OK, you might not like animals...

Carruthers · 11-07-2014, 01:57 PM

...but I defy anyone not to be moved by this story.

Quote:

Woman dies after farewell to horse at Wigan hospital

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."

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."

BBC

I sometimes think that I get on with animals better than I do with people.
They don't judge you and they don't lie to you. With animals, it's a case of what you see is what you get.
Many are extraordnarily sensitive to mood and vulnerability. I lost my old horse back in 2007.
He was, it's fair to say, a bit clumsy at times and, as with any horse, by sheer size he could do you some damage without meaning it.
However, one of the other owners at the farm had a girl of eleven or twelve years of age. She was a tiny little soul but my old horse was as gentle as a lamb with that child.
He'd touch that kid with his nose every bit as gently as the mare in the photo above touched the frail old lady.

Carruthers (Dedicated horse and dog man).

Gravdigr · 11-07-2014, 02:33 PM

DanaC · 11-07-2014, 02:43 PM

Well - that got the old tear ducts busy.

Gravdigr · 11-07-2014, 02:45 PM

Didn't it, though?

monster · 11-07-2014, 06:50 PM

I just read this story and was going to share it too. Happy that they were able to do that for her

xoxoxoBruce · 11-07-2014, 06:52 PM

They had made a movie together.

Big Sarge · 11-07-2014, 11:31 PM

Let's hope they are reunited at Fiddlers Green.

Griff · 11-08-2014, 07:45 AM

Dang... sumthin in my eye.

orthodoc · 11-08-2014, 12:53 PM

Mine too ...

11-07-2014, 02:33 PM	#2
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	__________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

11-07-2014, 02:45 PM	#4
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	Didn't it, though? __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

11-07-2014, 06:50 PM	#5
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	I just read this story and was going to share it too. Happy that they were able to do that for her __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

11-07-2014, 06:52 PM	#6
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	They had made a movie together. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

11-07-2014, 11:31 PM	#7
Big Sarge Werepandas - lurking in your shadows Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: In the Deep South Posts: 3,408	Let's hope they are reunited at Fiddlers Green. __________________ Give a man a match, & he'll be warm for 20 seconds. But toss that man a white phosphorus grenade and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.

11-08-2014, 07:45 AM	#8
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Dang... sumthin in my eye. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

11-08-2014, 12:53 PM	#9
orthodoc Not Suspicious, Merely Canadian Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 3,774	Mine too ... __________________ The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. - Ghandi

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