Those 70ish Girls

Jamie had been at the Sunnyvale Veterinary Clinic for two weeks before the opportunity to approach Miss Bessie about selling the farm presented itself. It was actually Brad who was with Miss B when the subject of the farm came up.

“I have so enjoyed my stay here, Brad, but it’s not fair for me to expect your hired hand to continue to take care of the farm. I think it’s time I move back.”

“I’ve been waiting for a good time to discuss something with you, Miss Bessie,” Brad said. “I guess this is the time.”

“I hope you’re not going to, once again, suggest that I sell it. Harold and I spent over fifty years on that farm and I can’t bear the thought of someone else living there and taking over.”

Miss Bessie’s expression showed her mind was made up. As far as she was concerned, the discussion had ended. Brad forged ahead, anyway.

“I understand how you feel, Miss B, but you might feel differently when you learn who is very interested in buying it.”

“For heaven sakes, Brad, just tell me who it is, but I can assure you right now, it won’t make a difference.”

“It’s Jamie,” he said. “As you know, she started her internship at the clinic in town, early. She wants to settle here and she loves the farm.”

“Jamie? It’s Jamie who wants to buy my farm?” Miss Bessie folded her arms but her expression softened. “Where would I live?” She asked. “I can’t stay here forever.”

“Give me one good reason why not,” Brad said. “I wish you knew how much better my life has been since Arf brought us all together. As you say in your prayers each morning, we’re a family.”

“I don’t know what to say.” Miss Bessie was clearly touched by what Brad, who never wore his feelings on his sleeve, had shared.

“Say yes…I’m going to need your help to convince Steve to live here with Katie, and Grandma Helen to stay on as well. It goes without saying that Arf will live here with all of us. Jamie will be close to the clinic and she will love the farm almost as much as you do.”

Miss Bessie didn’t respond at first, but Brad knew he had won her over.

“Tell Jamie I’ll sell the farm to her, but only if she continues to provide eggs to the Sunnyvale General Store. We must keep that tradition alive.”

******************

***Steve took Katie and me back to the clinic for more lessons with Sam. I was one confused therapy dog. A wonderful thing had happened. For the first time in her whole life, Katie had stood up. Why didn’t she want to tell Steve? Would she show Sam, the physical therapist?

I want them to know. I believe that telling them is the right thing to do. I don’t want to betray Katie, but she needs me to help her do whatever it takes to walk on her own. What a great day that will be. I have to find a way to convince Katie not to keep secrets.

Katie had two days to recover followed by two days of tests. She was a real trouper. She never complained from the moment she woke up from her surgery.

Arf did his job well. He alternately comforted her and made her laugh with his antics. He also had passed the test and got to sleep in Katie’s room at night. The only time he left her was when Sam took him for short walks outside. Arf couldn’t wait until he and Katie could start training together. He was really excited about helping her learn to walk.

*****************

Steve was more than a little nervous as he made his way to Dr. Philip’s office. Both doctors would be there. He hoped he could remember all of his questions.

“Hello Steve, thank you for coming. Please have a seat ,” Dr Philip’s said. “We won’t wait for Dr. Jones to arrive. I know how anxious you must be to learn the results of Katie’s tests.”

“Please go on.” Steve hoped he was prepared for whatever he was about to hear.

“I will start by saying that Katie’s condition is a puzzle to us. I know she was just an infant when she was thought to have polio. Am I right to assume that the diagnosis has never been questioned by any other physicians?”

“Katie had the same pediatrician for years. He was the one who made the diagnosis, and no, we…I should say I, didn’t question it. That doctor recently retired and when I took Katie to the new doctor for her yearly exam, he suggested I bring her here.”

“I see.” Doctor Philips was reviewing one of Katie’s tests. “The first thing we did was check Katie’s spine and there appeared to be very little nerve damage. Also, her legs, although she most definitely cannot walk, seem to have gained some muscle strength over the years. Does she engage in some sort of physical activity that would involve her legs? Swimming for instance.”

