Nancy King
  • Home
  • About
  • Stories
    • Breaking the Silence
    • All Books
    • Monthly Stories
    • World Tales
  • Workshops
  • Weavings
  • Press
  • Contact

AUGUST 2023 - The Comfort of Wolves

8/19/2023

4 Comments

 
Picture
Maria, my old friend of many years was ill, refusing to eat. She told her caregivers that if I’d come to be with her, she’d start eating. I arrived the next day. She told me she had lived a long life and wanted to die but didn’t feel she could do so peacefully. I asked if there was anything I could do to help her feel calm in this last stage of her life.
“I’d like to see the wolves once again,” she said. I had no idea what she was talking about—I even wondered if she was hallucinating. “I know a woman who knows a woman who runs a wolf sanctuary. She’s willing to bring two wolves to visit if the director will allow it. You need to talk with her. Please. You’re a professor. You have a PhD. She’ll listen to you.” I didn’t see what having a doctorate had to do with anything but I promised I’d do what I could. “Go now,” urged Maria.

I went downstairs and knocked on the administrator’s door. She was a pleasant looking woman and greeted me warmly after I introduced myself. “You’re Maria’s friend,” she said. “She talks a lot about you.”

“Maria and I have been friends for more than forty years. We met when we were living in the same community in Delaware.” I couldn’t imagine a director agreeing to have wolves in an assisted living institution, but I promised Maria I’d ask. After a brief friendly conversation, I told her why I’d come. “Maria would like permission for a woman who runs a wolf sanctuary to bring two wolves to see Maria.” 

I expected the woman to object, to dismiss such a foolish idea out of hand. Instead, she said, “Maria’s friend called me. She told me the woman bringing the wolves would have them under control.” She hesitated, then said, “I know how much seeing them would mean to Maria.” 

I tried to make a case for the wolves visiting. “Maybe the people living here—I almost said inmates—would like to see them as well? It would give them something exciting to talk about. I’d guess most of them have never seen a live wolf up close.” 

She looked surprised. “I never thought about that. I have the woman’s contact information. I’ll call and ask. How long will you be staying?” 

“I don’t know. It depends on how she’s doing.” I didn’t tell her Maria wanted to see the wolves so she could die in peace.

Maria was asleep when I went back to her room. The caregivers said all she could talk about was seeing the wolves. None of us believed it could happen. What director of an assisted living unit would allow wolves into their building?

And yet, it happened. The director gave her approval. The residents, thrilled about seeing the wolves, agreed to wear dark clothing, no jewelry or perfume, and to stand against the walls of the entrance area as quietly and still as possible. The excitement in the building was palpable.

Two days later, I was in Maria’s room, waiting with her. The woman with the wolves, two huge white arctic wolves, entered. Maria’s face lit up. She beamed happiness. The wolves went on each side of her and put their front paws on the bed. The wolf woman said something as one of them moved close to Maria’s face, as if to lick her. The wolf backed off but Maria leaned toward it, her hand resting gently on its back. The two of them looked intensely at each other. Then Maria turned toward the other wolf and looked intensely at it. She put her arms out and the wolves rested their faces on her hands. Maria’s joy was palpable.

When the wolf woman said it was time for her to take the wolves back to the van, Maria asked permission to kiss them. The woman said, “No kissing, but you can stroke their paws gently.”

We watched the woman tell the wolves to come to her. She had them sit before she took them out. They had driven hundreds of miles to see Maria and needed to rest before the long drive back to the wolf sanctuary. 

When the wolves had gone, Maria hugged me, thanking me over and over for helping her see the wolves. “Nancy, you’re the best friend a person could have. Please tell the Angels (her name for the caregivers) that I’m going to stop eating and that you understand and approve.”

Approve wasn’t the word I would have chosen. I wanted Maria to live. She was a friend who’d seen me through many difficult situations. But, it was what she wanted. That was what had to matter most. If I could help her achieve a sense of comfort, it would help me let her go with ease in my heart. “It’s your decision, Maria. I want what you want. I’ll tell them.”

Maria died peacefully a few days later. 


How do you define healing?

Next Story
4 Comments
Marlene Simon
8/4/2023 06:07:27 pm

OMG, Nancy, this has brought tears to my eyes. You are such a wonderful friend, something I know from personal experience. But this story has so touched my heart. As you know, I have been experiencing much stress and anxiety and have been feeling so vulnerable. A friend in town who does healings with another friend of hers, provided a healing for me on Zoom today. I went to emotional places I have never been before and feel lighter and brighter and more hopeful than I have been in years. I have been resting all day. Reading your tender story of friendship and kindness has touched me to my core. Apparently I am surrounded by angels.

Reply
judith fein
8/6/2023 06:55:33 pm

this is such a magnificent story it could be a world story for future and present generations.

Reply
Shirah
8/16/2023 08:44:31 pm

Beautiful and poignant story. Thanks for sharing.

Reply
Chris Trala
8/21/2023 03:59:00 pm

Nancy, this story is a testament to friendship and life. I am friends with a 98 year old woman who is on end of life care. I am making a point to ask her tomorrow what else I can do to help her feel calm in her last stages.

I suppose for me healing is finding peace with what was, what is and what will be.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Monthly Stories

    Stories inspired by world tales to challenge and comfort.


      Subscribe to Nancy's Newsletter

    Submit

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020

    Categories

    All
    Press
    World Tale

    RSS Feed

Copyright © Nancy King 2020  |  Site Design by Angulo Marketing & Design

Contact Nancy
Home
About
Breaking the Silence
​
All Books
Monthly Stories
​
World Tales
​
Workshops
Weavings
Nancy King is a widely published author and a professor emerita at the University of Delaware, where she has taught theater, drama, playwriting, creative writing, and multidisciplinary studies with an emphasis on world literature. She has published seven previous works of nonfiction and five novels. Her new memoir, Breaking the Silence, explores the power of stories in healing from trauma and abuse. Her career has emphasized the use of her own experience in being silenced to encourage students to find their voices and to express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences with authenticity, as a way to add meaning to their lives.

    Sign Up for Updates from Nancy

Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Home
  • About
  • Stories
    • Breaking the Silence
    • All Books
    • Monthly Stories
    • World Tales
  • Workshops
  • Weavings
  • Press
  • Contact