8/15/03
| My Best Friend Jim A Sweet Inspiring Story of the Blind Leading the Blind, as told by Braille |
2/04 - Pictorial Iris Network
Last March, I some how got involved with a student research project at the university. Must of
been my Mom's doing. The project lasted a little over a month. I helped by making weekly visits
to a residential program to do therapy dog work. For me, I saw it as another playtime
opportunity with people who wanted to play ball with me. After this was over, I agreed to making
monthly visits on the first Wednesday of the month to do just that, play ball. You'll see that this
has many benefits for all people.
They could count on me to bring them a playful time, with lots of laughter, as they challenged me
to their wild throws. For some, it took them back to their own youthful days and others to
express their once fears of dogs. They soon came to realize that I would respect their space like
my own. Why there were so many people all lined up sitting and waiting for my arrival. To speak
of, I had the floor!
At first, they were very inquisitive about my own abilities to get on with the world. They found it
hard to believe with their own experiences and limitations, how just anyone would want to give up
on me. But when I started to show them all my talents and skills, it sort of left their own heads
and minds spinning - what was stopping them from doing. Many said, how can this possibly be,
Braille, you are a blind dog but not in faith or hope.
The message to them was easy and simple. We all have gifts, talents and strengths and we must
stay focused with what we can do good well and not on what we can't do. Everyone has something
good about them, just waiting to be tapped into. This resource is valuable to someone else and it
is meant to be shared as a gift.
While visiting each month, I met an older man named Jim. Of all, Jim was really special to me. I
was fond of his soft, kind voice and he knew where to give me the right pats on my neck.
Jim had lived most of his life in this institution. He usually spent a lot of time by himself, except
for mealtimes or when the need was to do other essential activities.
Over the course of these developing friendships, Jim was able to tell everyone there exactly
when it would be that I would come again and visit. The countdown was to the day and almost
hour. I knew how important my visits were for him, along with everyone else who would be
eagerly waiting the hour of my arrivial.
On my last visit, I was some what surprised not to find Jim amongst them. My Mom could not
help but to ask where he was. We were told he'd be coming shortly from a doctor's appointment.
Not wanting to hold up the others who had come to play ball with me, we started without him. As
we played, everyone was happy to share what they had been doing over the summer months -
adventures, trips, summer camp programs and baseball games. These visits were more then just
playing ball with me. It was about friendship and having friends coming to visit and making the
time to be a part of someones life.
Suddenly the room grew quite. Standing in the doorway was Jim, who had been taking in the
familiar sounds of the room. I really didn't know this, but my Mom did.
Seeing Jim, she said to him, we've been waiting for you to come visit and play with us. Jim
shuffled his feet across the floor towards us. A chair was being saved just for him to join us. Jim
sat in the chair, waiting to join in the play.
With my ball in my mouth, I stood in front of Jim, as if to know that he was there ready to start
playing. Jim reached down with his hands as he spoke to me in his soft kind voice. I knew it was
him! My tail started to wag as he called out my name. Reaching further out with his hands, I
dropped my ball on the floor. I then gently kissed Jim's hands, as my way of welcoming him. I
knew who he was just like he knew who I was. My Mom stood and watched as the biggest smile
spread across Jim's face from ear to ear. Jim then whispered to me and said, I knew you'd be
waiting here for me today, my friend.
I played with everyone for another half hour and then it was time for me to go. My Mom said to
everyone, we'd be back in October. Jim looked up and said to my Mom, that would be
Wednesday, October 1.
You can be sure that Jim will be counting the days and hours until Braille, his best friend returns
to visit again. Beauty isn't limited to sight and can be felt by the heart of those who give.
What makes this story so unique and heartwarming is that all of these friends are blind just like
Braille. And to think a dog could possibly bring them out of their rooms each month for a
special playtime with her, is making all the difference in the world for people like Jim and the
others. Truly this is the blind leading the blind.
been my Mom's doing. The project lasted a little over a month. I helped by making weekly visits
to a residential program to do therapy dog work. For me, I saw it as another playtime
opportunity with people who wanted to play ball with me. After this was over, I agreed to making
monthly visits on the first Wednesday of the month to do just that, play ball. You'll see that this
has many benefits for all people.
They could count on me to bring them a playful time, with lots of laughter, as they challenged me
to their wild throws. For some, it took them back to their own youthful days and others to
express their once fears of dogs. They soon came to realize that I would respect their space like
my own. Why there were so many people all lined up sitting and waiting for my arrival. To speak
of, I had the floor!
At first, they were very inquisitive about my own abilities to get on with the world. They found it
hard to believe with their own experiences and limitations, how just anyone would want to give up
on me. But when I started to show them all my talents and skills, it sort of left their own heads
and minds spinning - what was stopping them from doing. Many said, how can this possibly be,
Braille, you are a blind dog but not in faith or hope.
The message to them was easy and simple. We all have gifts, talents and strengths and we must
stay focused with what we can do good well and not on what we can't do. Everyone has something
good about them, just waiting to be tapped into. This resource is valuable to someone else and it
is meant to be shared as a gift.
While visiting each month, I met an older man named Jim. Of all, Jim was really special to me. I
was fond of his soft, kind voice and he knew where to give me the right pats on my neck.
Jim had lived most of his life in this institution. He usually spent a lot of time by himself, except
for mealtimes or when the need was to do other essential activities.
Over the course of these developing friendships, Jim was able to tell everyone there exactly
when it would be that I would come again and visit. The countdown was to the day and almost
hour. I knew how important my visits were for him, along with everyone else who would be
eagerly waiting the hour of my arrivial.
On my last visit, I was some what surprised not to find Jim amongst them. My Mom could not
help but to ask where he was. We were told he'd be coming shortly from a doctor's appointment.
Not wanting to hold up the others who had come to play ball with me, we started without him. As
we played, everyone was happy to share what they had been doing over the summer months -
adventures, trips, summer camp programs and baseball games. These visits were more then just
playing ball with me. It was about friendship and having friends coming to visit and making the
time to be a part of someones life.
Suddenly the room grew quite. Standing in the doorway was Jim, who had been taking in the
familiar sounds of the room. I really didn't know this, but my Mom did.
Seeing Jim, she said to him, we've been waiting for you to come visit and play with us. Jim
shuffled his feet across the floor towards us. A chair was being saved just for him to join us. Jim
sat in the chair, waiting to join in the play.
With my ball in my mouth, I stood in front of Jim, as if to know that he was there ready to start
playing. Jim reached down with his hands as he spoke to me in his soft kind voice. I knew it was
him! My tail started to wag as he called out my name. Reaching further out with his hands, I
dropped my ball on the floor. I then gently kissed Jim's hands, as my way of welcoming him. I
knew who he was just like he knew who I was. My Mom stood and watched as the biggest smile
spread across Jim's face from ear to ear. Jim then whispered to me and said, I knew you'd be
waiting here for me today, my friend.
I played with everyone for another half hour and then it was time for me to go. My Mom said to
everyone, we'd be back in October. Jim looked up and said to my Mom, that would be
Wednesday, October 1.
You can be sure that Jim will be counting the days and hours until Braille, his best friend returns
to visit again. Beauty isn't limited to sight and can be felt by the heart of those who give.
What makes this story so unique and heartwarming is that all of these friends are blind just like
Braille. And to think a dog could possibly bring them out of their rooms each month for a
special playtime with her, is making all the difference in the world for people like Jim and the
others. Truly this is the blind leading the blind.