“I have never seen Katie move her legs,” Steve answered. “We tried braces when she became old enough, but we gave up after it became apparent she wouldn’t be helped by them.”

“She seems like an otherwise determined young lady. Although I’m sure she suffered from a virus that damaged her spine to some degree, there is no physical reason that with a lot of hard work, Katie can’t learn to walk.”

Steve didn’t know how to feel about what he had just learned. Had his little girl lived in a wheelchair all of these years when she was capable of walking? He could feel the tears sting his eyes. He should have known. Afterall, he was her father.

Doctor Philips could read the expression on Jack’s face.

“Don’t blame yourself. You’re a wonderful father, Steve. It was a reasonable conclusion for a doctor to reach back then. Dr. Jones and I were convinced it was another polio like virus that caused her paralysis. The important thing now is to establish where we go from here? I would like to keep Katie and her therapy dog here for one more week.” Doctor Philips went on. “They seem to be a great team and I want Sam to have a few days to work with both of them before Katie goes home. In addition, we will see her for one week out of each month.”

The next morning, Sam and a nurse went to Katie’s room. They decided that some fun along with their training was in order.

“Come on Arf. Are you ready to rock and roll?

***I remembered the command and balanced on my back legs in front of Katie.

“Come on, Katie. Arf is asking you to dance. Take his paws and he’ll show you how it’s done. Nurse Smith, do we have some rock and roll music?”

***When the music started, Katie reached out for my paws and I danced… first pushing her arms back and forth and then carefully picking up one of her feet at a time. Lifting and lowering them five times each.

“Arf could use your help, Katie. His tongue is hanging out. We’ll have to work to even this out,” Sam said.

Katie was laughing and Arf was loving the entertainment he was helping to provide for her. He had practiced with Sam and he knew he must let Katie try to push. “Just prompt her to try,” Sam had said. And then he said the magic words. “Katie needs you.”

Steve felt like his heart was breaking. Katie’s surgery was much more involved than the doctors had anticipated. They told him, in not so many words, that he shouldn’t get his hopes up. It would be a few days before they would be able to tell if the surgery had been successful. Katie’s body needed time to heal. After talking with the doctors, and everyone in the waiting room, Steve went to Katie’s room and waited for them to bring her from recovery.

“Hi Sam, I had forgotten you and Arf would be here waiting for Katie. Listen, I need to tell you that the surgery didn’t go as planned. Everything is really up in the air right now. Please don’t discuss any of this with Katie just yet.”

***I can understand a lot of what humans say, but sometimes it’s too confusing to me. Steve and Sam seemed sad and Katie wasn’t here yet. She should be here so I can help her.

“Here they are,” Steve said as they wheeled Katie’s bed into the room. She was barely awake.

“She will be pretty groggy for a while,” the nurse said. “This might be a good time for you to grab a bite to eat.

I doubt she’ll have a need for her therapy dog, today.”

*** That lady didn’t know what she was talking about. I went over and put my paw on Katie’s hand. Her eyes were closed, but she smiled. Steve told the nurse that Katie would feel better, faster knowing I was there and Sam said I could handle this and he would be back in a couple of hours to take me outside.

Since Katie wouldn’t be allowed visitors for a while, everyone from the ranch decided to head home. I was a little worried they might take me, but guess what? I’m still here.

“There’s my girl,” Steve said as Katie woke up enough to recognize her surroundings. He was grateful for Arf. He would distract Katie from asking questions he wasn’t prepared to answer.

“Daddy, you’re here…and Arf, too! Does Arf get to sleep in my room, now, Daddy?”

“I don’t know, honey. We’ll have to see what your doctors say.” Steve could see his daughter was drifting off again.

“Daddy, I had a dream, and Mommy was in it. I don’t remember her, but I know it was Mommy. She said she loves us.”

