|
Suzanne Egle
12/7/99
FEATURE
LOS ANGELESóInside the cheery sunlit atrium at Ronald McDonald
House, four Therapy Teams from Create-a-Smile eagerly awaited the kids,
who were unusually late on Saturday.
But that didnít matter to the volunteers in light blue Create-a-Smile
T-shirts who introduced themselves and their dogs and one rabbit to each
other. Carole Ransom, a vivacious red-headed grandmother from North Hollywood
got involved with Create-A-Smile without realizing how much she would like
it.
ìAt first I did it as an ego thing,î she said. But that all changed
when she saw how it affected the people she visited, she said, patting
Dudley, her golden retriever who sat patiently as she put a Santa Hat and
Christmas lights on him.
Marta Kepes, a volunteer from Santa Monica, joined the program only
six weeks ago, but sheís been deeply affected already, she said. She wanted
to see a young boy, a land mine victim, who had fallen in love with
her dog, Clare, during an earlier visit. She had promised to see
him when they returned.
Soon a few kids entered the atrium. A three-year-old heart patient
sitting in her stroller looked tentatively at the big Golden Retriever.
Then she spotted the rabbit, Elijah, and a huge grin spread across her
face. She walked over to it and began stroking it tenderly.
ìWould you like a picture with the rabbit?î Kepes asked pulling out
a Polaroid
camera from her bag. The little girl smiled, slowly at first, but with
each picture became
more and more relaxed until she had about five Polaroids with all the
animals.
Kepes looked up and saw her young friend rolling his wheelchair toward
her. He had lost a leg and his hands to a land mine in Palestine. During
earlier visits he had been is such pain from shrapnel that he couldnít
even hold the rabbit in his lap, so Clare would sit next to him on a table
so he could pet her. Eventually he was able to hold the rabbit. ìIt was
so special for him to have an animal on his lap,î said Kepes.
Ransom befriended a father whose daughter, a leukemia patient, was
at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. She took pictures of him with the bedazzled
Dudley for his daughter. Then Ransom dug into her bag and pulled out an
animal shaped eraser and animal stickers to give the little girl.
ìThank you so much,î the father said. ìShe will love these,î he said
clutching the little gifts and pictures in his hands.
The hour long visit ended, and the volunteers began packing up. The
director thanked them profusely. ìIím sorry there werenít more kids here
today,î she said. ìBut even if you only bring joy to one child, itís worth
it.î
The therapeutic value of animals goes beyond joy to physiological,
physical and psychological benefits to children and adults, according to
clinical research.
Animal Assisted Therapy has been shown to reduce stress, depression,
blood pressure and anxiety. Helene Taneman, a volunteer with Sherman Oaks
Hospital has seen first hand the positive effects of AAT.
ìYou could see it in their eyes, their attitude, when the dogs visited,î
she said recounting a story of a young burn victim who squealed in delight
whenever they came.
Richard Lau, an IRS Agent who lives in North Hollywood, volunteered
with the Pet Assisted Therapy program at Huntington Memorial Hospital in
Pasadena, for five years with his dog Topaz. He was surprised by
the effect his dog would have.
ìI was visiting the pediatric intensive care unit as a new volunteer
and was motioned into a room by a doctor. Inside was a little boy with
hundreds of stitches from a dog bite. The surgeon wanted the boy just to
see Topaz to try to desensitize him,î he said. ìBut I was sweating bullets.î
He didnít know what his dog would do with so many strange people around.
Slowly Lau brought Topaz closer and closer until she climbed up on the
bed and lay absolutely still while the little boy petted her.
ìI realized what a terrific dog I have here. She is so amazing, tuned
into peopleís needs,î Lau said. He knew then he was doing good work.
Deirdre Hearn, a hairdresser from Newhall, remembered her first visit
to a battered womenís shelter. ìThe kids were screaming, jumping up and
down, freaked out and crying. But after an hour visit they calmed down,î
she said. ìIt was amazing.î
She had brought a picture book on dogs to the shelter, and one little
boy pointed to a German Shepherd. ìThatís my favorite dog,î he said. Even
though he couldnít read or write, he wanted his mother to help him write
an essay about dogs. His school work has improved since the visit, and
canít wait to see the dog again, she said.
ìThe work is definitely challenging,î said Hearn, ìbut so rewarding.
It makes such
a difference with those kids to have that freedom for a little while.î
Abused children have
a difficult time trusting and opening up to adults, but when the therapy
animal comes they are able to open up because of the comfort, unconditional
love they receive from the Therapy Teams, she said.
Create-a-Smile, a Los Angeles based non-profit program that provides
Animal-Assisted-Therapy to a variety of patients in different settings,
was founded by Daniella Ortner to promote the human-animal bond and its
healing benefits. The animals and their owners are specially trained to
visit handicapped, sick or disabled patients to provide specific goals.
They help with their recovery process and/or independence skills.
ìBeing part of ëCreate-a-Smileí and making a difference in your community
is not only an act of kindness but of sanity. Our volunteers are the most
wonderful people and animals who donít wait for miracles to happen, but
create them,î Ortner said.
Getting involved in Pet Assisted Therapy takes a few hours a month
commitment, says Ortner. The animals must go through a certification and
training process offered by Create-a-Smile as well as by participating
hospitals like the Huntington. This is to ensure complete safety for the
patients and the pet/owner teams as well, she said.
Training manuals describe the protocol to be followed. Animals wear
identification tags, and colorful scarves or harnesses. They are leashed
at all times, and the volunteers will bring extra leashes if someone wants
to walk a dog. Confidentially is ensured for patients; the list of facilities
is not published, nor are visitors allowed to observe a visit at most facilities
unless they are certified volunteers, said Kepes. Polaroids are used for
immediate gratification as well as protecting privacy, she said.
The volunteers understand the benefits of Pet Assisted Therapy both
for themselves and the recipients. For Lau, ìIt is very, very rewarding.î
ìSomething almost sacred happens with these kids,î said Kepes.
-30-
|
