Touching moment: Very special last goodbye

[Palinurus]

Source: _http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2014/03/the_moment_a_giraffe_says_good.php

The moment a giraffe 'says goodbye' to a dying zoo worker

Friday 21 March 2014

The touching moment was captured on film. Photo: Stichting Ambulancewens

A 54-year-old zoo worker suffering from terminal cancer was 'kissed' by a giraffe while on a visit to say goodbye to the animals whose pens he cleaned.

Mario was wheeled around the Blijdorp zoo in Rotterdam in his hospital bed thanks to the charity Ambulance Wish Foundation. While visiting the giraffes, one approached Mario and appeared to nuzzle him.

‘It was a very special moment. You saw him smile,’ the foundation’s director Kees Veldboer told the AD. ‘It was special that the animals knew him and could sense all was not well with him.’

Mario, who had learning difficulties, had worked at the zoo for most of his adult life.

© DutchNews.nl

Translation of the accompanying text at the link:

The kiss of the giraffe

On Wednesday 19 March Frans and I departed towards a nursing home to collect the namesake of our mascot Mario. Mario has worked in Rotterdam Zoo for almost 25 years, where he was a cleaner and a factotum. During the tour around the zoo we heard from his colleagues that he always was at hand. They only had to call and he would readily be available.

In addition to his mental disability Mario now also has a brain tumor. His last wish was to go to Blijdorp Zoo one last time on his birthday in April, accompanied by his sister-in-law and her two daughters. However, in view of his rapidly deteriorating state of health April seemed a very far away goal, so his wish was honored on 19 March instead. One last visit to his colleagues to say hi and one lap down around his favorite animals...

Because of his illness Mario is largely paralyzed and his speech went very slowly. His face spoke volumes, though. Not a single emotion was strange or rare this day. Colleagues were happy for Mario that he was able to make a visit one last time to "his" park but many also had a lump in their throat or sometimes the emotions ran too high. Mario was just like a pop star: many colleagues wanted to be taken on photo with him.

The Sun was shining and shy animals came up and about (something very special, according to guide Corrie who walked with us). Mario wanted to pass through the Oceanium where for years he has cleaned up, go also along his favorite elephant and of course have a look at gorilla Bokito, then visit the giraffes where he went looking almost every day, and finally go to the white-handed gibbon Nico.

At the giraffes' place we went "backstage", the indoor location was open and soon the giraffes came on to have a look at Mario. One of the giraffes served Mario after much snooping a lick on his nose. A last greeting to each other ... while all the bystanders got goosebumps for it. Exhausted, but full of beautiful memories we brought Mario back to his nursing home.

Blijdorp, many thanks! Thanks to the commitment of your employees (Mario's colleagues) this turned out as an unforgettable day!

Olaf

 

[Vic]

Beautiful and heartwarming. But not surprising. Thanks for posting, Palinurus.

 

[Tracy Anne]

Thanks for posting this Palinurus.....very moving.

I recently witnessed similar with a dog who visted a client of mine regularly. I am a Carer and my client was in her final week of life not able to move much and in bed. The dog jumped onto her bed.....and crept VERY slowly to her side and licked her hand for quite some time. The dog remained perfectly still for over an hour, which was amazing as he was always very active and never sitting still (Cocker Spaniel Poodle Cross)

 

[loreta]

Thank you Palinurus for this very beautiful and sad story and also to you French Marigold. Contrary to humans, animals are not afraid of death and it would be a good idea to have dogs and cats in hospitals where people are on terminal... I am sure that animals can help this so difficult transition, calming and reassuring the dying person.

 

[SeekinTruth]

That was very touching and emotional. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Lindenlea]

A very beautiful emotional moment. Thank you.

 

[Laura M. C.]

Beautiful.

 

[Ares]

Thanks for sharing. One can almost feel the emotional connection :)

 

[Gawan]

Thank you for sharing. And it was great that people made it possible for the zoo worker to visit one more time the zoo.

 

[Arwenn]

Thank you for sharing Palinrus, that was really touching and beautiful.

