Patricia Mail

Connie Mail, my mother, entered FTJ’s Skilled Nursing at the age of 101. Evidently she talked with staff about her love of animals and missing her dogs. Connie had always had dogs and mourned not being able to have one in assisted living or skilled nursing. She was cheered when a visiting therapy dog stopped to wag “Hi” but still lamented the absence of pets in her life. The staff did what they could. Her windowsill had several dogs and a cat or two from McDonald’s Happy Meals, and Connie had a name for each of them. The fact that staff responded with care and compassion and provided what they could to fill the gap was deeply appreciated by family. Connie passed at 104, but we never forgot the Happy Meal pets she treasured.

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