In 1996, I was in a bad way
I was living alone in DC
For a while,
Working in a toxic office environment
Filled with snakes wearing suits.

First time working in DC
After joining the foreign service,
Six years earlier,
Felt I was in a shark tank.

My wife was serving in the military
In San Antonio
And I felt lost
And alone

then one day
I went jogging
In the morning,
Fell down a ledge
I did not see
In the dark.

Rushed to the ER,
Needed an immediate operation
Flew down to San Antonio
On crutches.

A week later, they operated
Using experimental treatments
Shark cartridge to replace human bones.

Developed a multiple drug resistance
Staph infection
That almost killed me.

Stayed in San Antonio
Recovering for four long months
Had two more operations.

Our dog Jason,
soon became my emotional support dog
He knew what I needed
He kept me calm

Every so often,
I would have to get up
Let him do his thing
In the backyard,

Then we would take a nap
Until my wife came home
To feed us both

I talked to Jason
All-day
While surfing the net,
Reading thrillers,
and watching daytime TV
And trying to stay sane.

The smartest dog in the world
He also knew when my wife
Was driving home

He rushed out to the door
And saluted her
When she walked in the door

Jason saved my soul
and my life
that fall

Made me strong enough,
To survive six more months,
In the hospital.
In the old Walter Reed.

When I called home
I always spoke to Jason
He barked loudly,
But I knew he knew
what I was saying.

Giving me the courage
To face the next round
Of operations.

14 operations
in one year,
But I survived
And grew stronger.

All to the love
of a dog
truly man's best friend
is his dog.

I will never forget him
We gave him up
When she finally joined me,
When I got out of the hospital.