UCLA – Page 3 – Me and the Doods.com

Walking with Pumpkins

It may be hard to believe that a semi-reformed Halloween Scrooge like myself is writing about the holiday for the second week in a row. Just to clarify, I haven’t gone to the dark side with scary skeletons and creepy clowns.

For instance, I couldn’t believe that recently there was an article in the newspaper naming the top ten favorite horror movies of all time. Seriously? My daughters used to watch those when they were younger and I would run out of the room screaming.

ELBEE Personally, I really enjoy Psycho and The Shining.

Since Monday was actually Halloween, I decided to get into the spirit. I put on my festive shirt and took Gus and Stanley out for a walk dressed as pumpkins.

ELBEE Yes, she was that woman.

I was amazed at how many people we met. Some stopped to take photos of their own dogs with Gus and Stanley. Kids came over to see them. Even a little girl who was slightly afraid had her mom bring her closer.

As we were passing a house where they were filming, an acquaintance who lived there came over to say hello to the dogs. Then we were joined by a few women who walk in the neighborhood. Before I knew it, several of the crew members came over to see the pumpkin dogs. It was like a regular Halloween party.

Suddenly, the officer who was working security approached. I figured he was probably coming over to tell us to move along. Instead, with a big smile, he asked, “Didn’t you used to work with the program started by Roberta Weintraub?”

As it turned out, I had spent several years as a fitness trainer with the Police Academy Magnet Program that my late, dear friend Roberta had created. I had the privilege of working with some incredible high school students, many from the inner city, interested in going into law enforcement. The kids were guided by a group of amazing, dedicated police officers. Mark Horton, whom I ran into that morning, was one of them!

And who would think that a throwback photo of Gus & Stanley that popped up on my phone would trigger Halloween nostalgia. They were in multicolored wigs that reminded me of a UCLA visit back in 2017 with sweet Charley, my very first therapy dog.

Since then Gus, Stanley and even Henry have had the pleasure.

ELBEE Et moi?

Somehow over the last few Halloweens, Carol, honorary “aunt” to the Doods and I have taken over the wigs and I must say we look fabulous.

ELBEE Do we even need to play who wore it better?

A Whole Lotta Halloween

My husband has always been a big fan of Halloween. He uses his surgical skills to carve pumpkins. He used to decorate the house for elaborate holiday parties and even dressed up to take the kids trick or treating. Me, not so much.

ELBEE I believe she’s what you’d call a Halloween Scrooge.

I don’t mind cute decorations like smiling pumpkins or happy scarecrows. I just don’t understand the creepy clowns and the gravestones that say, “Let Me Out.” And what’s with all of the skulls and skeletons?

I mean, take this house for example. Skeletons and spiders?

ELBEE Hello! That’s her daughter’s house in San Jose.

Even aside from Halloween, I don’t like being scared. One time at an amusement park my daughters talked me into joining them on a roller coaster. Right before it was going to take off, I panicked and tried to convince the guy in charge to let me off. I’ll never forget when he looked at me and said, “Lady relax. It’s just two minutes.” Those were two of the longest minutes of my life.

This year, thanks to the dogs, I caught the Halloween spirit. There were even costumes involved.

ELBEE A t-shirt with a pumpkin on it and a crazy wig is a costume?

On our regular days at Tarzana Hospital and UCLA, I brought accessories like pumpkin headbands and Halloween glasses. I did a silly photo shoot with the Doods. I was on a Halloween roll.

But the best part was Friday. Several of the costumed PAC dogs, including Gus and Stanley, as pumpkins, and four “lion” labs, went to cheer up the kids in the pediatric unit at UCLA.

There was constant excitement everywhere we went but one interaction really stood out. The Halloween pack went in to see a six year old girl who is battling cancer. Despite her illness and her bald head, she was a little dynamo in Halloween pajamas. She was the picture of sheer happiness as they came into her room.

Hearing her adorable giggle as she petted and hugged each of the dogs was a gift I will never forget. So was seeing her young dad wipe a tear from his eye.

Before leaving, we stopped in the administration office to share the dogs. Gus and Stanley love everyone in there but were so tired from all of their visits that they sprawled on the floor to relax. It seemed like such a good idea that, laughing, we joined them. That’s when Jen, the director of PAC, walked in, took a look at all of us and said, “Guess that’s a Halloween wrap.”

Happy Halloween from a former Halloween Scrooge!

We’re Having a Heat Wave

ELBEE That title makes me feel like singing but it’s too hot.

The recent heat wave almost makes me miss the blizzards we had when I was growing up in Syracuse…almost. It’s tough on the Doods too. They’ll walk to the door when they need to go out and then just stand there when they realize how hot it is.

In the house, they gravitate to the coolest spots. They like to hang out in the shower or wrapped around a toilet.

