Visiting the children’s wing at the University Medical Center took a little more persuasion. Apparently, the doctors and management were not as convinced of the merits of pet therapy as was the Veteran’s Administration, but after he made several calls, Gary finally received the necessary approval.
He drove the thirty miles up to Albuquerque from his home in Vallecito and found a parking spot in one of the large lots. He had to walk some distance to enter the wing he would visit, but the daily walks he’d been taking with Angie had done wonders to strengthen his wounded leg. He barely limped now, unless he sat in a cramped position too long or got really cold and tired.
Once inside, he headed for the nurses’ station to check in as he’d been instructed to do. The charge nurse smiled at Angi
