DeAnn & Lyra: A VA Veteran Experience

I had an experience yesterday which ‘made my day’…and brought more  smiles to the staff as well. We have been interacting with a veteran for several months, but he never wanted to pet Lyra. He was always busy and organizing and not interested in seeing her. We would always chat with Lyra sitting beside me.

Yesterday, I thought it would be the same. I asked him if he would like to pet Lyra and he hesitated and then said, “I guess so.” Once he started, he was beaming…and didn’t stop petting her, following us around for more pets.

While some of our ’rewards’ are small, we just don’t always know if we make a difference in their lives. It might have been a change in his medications, improvement in his medical condition or who knows what, but at this time, for this veteran, our visits seem to have made a difference.