Cindy, a volunteer therapy dog at Christus Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital’s neonatal unit in San Antonio, Tex., was named Honorary Nurse for the comfort and serenity she brings to patients and staff. Cindy and her human parent, Suzanne Stanley, have been volunteering every other Wednesday for three years at the hospital. Here’s to all that you and your mommy do for the parents, babies, and nurses at CRCH Cindy! We love you!
“It’s very therapeutic (because) sometimes being in this environment is difficult,” said Maranda Larweck, the mother of 8-month-old Maya, born 13 weeks premature and with a cardiac condition.
“Sometimes I’ll forget (Cindy is coming) and I’ll look up and I’ll see her and it just uplifts me. She’s part of my life right now.”The dog’s presence helps parents and patients alike, said Leah Dabaghian, a child life specialist. The connection with the dog has a lot of physiological benefits, such as reducing stress and lowering heart rate, she said.
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If reincarnation is true, I hope my next time around is as a therapy dog…work off some of that bad karma.
Beautiful, beautiful, inside and out. Thank God for you, Cindy. You’re an angel on Earth.
My dad always says that he wants to come back as his dog
And hives, itching, joint pain, etc. for those of us allergic to dogs.
Aww, Flyndaran. WHY?
I guess it’s inevitable. Even when an LOL is a beautiful tribute to TWO Earth Angels, there’s always gonna be someone who posts an unnecessary negative comment.
Feel better now, Flyndaran? Ya know, it’s okay to keep some things to yourself. Practice a little discretion when commenting, kai?
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS WONDERFUL INFO, ICHC ADMIN!
IT’S A LOVELY STORY AND I’M SO GLAD YOU GIVE RECOGNITION TO AMAZING SOULS LIKE THIS!
THANK YOU CINDY AND SUZANNE FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND ALL THE LOVE AND COMFORT YOU HAVE UNDOUBTEDLY BROUGHT TO SO MANY!
Oh, you crazy, lulzy trolls and your lulzy trolling! Though this effort is sub-par, to be honest. There should be a strong undercurrent of mean-spiritedness in your post to really get under people’s skin. Just think of all the various failures in your personal life to help muster up the bitterness needed for proper trolling.
Oh, go away. Just . . . go away.
Flyndaran wants to come back as the Grinch who stole Christmas.
That’s the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard. The only thing a dog would bring me is hysteria, raised stress, and a heart rate through the roof. If I glanced up and just see a dog looking at me, I can assure you that my response will not be peaceful. Or quiet.
And what about all the germs and dirt dogs have on them, naturally? Or people who are allergic to dogs? There’s a reason animals aren’t allowed in public areas.
Yeah, what about them? And what about us humans, that gave this planet cancer?
Wait… wut?
I ould rather be around dogs than people like you. There is no judgement, drama or pretentousness(sp)… just unconditional love.
So tell us, why are you on a site that shows pictures of dogs?
Yu saiin u duzn haz cherms??? Yu LAIIN!! How manyy goggies n kittehs YOU mayd sick wiv yor cherms, hah??
Goldens are such sweet-natured dogs.
I’m a grinch because I don’t want to suffer unnecessarily in a hospital? I’m a troll because I like breathing? Yes, dogs are adorable and I really wish I wasn’t allergic. But I am, and I have a right to visit my hypothetical child without danger.
Has it occured to you that hospitals have filtered air systems and that maybe, just maybe, the staff check beforehand if someone has a dog allergy before allowing a therapy dog into the same room?
No one is that stupid so yes, you’re a troll. You wanted a reaction and you got one. Good job. Now go away.
Allergy to dogs is an affliction second only to Black Death, needs sympathy not meanness. 12 thousand years to co-evolution means dogs take care of us too. Who will lick Flyndarn’s hand when in pain? Who will cheer him/her up with total, unreflective joy while sticking head out car window? After 12 thousand years, we can’t survive without goggies!
I love this story, but it does bring up an interesting question. While I love dogs and would probably be overjoyed if one came to visit me in the hospital, I am technically allergic to them and joy turns to misery reeeeally fast if I haven’t taken my antihistamine. What does one do in those situations? Hold up your hands and say, “I’m so sorry, but I’m allergic to dogs?” I shouldn’t think the handler would be offended if that were the case. After all, she is a nurse.
I’m sure the handler & staff are sensitive to the folks who cannot interact with the therapy animal. I’m also sure that the dog & handler have both gone through training and probably even some kind of certification to ensure that the animal is kept clean and meets ‘visitor’ standards for the hospital environment. My sister did it with her dog, and the facilities take it pretty seriously.
It may seem unorthodox, but considering the inevitable connection between our emotional well-being & our physical health, it’s really nice for the hospital to take a few steps that are ‘outside-the-box’ to treat their patients, and the families of their patients.