could go through life never hearing the sound of those four lab feet running through our house. Well, for those of us who love Labradors, you know it was impossible. So we called our breeder in Nevada, and asked her if she had any litters due. It just so happened she did. So on a March morning we went to the airport to pick up our new family member. He was this beautiful ball of yellow fur. We fell in love instantly! High Desert Cooper was home. One morning, two days later my life was turned upside down. I woke up to a blinding headache and I couldn't move my arm or speak. I had a stroke! I was only 46 years old, and nothing was going to be the same again. I was in the hospital, not only missing my family, but missing Cooper also. I would tell my therapist all about him, and my husband would bring me pictures to show me what he was up to. Needless to say I was showing those pictures around to anyone that would listen, doctors, nurses, visitors and cleaning crew, no one was safe. One day, a nurse came in to tell me that she had a surprise for me but I would have to wait till later to get it. That evening my husband and daughter were coming in for a visit. When they walked in my room Greg was carrying Cooper. It seems that my nurse contacted management at the hospital and Cooper was considered a therapy dog. He laid on my bed for quite a while and I was thrilled. It was just what I needed, the best medicine. It has been almost 10 years since my stroke, and Cooper continues to help me through my bad days. Believe me when I say that having him in my life has helped me greatly, and I can't express what a difference Cooper was in my recovery.

Debra Craley
Red Lion, Pa.