 

[l apprenti de forgeron]

Thank you for sharing. And it was great that people made it possible for the zoo worker to visit one more time the zoo.

I second that. Very touching. Thanks for sharing, Palinurus.

 

[Palinurus]

Found a similar story: _http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-29951094

Woman dies after farewell to horse at Wigan hospital

7 November 2014 Last updated at 17:27 GMT

Sheila Marsh was granted her final wish of seeing her favourite horse Bronwen just before her death

A cancer patient has died after a final farewell to her favourite horse outside the hospital where she was treated.

Staff at Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan granted Sheila Marsh's last wish, by arranging a visit from two of her horses on Monday afternoon.

The hospital said the 77-year-old, unable to speak properly due to illness, "gently called" her favourite horse, who then nuzzled her cheek.

Mrs Marsh, who used to work at Haydock Park Racecourse, died early on Tuesday.

The grandmother from Wigan had six horses, three dogs, three cats and other animals.

But after a farewell visit from one of her dogs last weekend, she told hospital staff of her wish to see her favourite horse Bronwen, who she had looked after for the previous 25 years.

They arranged for Bronwen and another horse to come to the hospital car park, where nurses wheeled Mrs Marsh in her bed.

Infirmary nurse Gail Taylor said: "The horse, Bronwen, walked steadily towards Sheila.

"Sheila gently called to Bronwen and the horse bent down tenderly and kissed her on the cheek as they said their last goodbyes."

Hospital staff and relatives shed tears as Mrs Marsh said farewell to her horses

Mrs Marsh's daughter Tina said: "It was very important for my mum. She was one of the most hard-working people that you could meet and she would do anything for anyone."

Pauline Law, deputy director of nursing, said staff felt privileged to have been involved.

"This was obviously extremely important to [Mrs Marsh] and her family and we feel privileged to have been able to provide this support at this crucial stage of her care," she said.

"It is absolutely right that we should pull out all the stops to ensure that our patients and their families receive personalised, compassionate and dignified care at the end of their life and this is what we will always strive to achieve."

Similar stories here:

_http://www.aol.co.uk/article/2014/11/08/cancer-patients-farewell-to-horse/20990710/
_http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/11/08/cancer-patient-horse-picture_n_6125636.html
_http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/11217366/Horse-brought-to-hospital-to-say-goodbye-to-its-dying-owner.html
_http://home.bt.com/news/uk-news/cancer-patients-farewell-to-horse-11363942676658
_http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/532840/Cancer-sufferer-heartbreaking-emotional-horse-goodbye-Sheila-Marsh-dying-wish

 

[Gwenllian]

That was beautiful, Palinurus, it brought tears to my eyes.
I agree with Loreta, animals should be allowed in hospitals to take care of the sick and dying. Their presence must be very uplifting and comforting for those people that love animals.

 

[Voyageur]

That was beautiful, Palinurus, it brought tears to my eyes.
I agree with Loreta, animals should be allowed in hospitals to take care of the sick and dying. Their presence must be very uplifting and comforting for those people that love animals.

Yes, a very heartwarming story. The connection some people have with animals is amazing and I'm glad these people had their wishes realized.

 

[supriyanoel]

As I sit here with my Lacey, who is 18 and going to cross the rainbow bridge at 1:00 this afternoon, I am beyond touched. These stories are so loving and profound I haven't stopped weeping for gratitude of life itself. You are kind P, to post this as it brings such hope to us as a race when people like you share the love of others as you have. I just had to look at the pictures themselves and the body language on the patients and feel the range of emotions they must have gone through. The love of others to arrange such events is just incredibly loving and makes me feel so less alone in my decision to let my loving and honorable pet go. Lacey too has assisted the dying in such a way that the nursing home my mother was in thought she was a service dog. She went systematically one room at a time, and sat with the elderly and sick for a few moments each, and it made all the difference.
Loreta is right. This is one of the aspects lacking in most facilities and maybe the most important. As I cry and speak to Lacey during her last hours I speak of all the things I am grateful for and she is listening intently like never before. They know and hear, as I am witnessing right now. Thank you for these most special stories at a time most needed.