Not all heroes wear capes - or have opposable thumbs. This hero has four legs, a tail and a big heart. Reggie, a four-year-old golden retriever, brings hope and love to patients and families at Children’s Health Care of Atlanta.
As part of the hospital’s Canines for Kids program, Reggie is a beloved, furry friend who gives support and comfort to patients when they need it the most.
“He just has such a fun personality. He loves to snuggle, he loves to work, but he just loves to make people laugh by being a goofball,” Reggie’s owner and handler, Kara Klein, said. “It’s so great to see him in the hospital and to see him make a difference, whether that is by helping motivate a patient or by making them laugh.”
Reggie is responsible for answering consult requests from hospital staff and helping wherever he is needed. Unlike other dogs in the program, Reggie is not assigned to one specific unit at the hospital. He operates throughout the hospital and even attends special events and fundraisers.
Outside of Children’s Health Care of Atlanta, Reggie often visits the Louise and Brett Samsky Preschool at the Marcus Autism Center in Atlanta. He helps the students at the school learn social skills by creating an encouraging, fun environment.
“During my time working with Children’s [Health Care of Atlanta], I was able to see how the presence of Reggie simply lit up an entire room with smiles,” Children’s Health Care of Atlanta spokeswoman Kaylie Beacham said. “Reggie is truly a superstar!”
At the beginning of each workday, his handler asks the medical team what Reggie can do to help specific patients reach their treatment goals. The duo then go room to room, spending time with patients and offering individualized care.
“Our dogs have this innate ability to know what a patient needs from them at that moment,” Klein said. “Reggie knows when to be serious, but he also knows how to be silly and make someone laugh.”