The pain in my stomach began as a dull cramp that Sunday afternoon. Maybe it was something I had eaten or perhaps the fact that I hadn’t eaten any lunch but instead powered through my errands. But whatever it was, the pain was increasing and the last one had me bent over in an effort to relieve the increasing pain. My daughter was in her room downstairs and my husband had gone to our room to take a nap. I was alone, except for George who insisted on following me from room to room, acting as my shadow as I attempted to relieve the growing pain in my stomach.
I was on the floor on all fours in an awkward position trying to find relief for the pain that was no longer subsiding. As I picked my head up and looked straight ahead, George was looking me in the eye, his dark eyes filled with concern. I paced down the hallway and back with my mind racing, wondering if this pain was severe enough to justify a trip to Urgent Care on a Sunday evening and I found myself irritated by the fact that George was in my way and I kept tripping over him.
I went into the bedroom to lie down, hoping that by laying down on my side some of the pain would subside. As I lay down on my side, George immediately jumped up and lay down beside me dropping his muscular body on my stomach, which increased the pain and I moaned and told him to get off the bed. After less than a minute, the pain increased significantly and I got out of bed in a panicked attempt to again find some way to stop the pain.
My sporadic activity didn’t deter George at all; he immediately jumped up and followed me down the hall in my next attempt to relieve the pain. Back in the living room, I bent over again at the waist, then squatting and doing a few deep breaths. I got back down on all fours in another awkward attempt to find relief and then walked to the kitchen and drank a glass of water. Nothing was helping and I began to cry. I hadn’t felt this kind of pain since childbirth but even then the pain would at least subside between contractions. I didn’t know what to do and I looked at George and asked him what I should do. He looked at me with love and compassion but he had no answers.
I went into our bedroom to wake up my husband and tell him to bring me to the hospital – but I hesitated once again, refusing to believe there was anything so wrong with me that would need emergency care. I turned to walk away from the bed and there again was George, his big dark eyes filled with concern and his intense face so focused on me.
But even then his concern, compassion, and love weren’t clear to me. He just seemed to be clinging to me and in my pain, his intensity was annoying me as I attempted to deny the severity of the pain.
After two hours of this increasing pain, pacing and putting myself in distorted positions – it was clear what I needed to do, so I finally woke up my husband and said, “I need to go to the hospital!”
He got up and our daughter came up from her room downstairs and I finally felt better as my family surrounded me. As I sat down on the step to enjoy a fleeting moment of relief from the pain, George came over to me and put his face close to mine. It was then that I finally realized that this little guy had forgone his nap with Dad, one of his favorite things, just to stay next to my side in a show of support and love. He was family and he had been surrounding me for the past two hours. He didn’t do this to gain points, or because it was his job, or as a way to suck up, he did this because of his unconditional love for me, his loyalty to me as a member of his family, and just because that is who he is. He cares, he loves and he is devoted to his family.
I’m sorry I didn’t recognize this love and loyalty from George right away. In retrospect, I see it clearly and also realize the value of it and how blessed I am to have this from him. This soul whose life started with such negativity, fear, and pain at the hands of human beings, found a way to look past his past and exhibit sincere love, concern, and encouragement to another human being who was feeling fear and pain.
This muscle-bound pit bull who had been viewed as evil by some and treated as a prizefighter with little value by others was treating me as a precious being who deserved his love and protection. I am amazed by his innate ability to forgive, love, and encourage. I am blown away by his unconditional compassion and tenderness. This little guy, who scared some, infuriated others and was viewed as disposable by others, loved me, cared about me, and thought of nothing other than me as I struggled through my pain for two hours that afternoon.
George is an amazing soul. He has taught me about patience, compassion, and loyalty. He is a gift, a lesson, an inspiration, a pit bull, and a friend. I am humbled by his presence in my life and I now know that I am a better human being for having this loving pit bull in my life.
I did go to the hospital that night and ended up there for three days. When I came home that Wednesday afternoon, George was waiting for me. He was humble, concerned, and patient with me as I continued to push him away from my stomach.
I am only human, George; selfish, self-preserving, and impatient. Please forgive me as I struggle to become the kind of inspiration to others as you are to me.