Holly packed more into one weekend than most people do in a month. We started Friday at the Children’s Hospital, and on Saturday we were helping out at a Lung Cancer Expo at the Integris Cancer Institute. At this rate, Holly’s social calendar may need its own assistant!
A Little Paw-Mail from Holly!
Hello friends!
I had such a busy weekend that I had to personally approve this story before publication. My human was trying to write it by herself, but I caught several serious omissions, including how adorable I was, how many people wanted to hug me, and how everyone agreed I was the best dog ever. Good thing I have such high editorial standards.
Friday’s visit to the Children’s Hospital came with a birthday surprise. It was my human’s birthday, and the kids were so sweet to wish her a happy one. My human smiled and thanked them, then quickly informed everyone that my birthday and Nuggets’ birthday are right around the corner. Apparently she wanted to make sure nobody forgot who the real VIPs are!
With my birthday right around the corner, I assume my humans are busy making party plans worthy of a dog of my stature. The reality is that I’ll be at Boeing on my special day, hanging out with Darbie, Piper, and Dixie. That sounds like a pretty great birthday to me! My human will probably bring treats for all of us to enjoy. I suppose sharing is part of being a good therapy dog, although I still think the birthday girl deserves first pick. 🦴🎉🐕
The children at the hospital were excited to see me for the third week in a row. There were several new kids, but before I could give my usual introduction, my biggest fans jumped right in.
“That’s Holly!”
“She’s really cool!”
“She’s the best dog ever!”
One kid was basically acting as my public relations manager. Another was serving as security. Before long, I felt less like a therapy dog and more like a celebrity making a surprise appearance. If this keeps up, I may need my own autograph line and a tiny bodyguard to help me get through the crowd. 🐾😎
My favorite moment was seeing one of my buddies who used to be terrified of dogs. When a new girl looked a little nervous around me, he jumped right in and said, “Don’t worry, Holly is the best dog ever!” Then he told her all about how scared he was when we first met and how I helped him learn that dogs aren’t so scary after all. These days, he gives me treats, pats my head, and follows me around like we’re old friends. I’m pretty sure he’s even collecting my doggie glitter. Humans call it “shedding,” but I prefer to think of it as limited-edition Holly souvenirs. 🐾✨ After all, not everyone gets to take a piece of Holly home with them!
The hugs kept coming all day long. Honestly, I was working so hard that my tail almost needed an overtime paycheck. My humans are going to have to order more trading cards and stickers because the kids keep asking for extras to share with their brothers and sisters. Of course, we always say yes. Some of the children carefully tuck my cards into their treasure boxes so they can take a little piece of Holly home with them when they get a visitor pass or are finally discharged. At this point, I’m starting to think my trading cards are becoming the hottest collectible in the hospital. Sorry, baseball players. 🐾😎📸
A lot of the kids know my email address now, so maybe I’ll get some holiday messages from my hospital friends. The holidays can be hard when you’re away from home, and if a note from me can brighten someone’s day, that’s pretty special. Plus, I’m secretly hoping for a few emails reminding me that I’m adorable. Not that I need the reassurance, of course. 🐾😂🎄
Speaking of the holidays, my human has already started making Christmas gifts for the children. I’d love to tell you what they are, but apparently “surprise gifts” are supposed to stay a surprise. I can tell you she has to make sixty of them, which seems like a lot of work if you ask me. I can also reveal that they look suspiciously similar to a certain gorgeous Great Pryenes with flowing white fur and movie-star looks. Coincidence? I think not. That’s all I’m saying before my human cuts off my treat budget for leaking classified holiday information. 🐾🎄😎
As if Friday wasn’t busy enough, my social calendar filled up again. We were invited to the Lung Cancer Expo at the Integris Cancer Institute on Saturday. Apparently word is getting out that I’m available for public appearances. Between the hospital, Boeing, libraries, and special events, I’m starting to think I need an assistant to keep track of my schedule. 🐾😎
Of course we said yes.
The Cancer Institute holds a very special place in my heart because it’s where my journey with Integris first began. Several years ago, one of my friends at Lake Hefner would run and play with me while my human watched from nearby. He knew I was already visiting libraries and helping people feel a little happier, so he encouraged my human to look into becoming a hospital therapy dog team. At the time, it was during COVID, and my human didn’t think there was much chance of being accepted. Hospitals were facing so many challenges, and she assumed they probably weren’t bringing on new volunteers. But sometimes the most meaningful journeys begin with a simple suggestion from a friend. 🐾❤️
My friend gave my human a contact name anyway, and with a little encouragement, we decided to apply. To our surprise and excitement, we were accepted. Later, when my human thanked him and asked how he knew exactly who to contact, he shared something he had never told her before. He was being treated for Stage 4 lung cancer. Then he told her the real reason he wanted us to apply.
He hoped I could be his therapy dog during treatment. It was a moment my human has never forgotten. What started as a friend’s simple suggestion turned out to be a deeply personal gift, and from that day forward, I was by his side through every visit. 🐾❤️
Today, he is cancer free, and that makes this one of my very favorite stories. Every time we visit the Cancer Institute, I think about how it all started with one friend, one conversation, and one very important reason for becoming a therapy dog. The picture you’re seeing with him was actually taken five years ago. I know, I know… it’s hard to believe because I still look so young and beautiful. Apparently, being a therapy dog, spreading joy, and accepting lots of treats is the secret to staying forever young. 🐾❤️😊
The Expo itself was a lot of fun. While everyone else worked the booths, I focused on networking, accepting compliments, and posing for photos. A ten-piece band played oldies throughout the event, and my humans spent half the afternoon singing along. I never realized they knew so many songs from the olden days. The good news is they had fun. The better news is nobody asked me to sing. 🐾😂🎵
I spent most of my time entertaining children who weren’t particularly interested in all the cancer information. One little boy decided I looked like a pony and wanted to ride me.
Absolutely not!
I politely stepped away and informed him that I am a therapy dog, not transportation.
His sister spent the day writing me notes telling me I was her new bestie, which seemed much more appropriate.
After about four hours, I was running low on battery power. Even professional therapy dogs need to recharge occasionally. Before we left, they took my picture under a giant pair of pink lungs. I had never seen lungs that large before and, quite honestly, I wasn’t even aware lungs came in giant inflatable versions. Apparently November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, which means giant pink lungs are perfectly normal.
Humans are funny. We celebrate birthdays with cake, awareness months with giant organs, and somehow I’m the one who gets called weird for chasing my tail. 🐾😂💗
By Sunday, my battery was officially at 2%. Even therapy dogs need a day off. I spent most of the day napping, stretching, moving to a different napping spot, and then taking another nap. It’s a skill that takes years to perfect. I also squeezed in a few dreams about treats, belly rubs, and everyone singing “Happy Birthday” to me. 🐾😂
I’ll be back at the airport on Wednesday for more adventures.
Thanks for coming along on another Holly adventure! I hope you’re enjoying these stories as much as I’m enjoying making them happen. Now it’s time for me to rest up because Wednesday is airport day, my birthday is coming up, and being this cute doesn’t happen by accident. 🐾✈️🎂😆
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See you on the next adventure!
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