Bill Lytle from Fernan Lake was given just a few months to live, after doctors diagnosed him with pancreatic cancer. But that was eight months ago, and now he credits a feathered friend for extending his life.

Lytle has always lived an active life; even at 73, he'd walk seven miles a day. So when he was diagnosed with cancer life slowed down. Thanks to a friendly fowl¹ though, he's been able to keep up with his daily walks and surpass doctors expectations.

With cancer slowly destroying his body Bill Lytle has every excuse to skip his daily walk, though he never does.

He walks about two miles a day and ends up at Fernan Lake, home to beautiful scenery, a lot of wildlife and one special goose.

"Mister Waddles² ... that's what they call him."

For the last several months Mister Waddles and Bill Lytle have formed an extraordinary, one-of-a-kind friendship.

　　美国爱达荷州北部一位身患晚期癌症的七旬老人和一只鹅成了朋友，这对特殊的伙伴经常一起散步。在这只鹅的帮助下，现在这位老人的生命已经超出了医生对他的“判决”。

　　据美联社日前报道，现年73岁的比尔·莱特尔曾是一家矿业公司的项目经理。退休后，他和现年52岁的妻子默娜移居到了科达伦。在这里，莱特尔成为了一个名为“湖城漫步者”（Lake City Striders）步行俱乐部的创始成员之一。

　　去年秋天，原本风平浪静的生活一下子被打破了。莱特尔的皮肤在一夜之间突然变成了蜡黄色，医生的诊断结果是，莱特尔患上了胰腺癌，并且已经到了晚期，他的生命只剩下了几个月的时间。尽管如此，莱特尔还是没有放弃他的步行锻炼。他减小了锻炼强度，在一个附近的湖边每天步行两英里。就是在这里，莱特尔遇到了一位特殊的朋友——一只鹅。这只鹅的陪伴成了莱特尔的动力，激励着他每天走下去，即使在莱特尔感到身体不舒服时，他还是一直坚持。

　　爱达荷渔猎部门的一位生物学家表示，这只被称为“步履蹒跚先生”（Mr. Waddles）的鹅是一只未被驯服的家鹅。但是他也无法解释“步履蹒跚先生”和莱特尔之间形成的这种特殊的关系。

　　莱特尔的妻子默娜也说：“我想知道，为什么一只鹅愿意和比尔接触？我想它可能知道他生病了。我觉得动物能感觉到这一点。”

"I think it's just special, real special, he's brought a lot of joy to my husband's life," Bill's wife Myma said when she first heard of Mister Waddles. She couldn't help feel a little up-staged, especially after 52 years of marriage. However, she credits Bill's friendship with this goose for helping³ extending her husband's life.

"I think he knows something," she said. "Why else would he be friends with Bill?"