I got to visit a hospital yesterday that I hadn’t been to in a really long time. In fact, when my human found our page in the volunteer sign in notebook, she saw our last time was the second week of November! So we were way overdue for a visit.
At this particular hospital, I visit mostly adults, and often their families, if they are visiting. The first patient didn’t have any visitors at the moment except for us. He was happy to see me because he had two cats at home. Even though he had an IV stand with several tubes going into his arms, he still managed to pet me and spend time with me. He was a very nice man, it wasn’t long before I had settled in next to him, purring and making happy paws.
The next patient I visited was an older woman whose feet were in some sort of braces or bandages. Her husband was with her, and they both enjoyed having me there. The woman asked my human what benefits patients got by having therapy pets visit. So my human explained about the calming influence we have on the patients, and how we can even lower blood pressure. She also mentioned that it was especially nice when I got to visit patients without any family who might be lonely in the hospital. But of course I also enjoy visiting patients with rooms full of visitors too!
Not everyone wanted a visit with me, of course. There was one Spanish speaking patient with her family visiting who said she wanted a dog. My human understood enough Spanish to know that’s what she said. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a dog team with us today, though. And while lots of the nurses enjoyed seeing me, one was allergic, so she couldn’t get near me at all.
The last patient was especially happy to see me. She was an older lady, so my human pointed out my “candy striper” bow tie, because she knew she would remember candy stripers. This patient had had cats at one time, but when her black cat disappeared around Halloween many decades ago, she was too heartbroken to have another cat. Even so, she adored having me visit. She agreed with my human that people who have mistaken assumptions about cats being aloof and unfriendly must have never spent quality time with a kitty.
I had a great time visiting!
See all of Summer’s merch at her Designercat Shop, available on Zazzle.
Ordinarily, we think you look prettiest in just your furs, but we will make an exception for your adorable candy-striper bow! The Human (definitely an old lady!) was a candy-striper in her yoof and she enjoyed it. Patients are probably happier to see you though, as the Human never purred or made biscuits for them!
Nice to see how happy you make people.
That sounds like a wonderful visit, Summer.
Sounds like a fun visit! I can only imagine how exciting it is for someone to meet you when they’re missing kitties back at home.
I am glad you had a good visit. I had to google candy stripers because that term isn’t used in the UK.
Glad you got to visit!
I was a candy striper, I would deliver flowers to patients. Oops! just showed how OLD I am – MOL!
Love the candy striper bow, I’m glad you are back making folks happy with your therapy visits.
Great to see that you made some patients happy!
I love the thought about you doing “happy paws” with a patient.
Whenever I see you in that bow tie, I always think of candy stripers. It’s the perfect thing to wear on your visits to hospitals. I know that these patients were comforted by your visit. I know that I would be, especially being in a hospital and things can be scary.
Glad you had a great visit!
You always do such great work Summer sweety paws. That is sad that the one lady lost her black kitty at Halloween years ago. There is a big black kitty that has been visiting my porch most days to eat kibble Mom puts out for him. Mom is not sure the kitty has a home or if he does he seems to be left outdoors a lot.
Lovely to hear that your visit went well and most of the patients were pleased to see you!
Purrs xx
Athena and Marie
You always bring so much joy to the people you visit, Summer!
Purrs,
The Chans
Awww I love when you share your experiences Summer, I love that you made “happy paws” with the man who had cats at home. As for the Spanish speaking lady, you can’t please every furry! (or human!)
Sounds like you brought a lot of joy, as always. I remember when my Dad was in rehab many years ago and had a visit with a dog. I had hoped there was a cat because he would have enjoyed that more, but that was in 2001 so there were even less of you then.
Sounds like another great therapy visit. Some may not want to see kitties or can’t get closer, but everyone is different of course. But I agree, people who think kitties are unfriendly must have never spent quality time with them. xo
Thank you for your hospital visits Summer cat.
I enjoy reading about them. You describe the
patients and surroundings very well.
Summer the candy striper bowtie is my favorite too.
I was a candy striper in 1966.
Hugs Cecilia
Thank you for bringing those patients and their families your special brand of happiness, Summer. You and your human are awesome!
Summer, you look adorbs in your stripey bow tie! And, I’ll just say, the lady who wanted a dog instead of you just doesn’t know what she’s missed!
As always, you and your human are a blessing.
Another great visit. Our mom is old enough to remember candy stripers!
What a beautiful fulfilling visit. Great job! Keep spreading the love. Purrs
We’re glad to hear you got to bring some joy to those people, Summer.
I’m so glad you got to visit and bring the smiles to those faces sweet Summer.
Summer, that aspect, on how you can show people that we cats ARE friendly, and that we ARE responsive is something I hadn’t thought of till you said it. It’s a good thing if people can finally make a distinction that cats are not dogs and so they don’t act like dogs. They have the same loving ways, but cat style.
Time flies. I thought you did one not too long ago. It’s always so rewarding for all concerned.
We are so glad you got to visit, and we know the patients were too.
If this shows up twice, it isn’t my fault! It was a gremlin…. Anyway, how do your visits get scheduled, Summer? Is there a rota or does the organization schedule you or does the institution request you or what? This sounds like it was a good visit, but long overdue….
We sign up for the visits online – all the facilities, and the time slots available, are listed at the website when we sign in.
Oh, duh! Of course! I am old enough that I don’t think of doing things online as the natural way in this day and age. I grew up in the days of actual paper sign-up sheets and dial phones (after the operators ceased to be), so things like this used to be onerous tasks. Thanks for the wake-up reply!