James Wathen, 73, is a terminally ill patient at Baptist Health Corbin in Corbin, Kentucky. His health condition could not be improved due to his poor physical condition and reduced mental capacity. The nurses were doing their best to reunite Wathen with his one-eyed Chihuahua named Bubba. Before his beloved dog Bubba visited 73-year-old James Wathen, he was in critical condition and on the verge of death.
Deanna Myers, director of the Knox Whitley Animal Shelter, wrote on Facebook that when Bubba was introduced to James, the boy began to cry. After that, Bubba began to calm James down. It helps to understand that animals are more than just pets. They are also loved ones.
After Wathen was hospitalized, the nurses followed Bubba to the Knox Valley Animal Shelter and learned that the dog had been placed in a foster home. Since being abandoned by his owner, Bubba had been showing similar signs of emotional distress. On October 11, a Saturday, Wathen and Bubba were reunited thanks to the nurses. Wathen became more cheerful and sentimental as he cuddled and played with the puppy.
When Bubba was handed over to James, he began to cry. Then Bubba began to hug James. “It helps to know that animals are not just pets, but loved ones,” said Deanna Myers, director of Knox Whitley Animal Shelter, in a Facebook post. After petting and playing with the dog, Wathen felt better.
It appears that Wathen made a full recovery during his stay at the clinic. The next day, the patient’s condition improved significantly. According to the nurses, he began to eat and sit up, although he had not done so before. Given the benefits that Bubba brings to Hayten, Baptist Health Corbin is doing everything it can to ensure that Hayten can see his pet on a regular basis.