Stanley and Gus worked last week and I have to say, the perfectly controlled hospital temperature was a treat. At UCLA I drove up to the valet so we walked right into the lobby. Once we were up in our regular neuropsych units, I completely forgot about the heat, caught up in the joy and excitement of Stanley’s arrival.

As we sat on the floor with everyone gathered around us, one boy kept glancing from me to Stanley, and finally asked, “Were you here a few years ago with two other dogs?” Turns out that he remembered meeting Charley and Elbee. Sadly, the kids in neuropsych are frequently in and out of the hospital over time but they all seem to have positive memories of the dogs. Many still have their trading cards.

Since the dogs usually do bring out the best in everyone, I was a little surprised when one of the teens told me he was a bit upset that Stanley was there. Then he laughed and said, “I like to be angry and I can’t be angry when he’s here.”

At Tarzana we had to walk from the garage to the hospital entrance. It wasn’t bad when we got there, but when we were leaving, I was so worried about the hot sidewalk that I carried Gus. One man, seeing me with my arms full, looked at me a little strangely. I nodded to the hot sidewalk and he smiled and said, “You’re a good dog mom.”

STANLEY She never carries me.

In the elevator coming down, Gus had been sniffing a woman’s shoes. Trying to be friendly I had remarked,”Oh, you must have a dog.” I was speechless when she answered, “No. I have a cat and three snakes.”

ELBEE That’s what she gets for being such a yenta!

The Doods Love a Picnic

UCLA had a staff picnic last week. Maybe because COVID has prevented such large gatherings, the mood was especially festive. Gus and Stanley, plus their canine co-workers Beau and Pitzel, were in their glory with all of the attention.

Gus was with his special partner “Aunt” Carol.

From the catering staff, to groups from seemingly every department, even to the EMT’s, people were delighted just to see the dogs. Petting and hugging them was a bonus.

When we had the dogs do tricks or model an accessory or two, it was like the icing on the cake.

ELBEE Seriously? Icing on the cake.

As always, even in the midst of so much activity, there were special moments. A man quietly asked me the dogs’ names. When I introduced Stanley, the most soulful look came over the man’s face. He told me that he’d had a very special chihuahua mix named Stanley that he’d rescued when it was older.

He still missed him every day and had never met another dog with that name. I shared that Stanley was named after my wonderful brother who had been gone for years but whom I still missed. We were two strangers comforting each other.

A woman and her teenage daughter came over to take photos of Gus and Stanley in their fancy glasses. Suddenly, the girl began telling me how much therapy dog visits mean to her.

She has a chronic illness that requires frequent infusions that take up to two hours. She said that as soon as they bring in a dog and put it in her lap her whole mood changes. She feels more comfortable and relaxed and has an easier time with the procedure.

A few minutes later, a smiling young man called out, “Nice to see you again.” As I was scrambling to remember who he was, he reminded me that we’d met at another UCLA event a few years ago. Actually, I’m a little directionally challenged and he’d helped me find the event.

ELBEE A little? She used to get us lost in the hospital. It was embarrassing.

I was leaving the parking garage, trying to find the plaza where we were supposed to be meeting. Totally lost, I saw the young man and asked him for directions. Realizing that I was clueless, he took the time to walk us over. He was so sweet about it.

We laughed as we reminisced. Then he told me that he was planning a birthday party for his dog. Seventeen of the dog’s friends were invited. I realized that not only is he genuinely nice, he was also helping out a fellow dog lover!

ELBEE In case you’re wondering how she found the picnic, she stopped at the hospital to pick up Jen, the director of the People Animal Connection, to show her how to get there. She and Carol had to call someone named Siri to get back to the hospital on their own.

Tell Me Something Good

When I’m driving to UCLA on Wednesday mornings, I listen to KIIS FM on the radio. I like the music and it’s a welcome diversion from the news.

ELBEE She doesn’t know who half the singers are.

Ryan Seacrest does a segment called “Tell Me Something Good” which encourages people to call in and share something positive. Although I have never called in, I know without a doubt that as soon as I walk into the hospital with the dogs, something good is going to happen.

Actually at UCLA it’s often as soon as I drive up to the busy valet stand in front. Everyone is very welcoming, but there is one young woman who really stands out. She greets me by name and then peeks into the car as she asks “Did you bring Gus or Stanley today?” She’s an absolute delight.

Visiting kids in the neuropsych units, I never cease to be amazed at how the dogs can bring so much joy to young people with major problems.. Wednesday, several of the teenage girls were sitting on the floor with Gus smiling and chatting as they put French braids in his hair.

ELBEE They also told her she looked like Dolly Parton but quickly added that it was a good thing.

