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and my siblings and I were caring for our own families. What was best for Brandi? It became obvious that she needed to feel useful. Just going to live with one of us would not be enough for her. Brandi knew she had a much more important job.

So there we were, on a beautiful fall Saturday morning again, this time at an assisted living facility. My mother warned Brandi to make a good impression since this was her job interview. We walked through those huge glass double doors, not knowing what to expect. Brandi knew, though. She went right up to a resident in a wheelchair and dropped her ball in their lap, her tail wagging with joy and expectation for the first time in weeks. The smile on the woman's face was priceless. Brandi wasted no time. From there she trotted her way into the recreation room, where she was immediately lavished with so much attention, I believe she forgot we were even there. The facility had no choice but to take her. Otherwise, there would have been mutiny on behalf of the residents.

Some months later, Brandi made it into a full-page, color ad in a local magazine for the facility. We are able to keep up with her and she has blossomed the way we knew she would. It is hard to not see her every day, since she is such a strong reminder of Dad. However, she is the star attraction there now, and considers all of the residents her responsibility. But to our family, nothing will ever replace her role as the angel who cared for Dad.

Learn more about this author, Jenna Colston.
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