Hospice grants dying 79-year-old woman’s final wish – to see her beloved horse one last time


Sadly, many of us never get to see our last desires come true. Due to the fragility of life and the ensuing, frequently unexpected nature of death, relatively few people have the time or finances to fulfill one last wish before passing away.

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Some people’s final wishes could be as straightforward as having their loved ones gathered by their bedside.

Others might want to meet a hero or idol or make one final trip to a treasured spot.

Karina Courtmanche, a 79-year-old woman from Bethany, Connecticut, had a very straightforward last wish: to see her beloved horse, Bella, one last time.

Given that Karina is receiving hospice care, her caregivers have stated that she doesn’t have long to live.One can only image the unbreakable attachment the 79-year-old and Bella had developed since the 30-year-old horse was a foal.

Karina, who was in the final stages of a terminal illness, reportedly expressed her want to have one final interaction with Bella. Courtmanche expressed to Michelle Walker, RN Case Manager for Connecticut Hospice, how much she yearned to see her canine companion.

“We were talking with her, and she kept talking about her horse Bella, that she wanted to see Bella,” Walker explained.

Given Karina’s condition, seeing Bella wasn’t as easy as just bringing her to the stables, but Walker and the nursing home staff were determined to make sure they did everything to make the reunion happen.

Together, the teams worked to arrange for her to be taken in an ambulance to Bella’s home at Bittersweet Farm so that she would have a stretcher and immediate medical attention available.

Needless to say, Bella and Karina’s farewell encounter was emotional, but Karina was able to give Bella carrots and give her a loving nose rub.

“I’m very excited that I’m able to give her this last wish. It’s important to her, so it’s important to us,” Walker added.

As per reports, Bella will continue to be looked after at Bittersweet Farm when Karina passes.

Watch Karina’s visit to see Bella in the video below:

It’s incredibly sad, but I’m also happy for Karina’s sake that she got to see Bella one final time.

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