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Marking a Happy Milestone through Alternative Visits

Marcia Pearce
Pet Partners Handler

Chance and I completed our 400th therapy dog visit on October 24, 2020.

We participated in a safe outdoor Ruff Love Rescue fundraiser and had a tent where we got lots of petting and visits from people. The most memorable visit was with Brandi Leak and her son. They saw the post on Chance’s Facebook page that he was handing out therapy dog hugs at the event, and they made a special trip to see him and take pictures with him. Brandi is a nurse in the Cone Health Hospital Group. We had visited her in the past at Moses Cone ED before COVID-19 stopped the in-hospital visits. She wanted her son to meet Chance because her son had heard a lot about him.

A happy young boy wearing a mask standing next to a great Dane therapy dog

We have been able to maintain visiting through the disruptions of 2020 with window visits, virtual visits, drive-by visits, and some socially distanced in person visits.

Through 2020 we would window visit at Spring Arbor in Greensboro almost every week. We would also stop by Moses Cone Med Center in High Point on our way back home.

A great Dane therapy dog and his handler making a window visit with a person at a residential care facility

We did a birthday drive-by for Evy, a little girl that we met two years ago at Moses Cone Hospital.

A great Dane therapy dog with his head out the window of a car. The car has a banner reading "Happy birthday Evy! Love, Chance & Marcia"

We made several drive by-visits to our hospitals where staff members would come to the car to see Chance through the window. We dropped off homemade surgical caps, button headbands, and masks that were donated by me. They loved being able to see Chance and they enjoyed knowing we still loved them and supported them. They said we were a wonderful stress relief through a very tough time.

Christmas-themed surgical caps with a note that reads "We haven't forgotten our medical heroes! Enjoy these Christmas scrap caps. We miss our friends! Love, Chance & Marcia. There is also a picture of a great Dane therapy dog on the note.