A story from Carol Misrack about Fletcher posted 07/07/2010 Dear John, I just finished reading your book "the long way home". Believe me it is my story as well. Almost every word in the book reminded me of my years growing up catholic. If we ever had a problem in our life, we all knelt around the dining room table and said the rosery. Like you, I still feel spiritually I am still catholic but I am (as you said in the book) an absent Catholic. My parents were married 64 years when my father died. My mother was almost verbatum like your Mother. She still knew all of us and could have a conversation, but five minutes later all was forgotten. After dad's death we moved Mom to an assisted living facility near my sisters home. The staff there saw that mom was depressed and suggested that Mom get a dog. I almost died with the suggestion, but when I came back to see mom, Fletcher, the big chocolate lab., sat in the chair right next to mom's chair. Fletcher was her constant companion. Mom would go out in her scooter and good old Fletcher ran right beside her. Fletcher slept at the foot of mom's bed to keep her feet warm. Honestly, I think he sensed her every need. One night mom fell on her way to the bathroom and fletcher ran to the station and would not stop barking until someone came to help mom. In June of 2000, mom was diagnosed with lung cancer. It was quite advanced and mom had little time to live. All five of her children took turns sitting by her bedside and caring for her. There we were the kids and faithful Fletcher. He never left her side in the three weeks of her illness. He only barked if the Dr. came in and tried to examine mom. One morning I was there and mom was not looking well. All of a sudden Fletcher lept to his feet and was barking and running around in circles. Not being a person schooled in dog behavior I thought he had to go to the bathroom really bad. I asked my neice to take him out. Fletcher came running back into the room just as mom was drawing her last breath. Fletcher jumped up on mom's bed and sat there and cried. It was the most unbelievable sight I ever saw. Fletcher stayed with mom at the funeral home and walked in front of her casket at the church. He sat at her side during the whole mass and all the procedures. After mom was buried next to dad, we took Fletcher back to the facility. Fletcher sat in front of mom's room for two weeks wimpering. Finally, they made the decision to send Fletcher to a puppy farm so he could recover. Fletcher remained at the facility for several years , but he is always in our hearts. Read More Stories > Begin Sharing Your Story >