One of Mitzi’s most incredible gifts is her ability to love people—even strangers—in such an unconditional way that it will literally bring tears to my eyes to watch.
A little over a year ago, our amazing friend (and fellow Dream Team member) was asked if she would be willing to bring her pet therapy dog, Hope, to a local Memory Care home. Melissa knew how gifted Mitzi is with people and asked her if she would want to go along. We checked and double checked to make sure Mitzi didn’t feel like it would be too hard on her. On the contrary, she was thrilled to go. She said it made her SO grateful.
Mitzi has told me before, with her tremendously empathetic insight, that it is important to her to hug the residents and hold their hands because she knows they don’t get enough physical touch. Since their verbal communication can be so difficult for them, physical touch is an easier form of communication. For her to instinctively know that is such a window into who she is.
It takes an incredible heart to “get” people the way Mitzi does. And to be able to do the kind of Mitzi Ministry she does with people who have dementia while having Alzheimer’s herself is truly courageous. I’ve always said that when you can own your story, your story no longer owns you…
