Health Care Heroes

Molly Merryman, Charleston, SC  

One of my favorite events in Charleston is the annual Health Care Heroes recognition event at the Francis Marion Hotel sponsored by the Charleston Regional Business Journal where professionals, nurses, volunteers, engineers and physicians are honored for their extraordinary acts of service and heroism. A couple of years ago they added the Pet Therapy category and this evening Molly our star took the award home.

Molly and her Pet Therapist/owner Jim Merryman go on volunteer rounds at three different hospitals in Charleston. A few years ago the CEO at Mount Pleasant Hospital at that time, came looking for her and led Molly into the Intensive Care Unit - not on the usual route for a therapy dog. Completely out of character for Molly she jumped up on the patient's bed and started licking her face. The patient who had been unresponsive woke up laughing. Well done Molly!

Edit: sorry for all the grammatical errors, kids. I was typing sleepy.

Molly - Pet Therapy

Pet Therapy, Charleston, SC

Molly, the pet therapy dog at Mount Pleasant Hospital was on the receiving end of all the loving this evening when I caught three little elves patting her into a coma. She wasn't complaining at all.

A little healing doggie luvin'...

Gene & Ellie, Charleston, S.C.

My friend Gene is going through a ruthless series of chemo treatments. When Gene went through breast cancer a few years ago, she created a one woman show about her year with cancer that was sold out at each performance, became a Piccolo Festival featured performance and she is still in demand as a keynote speaker at conferences.

Sadly, her story wasn't finished and she is bravely doing battle again.

Gene's friends have rallied and pronounced Wednesday's Fight Like a Girl - Team Gene Day wearing pink to work and offering support. I looked up this week to see that Pet Therapist Caroline Hunt had brought Ellie for a visit sporting a colorful pink bandanna.

Ellie was just the ticket. They snuggled and rubbed noses and then she melted into Gene's lap in the most perfect way as if she knew exactly what was needed. Gene gave us permission to post the photo on her Team Gene facebook site. Prayers and well wishes gratefully accepted. Go Team Gene! We love you!