The midday sun warmed Jim Clarkson鈥檚 face Tuesday afternoon as he was wheeled backwards into the parking lot of Surrey Memorial Hospital (SMH).

When his bed was turned around and he saw two therapeutic horses 鈥� Alex and Dodger 鈥� his heart warmed and tears ran down his face.

Jim has always had a soft spot for horses 鈥� and people with disabilities. For more than 20 years, Jim volunteered with 91原创鈥檚 , a south 91原创 organization that since 1973 has provided therapeutic horseback riding to individuals with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities.

He started off conducting classes and as he got older, Jim began running the PRDA鈥檚 barn, bringing horses in, grooming them, tacking them, and getting them ready for classes.

鈥淗is love of horses brought him to us,鈥� said Karen Nishiyama, the volunteer coordinator and administrative coordinator with PRDA.

But Jim鈥檚 health took a turn for the worse and he was admitted to SMH.

鈥淗e went in for a perforated ulcer,鈥� his daughter Tracey shared. 鈥淔or the first three months it was very touch-and-go. He was really, really sick. He had his last surgery on Saturday and we鈥檙e just waiting to see how long it鈥檚 going to take before he can come home.鈥�

Tuesday was the first time Jim had been outside since he entered the hospital five months ago.

Seeing the horses, feeding them an apple, having them nuzzle their faces into him was an unforgettable experience.

鈥�(Jim has a) heart of gold,鈥� Nishiyama said. 鈥淗e instantly cried the second he saw them. He was hooked up to every machine you can imagine and all he cared about was those two horses.鈥�

Among those who watched the emotional scene were Nishiyama, Tracey, and the PRDA鈥檚 Michelle Ingall (executive director) Margo Klassen (head riding instructor), Bill Hendricks (volunteer coordinator), and Rick Gammer (volunteer and director).

鈥淲e were crying before we even got there,鈥� Nishiyama said. 鈥淭hen, when they brought him out he had no idea this was happening. So they brought him out backwards, and then they turned him around and we were standing there with the two horses. His family was there, and so many people from the hospital we were there鈥� when we pulled in with the horse trailer, his daughter was crying right away.鈥�

鈥淲e all bawled; we all cried, even my dad,鈥� Tracey said.

What matters to you?

This is likely the first time horses have been brought to SMH to visit a patient. The unique idea came about when Nishiyama received a call last Friday (June 2) from Shelley Lynn Gardner, a rehabilitation assistant at SMH. They spoke about 鈥榃hat Matters To You? Day,鈥� a popular incentive that鈥檚 been adopted by different hospitals.

鈥榃hat Matters to You? Day鈥� started in Norway in 2014, with the goal of encouraging meaningful conversations between patients, caregivers, and families, and their health care providers.

鈥淭hey go to long-term patients and they ask, 鈥榃hat matters to you? What鈥檚 important to you?鈥� And Jim said, 鈥榟orses,鈥欌�� Nishiyama related.

PRDA had planned on bringing a couple of miniature horses to the hospital. 鈥淭hen we thought, 鈥楴o, we鈥檙e going to bring our big guys,鈥� Nishiyama said. 鈥淪o they cordoned off a section of the parking lot for us, and that was it.鈥�

Tracey expressed her deepest gratitude to everyone who made the day happen.

鈥淚 can鈥檛 thank them enough,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was so wonderful to just experience that. It was great, really great. It was something my dad will never, ever, ever forget.鈥