I understand how much that visit from Pippin would have meant.
When I was recently in hospital I had to be transferred to another and one of the paramedics named John was one who had original transported me a few days earlier. He was talking to me and said it wouldn't be long before I would be back home. I said I wanted to get home to see Aoife. The other paramedic in a soft Irish accent asked if Aoife was my wife. Before I could answer John said "no, Aoife is his parrot and I have met her".
My wife could visit but I really missed being with all the pets.