By Yuko Morita
Therapy Dog Handler
Shine On! Therapy Dog Program
Perhaps you know that Bailey visits children in hospital to support them and their families. However, did you know that Bailey also visits expectant mothers in the hospital? While children get priority, Bailey visits the obstetrics ward once a week, so that expectant mothers can also receive the pleasure of his company. Bailey enjoys the visits too.
The ward is a separate one for expectant mothers who have become ill and hospitalized during their pregnancy. Most of the expectant mothers are not able to move around much, and have to lie in bed all day. Being sick before giving birth, they have to think about the welfare of their child. These mothers never lose hope concerning their baby’s birth.
When Bailey enters the room, his smiling face says “You are doing your best to win the prize” and “It is good that you are here in the hospital” as he meets with the tearful patients. Furthermore, the children mentioned above, and the isolated expectant mothers say, “It is like having a face to face meeting with a child. I didn’t realize that a dog could have such a therapeutic effect.”
“I will be waiting for you next week,” they all say with smiling faces as they farewell him.
Maybe they have found a little piece in their heart for a moment, and that peace is Bailey’s gift to the expectant mothers and their unborn children.
1 Comment
ベイリーちゃん元気ですか？
ベイリーちゃんから元気をもらえて元気に退院し、毎日すこしづつ大きくなっています。
べいりーちゃんが妊婦さんのとこに行ってるってはじめて知りました。子供たちだけでなく、入院されてるみんなのベイリーちゃんなんですね。
以前、入院していた時にベイリーちゃんが病棟に行くとこをみました。今も病院の方に通院してます。またベイリーちゃんに会えたらいいなぁとおもっています。
ベイリーちゃんありがとう。