My therapy cat visit to the children’s hospital was a little different from the usual, and I’m glad it was!
It started off routinely. Once we signed in, we went to the lobby area. We made a quick stop at the arts and crafts table to visit a little girl who was making outlines of hands. Then instead of making the rounds of the lobby, which was pretty empty, I headed towards the doors to the exam rooms.
At each facility we visit, we have certain areas we are supposed to visit. But within those areas, my human allows me to wander on my leash. Sometimes I just randomly trot along, but sometimes I’m definitely going somewhere. If you’re a kitty, you go where your energy, instinct and curiosity takes you. Not surprisingly, I kept looking in offices because I enjoy that. But one I walked in, where a couple of workers were talking, the woman behind the desk got really excited! She was so happy that a therapy cat showed up for her! So we visited for a while before heading off to the kids in the exam rooms.
And there were a lot of kids to visit. And I posed for photos with several kids who were getting exams, and one tween girl who had just gotten her ankle cast off. But as we were walking past one large room of desks and computers, a woman in scrubs stopped us and asked if it was okay for me to visit them. Of course it was, so my human went in and set me on a desk (and no, I didn’t walk on any computer keyboards). Next thing I knew I was surrounded by all sorts of staff! There were at least a half dozen of them, so overjoyed to see me. It was awesome.
See, this is the thing about going to facilities and wings that cater to children’s medical issues. The focus is so strongly directed at the kids and making sure their visits go as well as possible that the staff often forgets their own needs. And when you are working with kids who are suffering, you really, really need a therapy cat sometimes. Because it keeps you going. It keeps your energy up so you’re more present for your job. And staff members could use healing kitty powers too.
We finished up in the rehab waiting room, visiting with an Asian family with a little girl who was a bit frightened of me, and another family whose dad once lived with 12 cats. And I think everyone got something out of my visits. But it’s rare I get to spend so much quality time with the staff there, and I think today that was really important.
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We love reading about your therapy visits! Glad the staff got to visit with you too!
Purrs,
Angel CJ and the gang (Angel Cosmo, Angel Mia, Mosby and Fluffy)
When the therapy pups come to visit in our facility, they often stop for the staff, too…myself included.’
You do a great service, Summer and I know that all who get to be with you are going to be blessed in some way or another. Thanks for all you do!
You’re a very special kitty Summer. You have such incredible instincts. It’s truly a special gift sweetie
We love how you just KNOW who needs you to visit them, Summer. XO
What a furabuluss Therapee vissit you had Summer an Miss J…
An iss kewl Staff peepss wanted to see you two…
Yore so amazin! Well dun!
**purrss** BellaDharma an ((hugss)) BellaSita Mum
The staff sure needed you sweet Summer, you’re a special one!
This is so awesome. I love that your human lets you take the lead. You know where you’re needed best!
It was an especially nice visit this time. Good for you.
I enjoyed reading about your visit.
I’m glad the staff got to visit with you, Summer! I think refreshing visits from cats would brighten anyone’s day.
I think anyone that gets to meet you is blessed.
Summer, you’ve made me realize that I need some feline therapy RIGHT NOW, so woe be to the next cat I see, for they will have to endure some smoochies, hugs, and pets!
Sounds like a really GOOD visit Summer…..staff and patients all enjoyed seeing a “friendly face” in a place where sometimes a smile is hard to find.
Hugs, Teddy
It’s nice that you help the staff as well as the patients, Summer.
OH this is the best report yet, Sumer. I wish you and your ghuman had time to do this every day in hospitals.
What a great visit! I agree that staff need the therapy too as they wok hard to keep people well and things working properly. There is some stress involved too and that’s where you come in Summer 🙂
Just patting a cant reduces stress and increases the happy meter 😉
So good that you do this Summer!!!!!
Purrs, Julie
We think it is important to give the staff some kitty mojo too. We often forget that those who care for the sick have lots of empathy for them and to see the suffering drains them. We know they loved getting some of your Summer energy to give them a boost.
Thank you for being so smart to know and go where you are needed! I know I would LOVE some Summer at the clinic I work at!
XOXO
That was a very good visit, and it was extra good to give the staff a break too.
One doesn’t have to be ill to benefit from a sweet therapy cat.