I had a busy day at the big hospital! It started while my human was signing us in. Before she was even done, some Spanish speaking women were coming up and petting me. One asked if it was okay to take photos, and my human said ¡Si! So they both pulled out their phones while I posed for them.
Once we were done in the lobby, we headed for Pediatrics, except I decided to make a side trip to the waiting room. I do that sometimes — my human wants to go one place and I want to go another. Sometimes, like this time, she let me win. So I visited with some people in the waiting room, including one man with the most awesome leather shoes! I started rubbing my face up against them because they smelled so good. His family found this pretty amusing.
I had several kids in Pediatrics to visit. The first patient we saw literally filled the room with her smile when she saw me. Even though she had dogs at home, she’d always wanted a cat, so she really enjoyed spending time with me. And I enjoyed her too. I curled up next to her and made happy paws. Well, I do that with nearly every patient, really. But I did like her a lot.
The second teenage girl didn’t have any pets at home. In fact, she said that her mother hated cats (although the mother, when she came in, was very nice to us). She loved having me visit with her, and told us that when the day came and she was on her own, she’d get a kitty “even before furniture.”
The last patient we saw in Pediatrics was a boy, a few years younger than the girls we saw. He was sweet and intelligent, and he had cats at home, so he knew just how to pet me and relate to me. His mother was on her way to the hospital so he Facetimed her and showed me to her. My human could hear her squealing over the phone. Sadly, we weren’t able to stay long enough for the mother to get there. We had to be at Behavioral Medicine.
When we visit Behavioral Medicine, we have to be there at a certain time. We show up and they seat us in the activity room and fetch the patients. This time there were two women. Often the patients are happy to see me, but these two women didn’t show a lot of enthusiasm. One petted me a couple of times, and the other was withdrawn and didn’t seem to care. But even though I didn’t get much of a reaction from these women, I get the weird feeling that my being there made a difference to them. It’s one of those things you just know.
It was a good day.
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What a great day of making people feel good. You DO make a big difference in their lives. Thank You.
Summer, you’re smart and beautiful but your therapy job is your shining star. Bringing joy to sick and injured people is a special gift
If you came to MSK, the waiting room would be the most busy place since they make you wait for an hour to see the doctor and another hour and a half for treatment. It’s always packed with people. They would benefit from therapy pets.
Another awesome visit, Summer. You literally changed those people’s lives for the better!
I’m glad you had a good visit sweet Summer, I just know you brightened the day for so many.
You’re such a good girl, Summer! And having a cat is much more important than furniture 😉
It is always nice to see the patients get happy to see you, but we think you are right that even the two who didn’t seem to take much notice of you were glad to have you visit Summer !
Seeing what you do is so special. People even if they don’t relate to you cannot help but be touched in some way. I am sure the behavioural people would remember you.
Thank you.
You look so pretty, Summer-Chan!
I hope the teenaged girl’s mother changed her mind about cats when she saw the joy you brought her sick child. XO
Oh Summer you brought a lot of happiness to a lot of people at the hospital – especially the kids. You are a ray of sunshine in their lives!
Hugs, Teddy
What another great visit, Summer. What did you like about that guy’s shoes??
Sounds like a success, Summer!
That sounds like a fabulous visit Summer!!!!
I really believe that people feel better after spending time with cats and (dogs)
It is therapy for the soul 🙂
Purrs, Julie
Another good visit. I think some people are afraid to show their emotions but were still pleased to see you.
You have a good sense about ill people -wether
physical of mental illness it seems. I think you
are right on that some people don’t show your visit
is important/helpful when it really is important to them.
Good for you.