Katie was back in dreamland before Steve had to respond.

*** I stayed with Katie most of the next few days. Sam told me I was “on duty” and I know what that means. Steve was there most of the time, too. On the fourth day, they took Katie away for a while and Sam took me for a longer excersize time.

“Maybe you’ll be able to start training with Katie next week,” Sam said. “She won’t be ready for her two weeks at home until the two of you can work together.”

************************

“Do you think it would be appropriate for us to talk with Miss Bessie today about selling the ranch to me?” Jamie and Brad were on an early morning horseback ride.

“Have you thought about who will do the chores? My hired man, Mark, has been going over each day, but I really need him here.”

“Mark can teach me how to do the chores, it can’t be that hard,” was Jamie’s answer.

Brad had to stifle a grin. We’ll see about that, he thought.

“Okay,” we’ll talk with Miss Bessie this afternoon.”

“Thanks, Brad…I sure hope she’ll sell it to me. If anyone can convince her, it’s you.”

Sam, the young man who would be working with Katie and Arf, came to get Arf the next morning for his 2nd day of training. Katie is scheduled for surgery tomorrow, and if all goes well, she and Arf will begin working together the day after her surgery. The research hospital’s doctors said Katie and Arf had a lot of work ahead of them.

“Okay Arf, today you are going to learn what your responsibilities will be when you are with Katie during the night.”

***Sam took me to Katie’s room. I knew it was her’s because it smelled like cherry blossoms. Katie always smells like cherry blossoms. I looked in the bed and Katie wasn’t there. Did she go home? Did she leave me here to fend for myself? Why would she do that? I would never be friends with anyone else or those other dogs…Never! Uh oh, Sam is talking to me.

“Are you listening to me, Arf? You must pay attention. You have a lot to learn. Let’s try the drills you learned yesterday. I want to see if you recall the signs and signals that will apply here in Katie’s room.”

Sam walked around the room and identified where everything was and then went to lie down on the bed.

“Katie is going to be in quite a bit of pain at first, but it’s important she work through it and she’s going to need your help. Okay, are you ready?”

Arf put his paw on Sam’s arm.

“That’s right. You must offer reassurance. The touch of your paw will distract her from the pain. It’s your job to comfort her and also let her know she can do it.”

“There are a lot of things you can help Katie with both here and the two weeks she spends at home. That is, if the surgery is successful. Now, let’s get back to work so we’re ready to help Katie when they bring her back to her room, tomorrow.”

***I worked harder than I ever have and I tried to remember everything. I was going to help Katie learn to walk.

**************************”

“Hello Jamie, it’s good to see you. Everyone around here has missed you,” Brad said as he watched Jamie walk up to the porch. “I’ll get your bags from the car.”

“Thanks, Brad, but don’t get them just yet. I’m not sure I’ll be staying here. Do you have a minute to talk?”

Brad did his best to hide his disappointment.

“Sure, would you like me to ask Alice to bring some coffee out?”

“No thank you, Brad. I want to run something by you before any of the others know I’m here.”

“I’m listening.” Brad was more than a little curious.

“Do you happen to know if Miss Bessie plans to move back to her farm?”

Brad was surprised at Jamie’s question, but it was a subject he had given a lot of thought to.

“Miss Bessie and Katie’s Grandma Helen have become good friends. I would like nothing better than to convince them to make their stay at the ranch permanent. As to your question, I just don’t think Miss Bessie should go back to the farm. It’s a lot for her to take care of.”

“In that case, I need your help.” Jamie had a determined look on her face. “I want you to help me convince her to sell it to me. I applied to do my internship at the veterinary clinic close to town. I just found out I’ve been accepted. I start next week.”

That was the last thing Brad expected to hear.

“We’ll approach Miss Bessie after Katie’s surgery, tomorrow,” Brad said. “We’re all going to Jamestown to be there for her. Would you like to come, too?”

“Of course.”

