ATLANTA – Some of the preferred caretakers at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta occur to have moist noses and walk on 4 legs.
Children’s is stocked with an entire squad of furry staff that assist sufferers and their households get by way of robust conditions one heat and fuzzy hug at a time.
The hospital could be a scary place for some, however Olaf the power canine is working to assist ease a few of that stress.
“There’s no higher icebreaker than a fuzzy, pleasant, remedy canine walking within the room,” Olaf’s handler Dr. Elan Jenkins stated.
Since 2017, Olaf has been serving to convey somewhat pleasure to sufferers and households all around the hospital.
“You know, numerous instances it’s very critical when getting remedy and spending numerous time in right here,” mother or father Tyler Fenwick stated. “It’s simply very nice to have the ability to have a break and have some enjoyable.”
Fenwick says he likes to see his daughter mild up at any time when Olaf walks into the room.
“The most enjoyable interplay is simply seeing her eyes look into Olaf’s eyes, and he or she’s discovering one thing model new, and that sense of surprise and amazement is simply actually particular to see her having enjoyable and having fun with that,” he stated.
Olaf is a part of a pilot program at Children’s referred to as Canines for Kids. Back in 2009, the hospital welcomed its first facility canine. Today, they’ve a furry fleet of 12 specialty-trained pups which might be serving to dad and mom cope, heal, and obtain their remedy objectives.
This is one thing that Olaf’s handlers Jenkins and Ruthie Hoove say he does so nicely.
“Olaf is a good motivation for our sufferers,” Hoover stated. “It is far simpler to say ‘Hey you want to take Olaf for a walk?’ than to say ‘Hey, do you want to go on a walk with me?’”
Whether it is a walk or just giving Olaf a pat, he is there to assist sufferers really feel higher.
“Olaf is the right sidekick. He makes every single day higher and helps our sufferers be the heroes that they’re,” Hoover stated.
Friday is Children’s Healthcare’s tenth anniversary of Cape Day, an annual custom that encourages the neighborhood to have a good time the sufferers preventing sickness and accidents on the hospital.
You can learn more about Cape Day and sponsor a cape here.