Our first day at the Mayo Clinic

Our first day volunteering with Mayo Clinic's Caring Canines program. It's a humbling place where hopefully we can bring some smiles to both patients and staff. Cora made herself right at home in the Radiation and Chemo area where we are assigned. Even the most leery eyed gentlemen broke into a grin when she demonstrated her "hookie pookie"and then gave a big salute. We then wandered into a waiting room filled with new members of the "glow club". These are the people waiting to receive a tour of the area that they will receive their radiation treatments. I sat down next to a woman who's face was marked with fear. Cora laid down at her feet and I could hear her sigh of relief as she reached down and started petting Cora. She told me that Cora's presence made the waiting a little more bearable. I asked God as we drove down the long drive to the Mayo to "walk with me" and give me the strength that I needed to be a volunteer and handler for Cora with this program. He did more than that, he sent two special angels to be by my side, my Mother and Grandmother.

Comments

A furry Blessing!

Today at Mayo the spouse of a patient commented "What a God send you have been for Me "! T he past few week s Cora has been a source of light for her in a dark time . Re flecting back on that makes me realize even more the need and benefits that therapy animals bring to everyone that they encounter. Often times the caregivers hold a lot of emotion and turmoil inside of themselves, watching their loved ones fig ht this disease. Cora has been there for them , providing a few mo ments of relief by helping to ease the stress. It's good to hear the laughter and see the smiles that surface when we arrive. Cora senses their need for calm and as you can see in the picture above, gives a reassuring touch . What a Bles sing !

Reflections

So many questions today at Mayo Clinic regarding Cora's "job" as a therapy dog. I looked at Cora this time to supply the answers. Silly as that seems, it doesn't take long to realize that her "job description" could fill a whole page. To the woman that needed her dog fix because she had to leave her beloved pet hundreds of miles away, she was a "companion". For the mother of a young girl who wanted to be a vet one day, Cora was a "teaching tool". The "entertainer" part of her then kept a waiting room full of patients and their families grinning and laughing. Showing her calm mannerism to a prospective therapy dog parent made her a good "role model". Behind the scenes, the "therapist" in her licked at a teary eyed face that was remembering a loved one. One dog doing the job of so many, that's a therapy dog.

Contest Time

Cora needs your votes please! For all of her friends that have enjoyed following Cora during her visits as a Therapy dog, please take just a minute to vote for her while she is on vacation! The site is listed below and you have to just register your email to vote. Cora sends a big paws up to her friends! Vote now please, contest only runs this week and she has a chance of winning some extra treats! http://dotheshore.com/photocontest/cora

Cora's Magic

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