On a recent Friday, two more good things stood out when I took Stanley to Tarzana Hospital. We went in to visit a little boy who was around 5 or 6. His face lit up when he saw Stanley in the doorway of his room. As soon as Stanley walked over to the bed, the adorable patient started laughing, a great big belly laugh that only got louder as he petted Stanley and clapped for a few of his tricks.

Then I noticed his special dinosaur blanket on the bed, and coincidentally happened to have a pair of dinosaur sunglasses with me.

ELBEE Of course she did.

When I put them on Stanley, the boy burst into a such a huge laugh, he had everyone else in the room, including his parents, laughing.

When we were leaving the hospital, it was very hot outside and I was worried about walking Stanley on the concrete, even the short distance to the garage. A security guard, realizing my concern, said that he’d be happy to watch him while I got my car. A few minutes later, I pulled up to the shaded area where they were both waiting and thanked him as he helped Stanley into the back seat.

These may all sound like simple moments but I barely had to think about it before I could tell you something good.

Lights, Camera, Nostalgia

On Tuesday, Stanley and Gus had their photo shoot for the UCLA calendar, a tradition that I have really come to cherish. During COVID, following protocol, the pictures were taken outside. This year we were back on the B level of the hospital, the same area where Charley and Elbee posed for photos years ago.

The theme of the this year’s calendar was the Olympics with Gus and Stanley looking fabulous in their tennis wear. In 2021, when it was a takeoff on movie titles, Gus was a bride and Stanley a groom for “Man’s Best Friend’s Wedding.

ELBEE I would have made a beautiful bride.

For the 2023 calendar shoot, not only were we back in the regular place, but as always, Juliane, the long time photographer, was there to work her magic. Charley, Elbee, Gus and Stanley have all been in her lens.

To make it even more nostalgic, the dogs were dressed as doctors and nurses, just as they have been in the past. Putting Gus and Stanley in their medical gear felt very familiar.

This cover photo is a special part of the People Animal Connection history. It includes some PAC dogs who are no longer with us but whose amazing work will never be forgotten. Charley and Elbee are in the back row on the right.

ELBEE I’m a PAC icon.

What made the afternoon even more fun was the appreciative audience. So many people who were at the scattered tables, working on laptops or eating lunch, had their phones out to capture the dogs in costume. There was lots of laughter as they watched the dogs posing in their outfits. One doctor even asked to take a photo with them.

The next morning when I went back to UCLA with Stanley to visit our regular neuropsych units, he had a very special moment with the teens. As we were gathered in the day room, some of the kids suggested bringing in one particular boy who had severe issues but loved dogs.

A few minutes later, his one-on-one aid brought him in to join us. He had very awkward movement and I believe was severely autistic. He was also non-verbal. Two things immediately stuck me as he stood by the doorway. One was the joy on his face as soon as he saw Stanley. The other was the kindness of the kids in the group. They were so encouraging when he tried to pet Stanley and in almost a whisper said a few words like “soft” and “nice dog.”

Watching his interactions with Stanley really made me think. Dressing the dogs like doctors and nurses for the calendar is lighthearted fun. Yet they all possess such healing spirits.

Celebrate Love & Kindness

On Wednesday, driving to UCLA, I was still reeling from the unspeakable tragedy in Texas. I was also concerned about the kids in neuropsych whom Gus was going to be visiting. Fortunately, when we arrived, I found out that they had been temporarily sheltered from the news.

It turned out to be a beautiful morning with Gus. He was at the top of his game, literally smiling and showing off his tiny teeth as he rolled over for belly rubs. The kids under twelve were as happy as Gus. It was as if they were feeding off of each others’ energy.

The teens were equally engaged, fun and enthusiastic. They shared stories about their dogs and asked how to teach them tricks. But looking into their eyes as we chatted on the outside deck, I worried. Many of them are emotionally fragile so I couldn’t imagine how they would process the news, even with the help of the therapists.

Two of my grandchildren are teenagers so the next day I asked my daughter how they were handling it. She said that, of course, they were sad and upset but they weren’t shocked. Their school has “active shooter” drills. When I was growing up in Syracuse, all we had was the occasional fire drill.

Fortuitously, after leaving our units we headed outside to help celebrate Unity and Kindness Day. It was a UCLA Health event being held in conjunction with Nurses’ Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. A few of the People Animal Connection dogs and a miniature horse were perfect additions to the festivities.

Health care workers were selecting random acts of kindness or writing customized messages on pieces of paper to hang on a golden ring. It was to showcase their good intentions in the coming days. A chaplain quieted the crowd to speak movingly about what is going on in the world. Then he asked for a moment of silence.

As I sat down at my computer today, I wanted to write something positive and respectful, almost like another moment of silence. I hoped that a feel good post would bring some comfort without trivializing the senseless loss of life. We need to reach out to each other with love and kindness, in the hope that we will find unity.

