Within my outreach program, Reaching For Joy (www.reachingforjoy.com), I also volunteer at the local zoo, taking zoo animals (or as we call them, "critters") to the Childrens Hospital, and to local nursing homes.

Just a couple of days ago, I visited the local Childrens Hospital after receiving a call that there was a young child who was very ill in the Intensive Care Unit (I.C.U.). So, as we've done many times before, we packed up Delilah (the zoo's Chinchilla) and proceeded to the little boy's room. We entered the room, and despite tubes running in an out of him everywhere, the little boy was awake. He had just come out of a major operation, and was very, very weak. In fact, he was so weak, he couldn't even reach up to pet Delilah.

The boy lied there looking up at us, barely able to move, and we decided to put a couple of towels on his body as a prop and then place Delilah on his belly, where he could feel her. This seemed to really please the boy, and as the little boy was stroking Delilah's really soft fur, she reached out and stretched really far, seeming to enjoy herself as well. At that moment, she then proceeded to "poop" all over the little boys belly and bed.

Everybody just looked at each other, and then all at once, the boy started laughing very loud. He then turned to his mother and said, "I think she likes me, she gave me a GIFT." As the little boy's mother looked at us with tears of joy, she said to us, "do you realize that is the first time my son has smiled since he's been in the hospital, and he has been here for two weeks." With that said, we all realized the real GIFT that Delilah had left behind.

It is amazing how different acts can so profoundly affect people is different ways. Animals cease to amaze me with their ability to elicit a smile, laugh, or at minimum, warm a cold heart. I told the little boy's mother, that if you look under Delilahs fur coat, she probably would find a pair of angel wings. Ah! The power of a critter!