health

Organ
Donor
Shabbat

SEAN COOK

A Furry Friend

Therapy dog brings joy, comfort to cancer patients and others.

ELIZABETH KATZ SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

C

formal therapy dog training two
ancer patients can experi-
years ago with Therapy Dogs
ence a variety of emotions
International, a volunteer organi-
as they undergo treatment
— depression due to great-
zation that regulates, tests
ABOVE: Beth
er isolation; boredom as
and registers therapy dogs
Davidson, left, and their volunteer handlers
they spend long hours in
the chemotherapy infusion interacts with to visit nursing homes and
chair; and a sense of help- cancer patient hospitals or wherever thera-
Kay Snyder, who py dogs are needed.
lessness because of their
enjoys spending
diagnosis.
Connor not only pro-
time with Beth’s
Panaceas exist, however,
vides comfort to patients
emotional
in the form of creatures
at Karmanos, he also vis-
support dog
with four legs, sparkling
its people at JVS’ “Caring
Connor.
eyes and soft fur.
Companions” adult day care
Beth Davidson of
program, JVS’ Brown Jewish
Birmingham provides such a pan-
Community Adult Day Program in
acea with her Schnoodle Connor,
West Bloomfield and Kadima, a
a mixed-breed dog with physical
mental health services agency.
and behavioral traits of a Poodle
“Connor is very accepting and
and Schnauzer.
loves to be petted,” Davidson said.
Davidson regularly visits the
“He gives lots of kisses and he’s
Karmanos Cancer Institute’s
just very affectionate. Connor is a
Weisberg Cancer Treatment
people dog. He enjoys being with
Center in Farmington Hills, where people.”
Connor spends time with patients,
Pet therapy is the latest addition
their families and staff in the wait- to the Leah A. Davidson Healing
ing areas, the infusion center and
Arts Program at Karmanos. Other
staff offices.
free, complementary programs
“It’s an incredibly calming fac-
include art therapy, Tai Chi, mas-
tor, having a pet,” said Davidson,
sage, yoga, Reiki, guided imagery,
who worked for more than 35
a children’s art therapy program
years as a banker and mortgage
and meditation.
manager before her retirement.
Davidson, who provides therapy
“It’s rewarding for me and com-
dog services on a volunteer basis,
bines with what I wanted to do
is married to Jeff Davidson, who
when I retired. I wanted to do
was married to Leah for 41 years.
more to give back.”
Leah passed away from leukemia
Davidson has owned Connor,
in December of 2011. She was a
now 8 years old, since he was 4
Karmanos patient who wanted to
months old. Connor went through leave a legacy of caring for cancer
patients.
Thus, the Leah A. Davidson
Anyone wishing to contribute to the Leah A.
Healing Arts Fund was established
Davidson Healing Arts Fund can go to
at Karmanos after her passing.
karmanos.org/leahfund. Checks can also be
The fund supports the healing arts
mailed to the Karmanos Cancer Institute, Leah
programs.
A. Davidson Fund, Code VE01FS, 4100 John R,
“Relieving stress is a primary
Detroit, MI 48201.
goal of the Healing Arts Program,”
For more information about Karmanos,
said Kathleen Hardy, oncology
call 1-800-KARMANOS (1-800-527-6266)
social worker at Karmanos.
or visit karmanos.org. For information about
“There are proven benefits to
supportive services at Karmanos, contact
having an emotional support ani-
Kathleen Hardy at (248) 538-4712 or email
mal in the cancer center and/or in
the patient’s home. They provide
her at hardyk@karmanos.org.
companionship and affection.

56

November 23 • 2017

jn

Animals can sense your emotional
state and will stay by your side.
Just gazing into a pet’s eyes can
trigger a flood of feel-good emo-
tions.”
Hardy mentioned that the fund
provides financial support to can-
cer patients who wish to have a
cat or dog to provide emotional
support but cannot afford to make
the purchase. The fund has so far
assisted two patients with the pur-
chase of animals.
Zoe Marcus, a head and neck
cancer patient who comes to
Karmanos for regular checkups,
said that her own emotional thera-
py dog Zeke, whom she purchased
herself, helped lift her from the dark
place she found herself in when she
was diagnosed with cancer.
“My focus changed immediately
from my health issues to my pup’s
needs,” she said. “He was only 10
weeks old and 2.2 pounds when
he came to live with me as a ther-
apy animal. He was a true baby
who needed care 24/7,” she said.
“There was no time to focus on
myself, at least not to the extent of
hyper-focusing on cancer. It was a
welcome distraction.
“Holding and cuddling Zeke
gave me a sense of calm I hadn’t
experienced in a very long time.
I noticed right away that my fear
was at a much lower level. I could
breathe easier, all from just being
physically close to Zeke.”
Therapy dogs like Connor not
only bring joy to cancer patients
and their families, owners of
therapy dogs derive pleasure from
them, too, as Davidson observed.
“I knew Connor had the ability
to give back and to bring joy to
people’s lives,” she said. “Spending
time with him while he gives back
brings joy to me. This work is tre-
mendously fulfilling to me.” •

Elizabeth Katz is the manager of exter-
nal marketing & communications at the
Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.

Temple Shir
Shalom
in West
Bloomfield
will be cen-
ter stage for
an incred-
ible event
Emily Stillman
at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec.
1, as it hosts
Organ Donor
Shabbat.
Alicia
and Michael
Stillman,
whose daugh-
ter Emily
Ian and Gary
passed away
Burnstein
from the
effects of
meningitis
in 2013 and
who have
since started
the Emily
Stillman
Foundation,
will speak to
the congrega-
Amy Silverstein
tion.
An addi-
tional speaker is Ian Burnstein,
a recent kidney transplant
recipient, whose father Gary
founded the Gary Burnstein
Community Health Clinic in
Pontiac in 2004 to provide
health care for the uninsured
and indigent. The clinic pro-
vides primary free health care
and dental services for low-
income individuals and their
families.
Although Dr. Burnstein died
several years ago, his family
continues to operate the clinic
and care for the same families
he had provided for.
Additionally, Amy Silverstein
of New York, who has received
two donor hearts and is the
author of the best-selling book
My Glory, will talk about the
importance of being an organ
donor.
Temple Shir Shalom is locat-
ed at 3999 Walnut Lake Road
at the corner of Orchard Lake
Road. All are welcome.•

