I thought, what with the season and all and the return of the political threads we could use a nice story during the break between Christmas and New Years. I make no apologies for the length, read at your own risk
As many of you know both our adopted Goldens ( 2 1/2 and 2) are registered therapy dogs and we volunteer with them at Shriners Childrens Hospital on the campus of the University of South Florida. Shriners here is a pediatric othopedic hospital. Last wednesday the 19th had the oldest, Riley there for pet therapy day. We were going around with our usual companion team another Golden, Gypsy, a gorgeous slightly smaller female.
We were going to some of the patient rooms, we had brought candy canes for the kids. We came to one room near the beginning of the wing. This is a prep room rather then a patient room. Children are moved here from their rooms prior to operations. The bed is a gurney (for all medical professionals please excuse if I get terms wrong, my heart is in the right place). There were two little girls, sisters, in the bed with mom standing by. The younger was going to go upstairs for an operations. She was about 2 or 3. She was in a hospital gown. Her sister was only a year or two older. There was a tv on an arm that comes out of the central unit there so the tv could be place in just abut any position. The mom and older sister were trying to comfort the child by talking with her, playing with her and trying to get her to watch cartoons on the tv. The child was however not buying it and a bit agitated. She was in a different room and bed, had been fussed over by staff and knew something was up. The Child Life department had given her several toys to unwrap (the toys are donated by various groups to include some of the Shriners groups) but once again she wasnt buying it.
We brought Riley and Gypsy in and suddenly it was "Doggies!!!!!". Brought Riley over and gave the command "paws up" which lets him know he is to place his paws on a particular object, in this case the bed so the little girl could pet him. Now at 2 1/2 Riley can still be a wild child but at the hospital seems to know he has to behave. He lay his head up there and the girl suddenly changed. She began to pet and talk to him and even hug his head. Riley responded by a few of those deep sighs of contentment familiar to many dog owners. Her sister got down meanwhile to play with Gypsy. After awhile we switched places with Gypsy doing the paws up and Riley on the floor with big sis. I wish all of you could have been there and seen the transformation. She was in heaven with two dogs to hugs and pet.
We spent the time with them until it was time to take her upstairs for the operation. She was bundled up on the gurney and as a final touch given a teddy bear to cuddle (another gift from one of the civic organizations). We followed to the elevator but wasnt room to accompany her. She gave the dogs one last "doggie" and with a smile disappeared into the elevator.
We will be going back today, the day after Christmas. While they make every attempt to empty out the hospital around the holidays there will still be some children there. Even one smile will be the best Christmas gift.
To everyone here, hope you get some nice doggie hugs and kisses.
As many of you know both our adopted Goldens ( 2 1/2 and 2) are registered therapy dogs and we volunteer with them at Shriners Childrens Hospital on the campus of the University of South Florida. Shriners here is a pediatric othopedic hospital. Last wednesday the 19th had the oldest, Riley there for pet therapy day. We were going around with our usual companion team another Golden, Gypsy, a gorgeous slightly smaller female.
We were going to some of the patient rooms, we had brought candy canes for the kids. We came to one room near the beginning of the wing. This is a prep room rather then a patient room. Children are moved here from their rooms prior to operations. The bed is a gurney (for all medical professionals please excuse if I get terms wrong, my heart is in the right place). There were two little girls, sisters, in the bed with mom standing by. The younger was going to go upstairs for an operations. She was about 2 or 3. She was in a hospital gown. Her sister was only a year or two older. There was a tv on an arm that comes out of the central unit there so the tv could be place in just abut any position. The mom and older sister were trying to comfort the child by talking with her, playing with her and trying to get her to watch cartoons on the tv. The child was however not buying it and a bit agitated. She was in a different room and bed, had been fussed over by staff and knew something was up. The Child Life department had given her several toys to unwrap (the toys are donated by various groups to include some of the Shriners groups) but once again she wasnt buying it.
We brought Riley and Gypsy in and suddenly it was "Doggies!!!!!". Brought Riley over and gave the command "paws up" which lets him know he is to place his paws on a particular object, in this case the bed so the little girl could pet him. Now at 2 1/2 Riley can still be a wild child but at the hospital seems to know he has to behave. He lay his head up there and the girl suddenly changed. She began to pet and talk to him and even hug his head. Riley responded by a few of those deep sighs of contentment familiar to many dog owners. Her sister got down meanwhile to play with Gypsy. After awhile we switched places with Gypsy doing the paws up and Riley on the floor with big sis. I wish all of you could have been there and seen the transformation. She was in heaven with two dogs to hugs and pet.
We spent the time with them until it was time to take her upstairs for the operation. She was bundled up on the gurney and as a final touch given a teddy bear to cuddle (another gift from one of the civic organizations). We followed to the elevator but wasnt room to accompany her. She gave the dogs one last "doggie" and with a smile disappeared into the elevator.
We will be going back today, the day after Christmas. While they make every attempt to empty out the hospital around the holidays there will still be some children there. Even one smile will be the best Christmas gift.
To everyone here, hope you get some nice doggie hugs and kisses.
