Disabled Sisters woman has an 'Angel'

The moment Angela Dilley saw the picture, she knew she'd found her Angel.

Angela's world is a narrow one. She's been bedridden for years, the victim of a rare genetic disorder that causes progressive neurological problems, including weakness, paralysis and hyper-sensitivity. Active in her youth, enjoying hiking, kayaking and horseback riding, Angela is now confined to her bed in her parents' home on Crooked Horseshoe north of town. Her window on the world is a tablet, where she can interact with friends on Facebook.

She knows she's not going to get better. In fact, she frankly states, "I should be dead. My prognosis is death. The Lord has kept me alive."

Faith and a remarkably upbeat attitude have kept her going through an ordeal that has included stays in hospice care from which she was not expected to emerge. She's twice fallen into a coma where she could hear activity and voices around her but was unable to respond.

Even the strongest spirit in such circumstances is bound to waiver. Angela became depressed. She sought a remedy in her love for animals.

"I've always loved animals," she told The Nugget. "I almost became a vet."

She recalled a rescue dog she had when she lived in Eugene before her illness set in.

"That was the best dog I ever had and I said, 'Y'know, I want another one,'" she said. "I was looking online for a nice little lap-dog."

She began looking at pictures of rescue dogs at Three Rivers Humane Society. When she saw Angel, she knew.

"She just pulled me in," Angela said. "I said, 'That's her.'"

Angel has had a rough go, too. Abandoned by her previous owner, she had been at the shelter for a long time. She was very shy and not very friendly. The folks at the shelter were a little hesitant, concerned about whether it would be a good match. Monica Rendon, a volunteer with Three Rivers Humane Society, brought the dog to Sisters for a trial, and Angel stayed.

When Rendon returned to finalize the adoption, Angela and her Angel had bonded.

"She's been wonderful for the entire family," said caregiver Lori Block.

Angel doesn't warm up quickly to new people, but Angela's mother, Mary Lee, and father, Darold Dilley, have been helping to get her socialized with caregivers. The dog has already made a playmate out of the family's guinea pig.

"They rub noses," said Mary Lee.

The dog and the guinea pig chase each other around the living room and when the guinea pig isn't playing right, Angel barks at her until she gets her way.

And having the little dog in her life has boosted Angela's spirits and her physical well-being.

"She's getting good physical therapy because she's using her arms more and more," Block said.

The little rescue dog and the young woman with narrow confines but a strong spirit snuggle together in Angela's bed - and for both, the world has become a bigger and brighter place.

For information about Three Rivers Humane Society visit www.threerivershs.org.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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