Kiss...and ride to the sunset

• NeverSayGoodBye

  5 Jun 16, 18:21

  (USA) A terminally ill veteran had a special request as he lay in his hospital bed Saturday.

  Roberto Gonzalez told his family there were two friends in particular that he longed to see one last time - his beloved horses.

  Gonzalez was paralyzed after he was shot two months into serving in Vietnam, on May 21 1970 and later worked as a horse trainer

  

  

  The Texas resident was one of San Antonio VA Hospital's first patients when it opened in 1974, according to a Facebook post by South Texas Veterans Health Care System. 

  Despite his life-changing injury, Gonzalez worked for most of his life as a horse trainer in his hometown of Premont, Texas, and dearly loved the animals he spent time with.

  His family were happy to oblige and brought the animals 150 miles to be by his bedside.  

  Heartbreaking photos show Gonzalez, who is bedridden, wheeled outside to greet the pair of horses named Ringo and Sugar, Saturday.

  The horses immediately recognized him and are seen nuzzling him gently, as he reached out to stroke them. 

  A spinal injury patient, Gonzalez has been hospitalized over the last ten months battling a series of infections, but this touching moment was one that lifted his spirits, as well as family's.

  His wife Rosario told KPNX: 'Horses are his life. We've been training and raising horses for over 30, 40 years.'

  

  

  

  Wife Rosario Gonzalez (second from left) said that while the stay has been hard on him and the family, Saturday's visit is one that she'll never forget

  
  

  She added that her husband was one of the only handicapped or paralyzed licensed horse trainers in Texas.

  But, she said, Gonzalez never let his injuries slow him down.

  She told KSAT: 'He loved horses, he loved cattle, he loved ranching and farming. He was proud to serve his country.'

  The devoted wife said that even though he is unable to speak she could see the emotion on her husband's face when he saw the horses.

  The moment the horses came up to him, he opened his eyes, she said, and were 'kissing him' on the face.  

  She added that while the stay has been hard on him and the family, Saturday's visit is one that she'll never forget.

  She said: '[The doctors] are not very optimistic. But we never give up hope. We have faith, so we put everything in God's hands.' 

  
  
  

  
  
  
• Ninawilliam89

  4 Jul 16, 10:40

  a touching story, it helped me appreciate life more