Texas Children’s therapy dog Elsa is almost two years old and she sure knows how to warm patients’ hearts on Valentine’s Day.
Wearing a bright red heart-shaped necklace, Elsa and her handler, Sarah Herbek, were busy making their rounds on the inpatient floors of West Tower bringing plenty of smiles to children’s faces.
“Knock, knock, Elsa is here delivering Valentine’s,” Herbek said as she and Elsa visited 6-year-old Texas Children’s patient Abigail Arias in her hospital room.
“She is so beautiful,” Abigail said, as Elsa surprised her with a pink heart-shaped Valentine’s Day card while Abigail’s parents, grandparents and brother looked on with excitement.
Making these special deliveries to patient families was enjoyable for Elsa too. With every card delivery, she received a reward – whether it was a hug, a pet on the head, a tummy rub or a few treats from her handler.
Christian Edmonds is grateful to Texas Children’s for allowing a therapy dog to visit patients, like his 7-year-old daughter Isabel, who is an oncology patient here. Having Elsa drop by made her day extra special.
“Isabel really likes dogs and having someone bring Elsa to visit her, really helped to break up the monotony of being in a hospital room all day,” Edmonds said. “This was very special to Isabel.”
The cards that Elsa delivered were made by Girl Scout troops and schools from elementary to college levels. Several Texas Children’s departments – The Central Business Office and Social Workers – made several as well.