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Nurses Break The Rules And Allow A Dying Man To See His Beloved Dog Before He Passed Away

March 31, 2018

Nurses at a hospital in Dundee, Scotland, granted a dying man's wish to say goodbye to his dog just hours before he passed away.

Credit: Ashley Stevens

Peter Robson had the chance to see his beloved border collie, Shep, at Ninewells Hospital after nurses granted special permission to do so. Shep, bought as a puppy eight years ago, had provided companionship and comfort for the 70-year-old grandfather after the death of his wife.

Robson passed away shortly after the visit.

His granddaughter, Ashley Stevens, paid tribute to NHS Tayside charge nurse Cheryl White who sorted out the visit.

"Absolutely amazed and touched today from NHS Ninewells hospital, our grandad's last and final wish was to see his dog one more time," Stevens wrote on Facebook. "Still in shock that the wish was granted and they went above and beyond today and made a dying man very happy.

Cheryl White charge nurse of Ward 3 you are an absolute angel and we are all eternally grateful, you don't know what this meant to our grandad. I'll let these moments do the talking, thank you NHS.

Please share this everyone needs to know what amazing nurses and staff they have in that hospital."

Fiona McCallum, a senior charge nurse on Ward 3, said, "I am so proud of Cheryl and the rest of the team for this caring and compassionate act. The team worked with colleagues in infection control to make this possible and I can't thank them all enough for going above and beyond to bring some comfort to Mr Robson and his family."

NHS Tayside chief executive Lesley McLay added, "Our thoughts are with Mr Robson's family as they deal with their loss at this difficult time. The ward 3 team has done a wonderful thing. It is often the little things that mean the most to patients and their families and I'm so pleased that the staff were able to grant this wish.”

Stevens wrote a follow-up post on Facebook this morning after her photos went viral.

"I just want to take a wee minute to thank everyone, from all over who have taken the time to watch and share our last precious memory with our grandad and his best pal. My grandad would be chuffed to bits that the nurses that cared for him before he passed, during and after are all getting the recognition they deserve. All he did was spoke of how much they done for him and everyone around him with little and minimal breaks and of course going above and beyond! He was a very special man who deserved all of this also, he will be up there smiling from ear to ear that big pete from beechie has gone viral with his dog😂😂😂"