Pet Therapy Dog
Bodhi of the Rockies
The last few visits have been my favorites for a few reasons. I’m so proud and honored to be on this journey with Bodhi.
A new area: The ER
We learned we could go back into the ER to see staff, not just visit the ER waiting room. These doctors and nurses really need some stress relief. Everyone is so busy back there that some didn’t even have time to stop and pet Bodhi, but I could see them smile through their masks. A few people who did have a few minutes really appreciated the loving.
I could feel the energy in the room relax a little.
Lots of people were in the ER waiting room too, and Bodhi went from person to person, comforting everyone. A woman was kind of curled up on a chair in some kind of distress. I didn’t know if I should even get very close, but she did put out her hand to pet Bodhi…and smiled.
Sometimes Bodhi makes a difference for just a fleeting moment…but he does make a difference.
People stop us everywhere
Everywhere we go, people stop to pet Bodhi…the parking lot, the lobby, even the bathroom! One woman in the bathroom of course started petting him. She said she was just crying, so a little Bodhi joy is exactly what she needed.
Some of the staff in his favorite Medical Records department were out. Bodhi went to one woman’s cube where he always gets treats. She wasn’t there, but he was sniffing around the treat drawer…hoping it would magically open. It didn’t, but he did get treats (lots of them), from another staff member.
Will work for food
Bodhi never sits…he only stands or lies down. But since many people ask him to sit, I taught him to sit and now he eagerly sits for treats. He doesn’t sit any other time though.
Food is a good motivator (for humans and canines).
We went to the surgery pre-admissions office and met a patient who told me that she was having surgery for breast cancer the next day. She so enjoyed Bodhi’s visit. Typically I don’t talk about anything medical with patients but since she told me, we did talk a bit and I told her I was a survivor. My advice was to be positive – that made all the difference for me. It’s part of my journey but doesn’t define me. She seemed like a very positive person so I know she’ll do great. She was very appreciative of my advice and really, really loved hanging out with Bodhi.
She also said how she has been coming to Littleton Adventist hospital for years and it is the only hospital she would ever go to. Everybody treats her wonderfully. And she loves that the hospital has dog therapy teams.
That was so nice to hear.
Nurse appreciation
We got a request to visit the fifth floor nurses station. Bodhi loves nurses stations…they swoon all over him and sometimes four nurses pet him at once! One nurse asked me to visit some other staff down the hall, and when we got there the phone rang… the first nurse said they had to ask for Bodhi’s business card. People think it’s cool that he has a business card…and everyone loves his tie. He takes his job seriously!
I’m happy to share Bodhi with the world. So many people love him, and in return he receives a lot of love.
It’s a win-win.