When registered nurse Jennifer Smith walked into work the Monday after Thanksgiving, she received a call from one of her favorite patients John Burley, and he was distraught.
Smith told CNN, "" came into work the Monday after Thanksgiving to the phone ringing at 7 a.m. John was calling from his hospital room saying, 'Boomer is in the pound!' Boomer is in the pound!' Boomer is John's world."
John had a simple request of Smith: Would she be able to retrieve, and look after, his beloved dog? Of course, she jumped at the chance.
Worried that another family would adopt Boomer before she had a a chance to get him, Smith took an early lunch the next day and immediately headed to the shelter, where the 18-pound Boomer was in a cage in the back. She said, "OK, where are the adoption papers? I'm going to take him home."
Since then, Smith has housed Boomer until John, who is currently residing at the Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Rome, New York due to a bout of pneumonia, is able to return to his apartment.
Smith is able to bring Boomer to work with her, and take him to see John several times a day. . "It helps John with the healing process and gives him peace of mind," she said.
The other residents love Boomer, too. Smith says that Burley is proud to show off Boomer as he rides on his lap in the wheelchair.
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