By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    stress management for healthcare workers
    3 Tips For Healthcare Professionals: How To Stay Beautiful, Healthy, and Happy
    November 2, 2021
    importance of relaxing on the weekend for your health
    Importance of Relaxing During the Weekend for Optimal Health
    March 25, 2022
    LASIK Eye Surgery
    What Is LASIK Eye Surgery?
    May 16, 2022
    Latest News
    7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
    August 20, 2025
    Hospital Pest Control and the Fight Against Superbugs
    August 20, 2025
    Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
    August 13, 2025
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    August 3, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    healthcare IT
    Telemedicine’s Achilles’ Heel: The Telephone
    May 16, 2013
    Disaster Management
    September 9, 2017
    health IT
    ikaSystems CEO Joe Marabito on Transforming Health Plan IT Systems [TRANSCRIPT]
    June 7, 2013
    Latest News
    How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
    August 22, 2025
    How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
    August 22, 2025
    How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
    August 22, 2025
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Furry Crutches
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Wellness > Furry Crutches
Wellness

Furry Crutches

Andrew Schorr
Andrew Schorr
Share
5 Min Read
SHARE

Randall Goskowicz and Zoey

Randall Goskowicz and Zoey

I was reflecting on the heroic ways my fellow patients go about their day and struggle not to be defined or confined by their disease. We all have our secret methods of coping, which—in speaking to my fellow clinic patients—run from changing socks after a night sweat to the overall benefits of chocolate.

I would be holding back if I didn’t reveal my personal therapist: my dog Zoey. I regret to expound in this manner and make extensive apologies to non-dog people who I don’t get the connection between Homo sapiens and Canus familiarus. Still, I can’t help myself.

Zoey is an Australian labradoodle, a non-shedding canine bred from a long line of therapy dogs. We initially acquired her as a pup two years ago, because we wanted a dog who could come to the hospital with me and who would volunteer there with my son. Zoey is an empathetic soul, capable of feeling out the nature of a patient’s need, and providing peace and love. For some patients she is outgoing, while for others she sits back to draw them out. Many of our elderly hospital patients can’t own an animal anymore, and she gives them the chance to be with her. It is amazing to watch the stress drain away from our patients when she trots into the room.

My relationship with Zoey has evolved over the last two years. When she first came to us, my father was alive and symptom-free from his malignancy. This was also before my own diagnosis when I had a great deal more energy, and the full scope of my life seemed endless. She began as the Family Dog, with my responsibilities defined by her need for elimination. Yet, she was different even as a puppy. She quickly learned how to focus her amazing array of human sensors on each of our family members and determine who needed what from her. She would make the rounds, checking on each of us, playing ball with one, and contentedly offering her belly to another.

When my father died and the ceiling fell in, she ministered to each of us. Her ball got tucked away for a long while, as we explored the new normal of a household touched by one death and by the threat of another. In our mourning, Zoey offered us comfort and gave us a reason to get up that day.

As my disease progressed and fatigue set in, I found Zoey willing to lay down with me at mid-day. When I was ready to get back out in the world, she was my walking companion. The onset of therapy has been an adjustment. High-dose methylprednisolone leaves me agitated, tremulous and unable to rest. She will pace with me, check on me when I’m having a sweat, and walk down to the kitchen with me regardless of the time of night. I believe she knows that I am not myself, but she accepts me all the same.

And at the end of the day when night has fallen, I can always rely upon my “daughter” to bring me her leash and survey me for signs of life. She gives me the opportunity to seize normalcy from the day. I suspect that I’m not the only patient out there with a therapy (or at least therapeutic) animal. I would be grateful to hear from you about your own personal therapist.

In the meanwhile, be well!

Sincerely,

Randall Goskowicz, MD, CLL Patient

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

engineer fitting prosthetic arm
How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
Health care
August 20, 2025
a woman explaining the document
How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
Public Health
August 20, 2025
physiotherapist at work
How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
Health care
August 20, 2025
Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs
7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
Health News
August 20, 2025

You Might also Like

Why Didn’t the Dog Bark? A Study On Dog Cognition

May 22, 2012
middle aged health tips
Senior CareWellness

9 Critical Health Guidelines for Middle-Aged Men

January 28, 2020
Home HealthWellness

Kratom Tea vs. Matcha: Know The Differences And Similarities

July 13, 2020
Health careWellness

5 Easy Choices For Better Health In 2020

January 14, 2020
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?