Shelter cats bring a smile to a lifelong animal lover.
Miss B had loved animals her whole life, especially cats, but when she moved into a nursing home, she had to give her cats away. It was one of the hardest choices she ever had to make and she often wished she could play with cats one more time.
One day in November, Miss B got her wish when our chaplain, social worker, and nurse were able to transport her via ambulance to Kawaii Kitty Café in Queen Village, which is half restaurant and half cat shelter/adoption agency.
When she was wheeled into the kitty room her face lit up at the sight of a dozen cats! Some played around her wheelchair while others, led by a sweet gray called Pizza Roll (aka Princess Pizza), jumped up on her lap so she could pet them!
The sight of her joy and being part of making her wish come true made me, and my colleagues a little teary! The Kawaii staff were also deeply touched, posting this message on their Facebook page (thank you all so much!) —
“The kitties of the Kawaii Kitty Cafe had a very special guest today — A lovely lady who is on hospice and her dying wish was to be surrounded by cats ?? All her life she donated to @acctphilly and @phillypaws and fostered dogs and cats in need. The kitties could sense her loving heart because Pizza Roll jumped right up on her lap and made herself at home. ?
We hope our little fur babies brought you some joy and happiness!“
Many of us are animal lovers. We have them in our homes sharing our lives. We feed them and take care of them, and they are our companions. We understood Miss B’s pain when she had to give away her cats.
And that’s why it was so incredibly heartwarming to see these little former strays perform their acts of kindness for a little lady who just wanted to be with them.
Miss B passed a week later, her final wish fulfilled.
About Maureen
Maureen is the Senior VP for Development for the VNA Hospice of Philadelphia; the only nonprofit, freestanding hospice unit in the Philadelphia Metro area.
Started over 125 years ago in Philly, the VNA was a pioneer in public-health nursing, and their”multi-disciplinary” approach to healthcare continues today.
A dedicated team of healthcare pros, including nurses, chaplains, social workers, home health aides, and therapists (including therapy dogs!)—provide home health and hospice care to all, regardless of ability to pay.
Get Involved! Volunteering at VNA Hospice of Philadelphia takes as little as 1-2 hours once per week but makes such a difference to the patients and their families. Opportunities include office support, Inpatient Unit visits, home visits, and special events. Call 215-581-2360 with questions or to start the application process (includes Background Check, Child Abuse History Clearance, TB testing, and comprehensive training which VNA pays for.)
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