A woman, who is under hospice care in Connecticut, was granted her dying wish of reuniting with her horse, Bella, this week.
Karina Courtmanche, 79, has owned the horse for 30 years — since the animal was a baby — and wanted to see her again, according to Connecticut news outlet WFSB.
“We were talking with her and she kept talking about her horse Bella, that she wanted to see Bella,” Michelle Walker, RN Case Manager for Connecticut Hospice, told the outlet.
Courtmanche doesn’t have much time left, but that didn’t stop Connecticut Hospice from coordinating with her nursing home in New Haven, Mary Wade Home, for a visit.
The horse is currently being taken care of at Bittersweet Farm in Bethany, CT, and in just a few days, the teams were able to bring Courtmanche to the brown-eyed horse.
“I’m very excited that I’m able to give her this last wish,” Walker told the outlet. “It’s important to her, so it’s important to us.”
She has owned the horse, Bella, for 30 years. WFSB
During the visit, the woman was able to feed the horse carrots and pet her. WFSBDuring the visit, Courtmanche was able to feed Bella some carrots, pet her and spend time with her.
It’s clear that the two have an amazing, sweet bond.
“As our health care sector moves away from pandemic mode, and with it the extreme focus on infection control measures, the team at Mary Wade are striving to move back to resident centered care,” David V. Hunter, President & CEO of Mary Wade told The Post in a statement. “This means focusing our care measures not only toward coordinated care, support or treatment, but respecting and valuing the individual and providing individualized emotional and physical spaces for care that are in tune with people’s changing needs.”
“In the case of Karina Courtmanche, the care team at Mary Wade exemplified this philosophy by understanding the perspective of the person and going above and beyond to ensure this special experience of being with her horse, Bella, one last time,” the message continued.
“Isn’t it nice to be able to see your horse again?” Walker asked Courtmanche during the visit.
“Yeah,” she replied.
Medical personnel brought the her to the farm via an ambulance and a stretcher.
Walker said that Courtmanche is a “lovely lady” who enjoys getting dressed up.
“We were talking with her and she kept talking about her horse Bella, that she wanted to see Bella,” Michelle Walker, RN Case Manager for Connecticut Hospice, told WFSB. WFSB
The horse is currently being kept at Bittersweet Farm in Bethany, CT. WFSB“Her condition has declined where her body is just failing her,” Walker told WFSB. “She’s a lovely lady, she loves to be dressed up to the nines, she loves having the jewelry on, makeup done.”
The Post reached out to Mary Wade Home and Connecticut Hospice for comment.
When Courtmanche passes, Bella will continue stay at Bittersweet Farm, according to the outlet.
In the past, others have also turned to animals to help them through moments in life.
In April, Amee Tomkin, 33, had her dog Belle, a 2-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier, escot her to appointments throughout her pregnancy.
The dog even waited for her in the hospital when she gave birth to her son.
And, in the UK, two women, Emma Redman, 37, and Pippa Ashton, 46 launched an emotional support group last year that uses a flock of seven sheep to help comfort those in need.
“We offer a safe space, if they want to talk to us then they can but maybe they just want to play and giggle and laugh and run around with the sheep,” Emma Redman explained to SWNS.
