Patient Spotlight
Josie and her brother Sherman are Cardigan Welsh Corgis owned by Betty Jean and
Dale Greig. At only a few days old, Josie developed a severe infection in a front leg
that required amputation at the shoulder. When Josie was 9 months old, the Chief Hand
and Arm Surgeon from the Cleveland Clinic met her and commented, “There are a lot of
kids who need to meet her and see how she has overcome her handicap and learned to
compensate for that loss.” After some extra training, both Josie and Sherman became
registered through Therapy Dogs International to help people, especially children.
Both Josie and Sherman have affected the lives of patients and families at the
Cleveland Clinic and Ronald McDonald House. They have worked with children who suffer
from all different types of diseases, but Josie and Sherman don’t care who you are,
where you are from or what language you speak. If they can comfort you or make you
laugh and smile, then they are happy.
For example, during a hospital visit a mother was pushing her 16 year-old daughter in a
wheelchair when Josie spotted her. Mrs. Greig took Josie over to visit with her, but the
girl was not able to lift her head up or sit up straight in the chair. Her speech was
difficult to understand, but her actions were clear, could Josie come sit on her lap? The
girl tried very hard to pet Josie, but sort of bopped her instead. Josie didn’t seem to
mind as the girl was smiling and laughing. With a warm and furry dog on her lap, the girl’
s problems were gone for the moment. Two weeks later the girl’s parents described how
their daughter went through 13 hours of surgery and could now hold her head up and
move her arms. While they talked they began to unwind and relax as they pet Josie for
over an hour.
Another patient at the Cleveland MetroHealth Hospital had been hurt in an accident and
was sitting in his wheelchair. This young man in his late teens was petting Josie and
when he noticed her missing leg he said, “I feel your pain.” As Josie stretched up to give
him a lick on the chin, Mrs. Greig told the young man that Josie also felt his pain. His
leg had been amputated two days earlier.
Sherman provided excitement for an 18 month-old boy who has been waiting for a new
heart. When he sees the dogs, the boy smiles from ear to ear, laughs, and shouts with
joy. Sometimes the boy is allowed to hold Sherman’s leash so that he can be walk’n the
dog. In fact, Josie is the first recipient of a non-competitive award called "Champion of
the Heart" from the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America. Comforting to anyone in
need, Josie and Sherman show love and understanding to all of these patients in a way
that nobody but a dog can.