Jamie began to get excited about the prospect of owning her own little farm, but more than that, she wanted to be among those who would be there to support Katie.

“In that case, you’ll stay here until everything is settled. I’ll get your bags.”

It was a long drive to Jamestown but Arf and Katie didn’t care. Katie could get through anything if she had her best friend by her side. Steve told his daughter he would spend the night at a local hotel and head back to the ranch the next day. He had work to do. He would be back in two weeks to pick them up.

“Good luck princess,” Steve said. “They will be giving you tests the first week. We’ll all be praying that everything goes well. I love you.”

Katie stayed in a small room that looked like a dormitory. Inside there was a narrow hospital bed and a small chest for her clothes. Katie was grateful there was a handicap bathroom that included a shower.

“I thought my dog, Arf, was going to sleep in my room with me,”Katie said. “Where is he going to sleep?”

“Arf has to go through a little training before he can sleep in here with you. Don’t worry, he’ll be taken care of and it will only be for a couple of days.”

“But what if he gets scared and runs away? I don’t know what I would do without Arf.”

“He won’t run away…I promise,” said the attendant. “He’ll be away from you for a couple of days while you have some tests run and then you’ll have him back again.”

The next two days were really busy. The research team at the hospital ran more tests than Katie could count. She was almost too busy to miss Arf…Almost.

***I hated being away from Katie, but I figured out they must need me for something or I would still be back at the ranch. No…I would just bide my time. I could see some other dogs were there, too and my digs were pretty nice .

I hope I’m smart enough. Do you think I’m smart enough? I’ll try to understand. I will, I will.

“Hi honey, wakey, wakey…It’s Daddy. The doctors asked me to come so they could review your tests with me. I have a meeting with them in just a few minutes. When it’s over, I’ll come back and say goodbye.”

“Hello Mr. Martin,” Doctor Jones said. “Please come in an have a seat. I’m going to ask Doctor Philips to join us.”

“The first thing I must tell you is that Katie did not have polio. She had acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) a very rare but serious illness that can cause sudden polio-like symptoms such as weak muscles and paralysis.

There is no specific treatment for AFM. However, some children with AFM have benefited from physical and occupational therapy.

Here at the research hospital, we have developed a unique exercise and stretching formula that we’re hoping can help children like Katie gain the use of their legs. However, something else must be accomplished before we begin treatment.” Dr. Philips paused before going on.

“Katie hasn’t been able to use her legs for almost eight years. There is a significant amount of muscle atrophy and nerve damage. We will have to perform a surgery involving tissue transplants before we’ll know for sure if we can help her. After looking at the tests we ran and examining her, I believe she is a viable candidate…and Steve, at worst, she will suffer a huge disappointment. All surgeries involve risk, but Katie is a strong little girl and I understand she and her dog make a good team.

“When will she have the surgery?” Steve asked.

“In two days,” was the answer. “I’m sorry for such short notice.”

***The first night was bad. It reminded me of the nights I had to sleep in the moving van, only I knew that Katie was close by. The food was pretty good, although it could have used a little more gravy. I saw a river a little ways off and wondered if it had any fish in it.

On the second morning, a young man came and got me. He put me on a leash. Can you believe that? Oh well, they’ll get to know me and that won’t be an issue.

The young man didn’t take me to Katie. He took me to a big field that had all kinds of stuff in it. It looked like fun. I saw frisbees, balls, ropes, and plastic people dishes. He said the same words to me over and over. I learned really fast that he liked to blow whistles. I hate whistles so I did everything he said so he wouldn’t blow it. I had to wonder what this all had to do with me helping Katie.

Back at the ranch, Brad was sitting alone on the front porch when Jamie drove up. She and Miss Bessie had agreed that Katie needed Arf more than they did and Arf needed to help Katie.

They were all becoming a family that wanted the best for one another.

The month was over. Jamie had the summer off. Brad couldn’t wait to find out what her plans were.