February 2017 Newsletter
We regularly visit eight different hospitals as a part of our ministry.
Visiting them is truly a service of love.
In the Lobby . . .Working as an LCC K-9 Comfort Dog in a hospital is such a privilege. It is amazing to walk into the lobby and people start asking, is this Phoebe or Pax?
We know from our prospective what it means to volunteer in the hospitals. But to see the other side of the visits, we asked a few of the hospital staff to share, in their words, what it means to have Phoebe or Pax interacting with their patients and other staff members as well. We appreciate their kind and sincere words. "There is much more to healing than traditional medical interventions. The addition of Phoebe, Pax and their team gives us an opportunity to provide an aspect of care that augments physical healing through ministering to the spirit and mind. Magic happens when Phoebe or Pax walk into a unit or a patient's room. It's amazing! Seriously ill patients and their families who haven't smiled for a very long time, start to smile, faces soften, and body tension relaxes. You can sense the transformation through the unconditional love, acceptance and comfort given by Phoebe or Pax. Staff stress levels decrease and more smiles appear. What an incredible gift to be able to give. It's no wonder Phoebe and Pax are the most popular members of the JPS team." -DiAnn Young, MSN, RN, ANP-BC, Palliative Care Program Manager, JPS Health Network |
Down the Hall . . .
We share the mercy and compassion of Christ with the patients as well as the staff. If we can help a staff member slow down and take a breath between busy times, we feel that is time well spent. Hospital personnel have their own cares and concerns outside of their day jobs. But those cares and concerns are put on the back burner while they are at work. If comforting them while they work helps to alleviate extra stress, then we have done our jobs. "Some days, we don't even have time to catch our breath or think about the levity of the situations we face each day. Then we see Phoebe or Pax and their wonderful handlers walk onto our floor and everything can stop for a minute.The visits always mean something different for each patient. It is obvious that God guides each encounter to provide the patients with whatever it is they need that day: peace, comfort, cheer, tears... " -Carly Witulski, RN, Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center - Fort Worth |
Behind the Door
When we knock on the doors, patients don't have to let us come in. After all, they have healing to do. But when they answer with a "yes," we are glad to meet and visit with them. We are also honored to pray with them for whatever might be on their hearts. That is a great privilege we don't take for granted. To share prayers with these patients and their families makes our visits come full circle.
"Phoebe and Pax provide such loving compassion to not only our patients but to our staff too! The power of touch and the blessing of being prayed for is so uplifting! To witness the smiles on our patients' faces and see them light up when those precious dogs come in is just an awesome experience! God 's presence is felt, and His love and comfort is spread to all they touch! What a precious gift to be cared for by Pax, Phoebe and their team! Our staff is also prayed for and blessed at every visit! Pax, Phoebe and the whole team... we love you.... you are family... you bless us and we pray continued blessings to this work of God that you provide!" -Donna Hatcher, RN, Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center - Fort Worth To see more hospital pictures click HERE and HERE. |
Contact
St. Paul Lutheran Church
1800 W. Freeway Ft. Worth, TX 76102 (817) 332.2281 k9comfortdog@gmail.com |
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Phoebe and Pax are ministry members of LCC. To learn more go to www.LutheranChurchCharities.org
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