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Jake's Legacy: A Life-Saving Visit and Retirement from Therapy Work

Sue
Handler

Jake and I were in the third-floor hallway at Madison Hospital when a woman stopped us and said, “That dog saved my mother’s life.” Confused, I asked what she meant. She explained that her mother had been at the hospital, completely unresponsive for days. Family members, therapists, nurses, and doctors were frustrated and making arrangements to move her to a nursing home when Jake and I visited her room.

Jake gently moved onto the bed beside her, and after a few minutes, she reached for him and began grasping his fur.

We left without realizing the impact of our visit, but the daughter told us how shocked everyone was. The family had called the staff into the room to find the patient sitting on the edge of her bed.

The mother is now at home with her daughter, and Jake’s picture is on their mantle as a reminder of that momentous turning point.

Jake retired from therapy animal work in 2022, but his legacy of bringing comfort and joy to others lives on.