I had been visiting the hospital with my therapy dog, Riley, for a while, bringing joy to patients. One day, we entered a quiet room with Mr. Callahan, an elderly man who hadn’t spoken in months.

I encouraged Riley to jump onto his bed, and after a moment, Mr. Callahan muttered, “Good boy,” followed by the name “Marigold.” He shared that Marigolds were his late wife Eleanor’s favorite flowers, and she used to bring them to him.

As Mr. Callahan opened up about his life with Eleanor, he revealed that she passed away two years ago, and since then, he had lost the will to care about anything. But Riley’s presence seemed to bring him back to life. He even asked to go outside, where he saw marigolds planted in the garden.

Tears filled his eyes as he touched the flowers, reminding him of his love for Eleanor. It wasn’t just about speaking again; it was about healing, connection, and love transcending even death. Riley’s visit helped him rediscover memories he had locked away.