It’s so rare that a person gets their last wish granted, but for once it did, as we saw this dying man reunite with his dog. This was done thanks to the efforts of the staff of Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.
The reason the feat was so challenging is that animals are generally not allowed into hospitals. This is so in order to prevent the spread of infections.
Yet, in this case, an exception was made. When the family of Peter Robson told the staff of the hospital that the dying 70-year-old man wanted to see his dog – Shep – for the last time.
Shep, who is a Border collie, became a part of Robson’s family 8 years ago and provided him with comfort and companionship after Mr. Robson’s wife passed away.
Ashley Stevens, the granddaughter of Mr. Robson, said hospital staff had “made a dying man very happy.”
Mere hours after Shem and Peter Robson were briefly reunited, the old man passed away in the hospital.
In a Facebook post, Ms. Stevens wrote: “Absolutely amazed and touched. Our grandad’s last and final wish was to see his dog one more time.
“Still in shock that the wish was granted and they went above and beyond and made a dying man very happy.”
Ms. Stevens also added that: “Cheryl White, charge nurse of Ward 3, you are an absolute angel and we are all eternally grateful.
“You don’t know what this meant to our grandad. Thank you NHS.
“Everyone needs to know what amazing nurses and staff they have in that hospital.”
Ms Stevens later also told BBC Scotland: “He really thought he would never see Shep again. It was an amazing moment to see the two of them together, and Shep was so excited to see him”.
Ward 3’s senior charge nurse Fiona McCallum said: “The team worked with colleagues in infection control to make this possible, and I can’t thank all of them enough for going above and beyond to bring some comfort to Mr Robson and his family.”
The NHS Tayside chief executive Lesley McLay added: “Our thoughts are with Mr Robson’s family as they deal with their loss at this difficult time.
“The ward 3 team has done a wonderful thing. It is often the little things that mean the most to patients and their families and I’m so pleased that the staff were able to grant this wish.”
