Any shirt bought through Bonfire will help us raise funds that will allow us to continue to enhance quality of life through the human-animal bond! Our therapy teams could not continue to have such a significant positive impact for their patients without your support. We thought we would celebrate Valentine's Day with some heart-warming, touching moments from a few of our ITA teams, just a few more happy experiences that can only happen because of your support.

Maureen & Quincy:

Quincy and I visit Primary Children?s Hospital weekly. He walks into the lobby and knows exactly where to go! We begin on the 4th ?oor?the chemotherapy/transplant unit?and often we never get to another ?oor because of the demand for our visits there. I hear repeatedly from parents, ?This is the ?rst time he has smiled.? A retired nurse myself, I always ask the staff how their day is going, and the usual response is ?Better now ... I can get through my day after a chance to hug Quincy.?

This week on that unit, we were visiting a 6-year-old girl who had received a transplant. These patients must remain in a special room for 60 days post transplant. This was the ?rst day she could leave her room.

The medical, nursing and physical therapy teams were in the room, and encouraged her to take a walk. She was very weak, and said she ?didn?t want to.? But when I asked her if she wanted to take Quincy for a walk, and she said ?yes.?

So, very slowly, she took hold of Quincy?s leash (I still had control, too, of course) and we walked down the hall with the physical therapist on one side, Quincy and I on the other side, and a nurse and her mother coming behind, pushing her IV poles with medication pumps.

When our little entourage eventually reached the nurses? station, spontaneous applause erupted from the staff and other parents. Therapists so often tell us that their patients will do things for the dogs that they were previously unwilling to do. Therapy dogs are such incredible motivators, helping people make progress on their essential goals that were not otherwise forthcoming.

This was yet another one of those experiences that make me realize how essential our animal-assisted interactions are.

Kirsten & Pippi:

Yesterday, we peeked our heads through the door of a patient?s room on the Med-Surg ?oor. It

was dark, and there was a nurse speaking quietly to a woman in the bed. I whispered, ?Would you

like a visit from a therapy dog?? The woman said, ?Oh, I thought you?d come to the wrong room! I wondered why there would be a dog in the hospital. Yes, please. I?d like to say hi.? As I held Pippi close to the edge of the bed, she snuggled in closer for some delightful ear and chin rubs. The woman visibly relaxed. I told her that Pippi?s job was to try to make everyone?s hospital stay a little bit brighter and happier. She assured me that was exactly what Pippi had done.

In the next room, an older gentleman rested in his bed, and when we asked the question he replied, ?Oh, no. I?m good. But my grand-daughter might.? On the other side of the room sat a young woman bundled up in a blanket on a reclining chair. She looked like she was prepared for a long day by her grandfather?s bedside. We went over to her chair and Pippi immediately melted into her. She snuggled right up. Neither one of them could get enough love and a?ection. We didn?t talk much; Pippi just worked her happy magic.

I?m learning a lot from Pippi about sensing someone else?s need. She knows much better than I do.

Carol & Finn:

I would like to share with you our experience at one special gathering that we attended, along with a few other ITA therapy animal teams, at the Hill Air Force Base Christmas Party for children of active and deployed service men and women. This was a festive event held in a very large, transformed hanger.

While I am not sure of the exact number of service men and women and their children who were there, the estimated attendance was around 500 people of so many ages. Finn accompanied me on this adventure, and he was so engaging and patient and happy. There were many toddlers who were just learning about ?soft hands? when petting a pup. When their little hands caressed Finn?s soft curls, their eyes lit up and they squealed with delight! Groups of elementary school-aged children surrounded him all at once to give group hugs and laughter, and in return received warm pup eyes, a wagging tail and occasionally even a tender lick on the cheek. One teenage boy talked about his love for his own dog who had passed away not too long ago; he expressed how nice it was to just be able to snuggle Finn even for a short time. Many o?cers knelt to get at eye level with Finn as they scratched him behind his ears while he returned warm eye contact and a wagging tail.

The following day I received this email: ?I just want to take a moment to extend my appreciation. The animals were a hit! I saw many of our children engaged and excited to be able to have puppy and kitty love. This has been a really hard year for our members and families. We have had multiple deployments, numerous changes, budgetary restrictions, and even loss of life. This was appreciated by all, and all of the animals brought their unique magic. Thanks again.?

Sometimes during a visit we make a positive difference for a few individuals, while other times, like this Christmas party, the number of people we reach is really huge. Thank you so much for your ongoing support!