More Special Moments

This week was all dog all the time. They had more activities than my daughters did when they were little. Looking back it seems like a blur of fur and wagging tails, but then, as always, there were moments that stood out.

Stanley visited the neuropsych units at UCLA. On our way in to see the teens, I heard one of the therapists say, almost to herself, “They’re all so depressed. I hope the dog can do something.” Glancing into the day room, I saw what she meant.

Miraculously, as we walked in, I could feel the mood shift. Most of the kids dropped down on the floor with us. Even the few who stayed at the tables were watching. At first they just quietly petted Stanley but as he lightly put his paws on them and went in for belly rubs, they started warming up.

When he did a few tricks, they really got involved. And no one could resist the accessories. They laughed at the purple sunglasses and the tiaras. It relaxed them enough that they began chatting, telling me about their dogs, sharing stories.

I confess, I also used a photo that I knew would get their attention, the one of me lifting Stanley. Two of the boys immediately said, “You’re bench pressing him!”

ELBEE She can’t help herself. It was cheesy but it worked.

The next day I brought Gus to UCLA for a nurse appreciation meeting but his moment was in the lobby. A patient’s family was sitting on a bench outside of Maddie’s Room. As soon as they saw Gus, two of the men grinned and waved us over.

GUS I was looking particularly fluffy and fabulous.

Knowing how difficult it can be for family and friends who are waiting for word about loved ones, I had Gus do a few tricks to distract them.

When he did his special dance, one of the men stood up, began singing and dancing with him. It was one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen. They lit up the lobby.

This photo was another moment. I took it at the “spa” right after they’d been bathed. Jen, the wonderful groomer who pampers the Doods, wrapped them up in a heart. What could be more perfect!

Gratitude Remembered

At UCLA, Gus and Stanley spend the majority of time working with groups of all ages in the neuropsych units. Since returning to Tarzana Hospital a few months ago, our visits have been focused on the staff, many of whom are still dealing with the emotional toll of COVID.

Last week, Gus went back to doing individual room visits at Tarzana. I had almost forgotten what it was like to knock on a door and watch a patient’s face light up at seeing him standing there.

ELBEE One time when she knocked and asked if the patient would like a visit, the patient looked at her and said, “Not really.” The she saw me, smiled and said, “Please, come in.”

As soon as I put Gus on a patient’s bed, there was an instant personal connection. We had easy conversation while they cuddled with him.

A woman who worked from home told me that friends and family were always dropping off their dogs for her to watch so she usually had several at once. Gus was just what she needed. A woman who did animal rescue was eager to share stories. An elderly patient confided that she liked dogs more than people.

ELBEE That is a wise woman.

We went in to see a little boy around three years old. For a moment he was a bit shy but as soon as Gus waved and did his little dance he started giggling. He was delighted when his parents said it was okay to put Gus on the bed. They seemed so relieved at the distraction while they happily showed me videos of their Labradoodles.

Because it had been awhile, I was overwhelmed with gratitude at watching Gus do his up close magic. He helped patients forget their pain and their anxiety. He made the hospital rooms disappear. A woman in the cardiac unit summed it up when she said “He makes my heart feel better.”

Coincidentally, it was Patient Experience Week, a time to celebrate how the health care staff impacts patient experience. Gus, Stanley and all of their fellow therapy dogs may not technically be staff, but they are definitely health care workers at their finest.

Adventures With Henry

This morning, I headed up a steep trail with Henry, enjoying the challenge and the beauty of the mountains, especially with the wildflowers still in their full glory. Near the top, I met two women sitting on the trail. I asked if everything was okay and one answered that she was just waiting. I assumed she meant resting. Turns out I was wrong.

A few minutes later a red helicopter started circling. I assumed it was doing routine fire patrol. I was wrong again.

It began flying lower and lower in tight circles. Eventually the door opened and someone rappelled out the side. Other rescue workers suddenly materialized out of nowhere.

I found out from one of the women whom I’d met coming up that the other woman had broken her leg and called for help. She added that the injured woman was 58 so her bones were pretty brittle. I didn’t share my age!

Henry and I were standing on an overlook with a few other people while all of the chaos was going on. We were afraid to move and get in the way. After quite some time, it seemed that everything was under control. I believe they brought an ambulance up dirt Mulholland, a drivable area, to transport the woman down.

But let me tell you, the wind from a hovering helicopter is like a tornado. We were getting pelted by pebbles and my sunglasses blew off my face and into the canyon below.

ELBEE Good thing she buys cheap ones because she always loses them.

On the bright side it was great training for Henry. I couldn’t have thought of a better way to desensitize him to loud noises.

Our other adventure this week was much lower key. We were walking on dirt Mulholland when a woman called out, “Aren’t you part of the PAC program?” Surprised, I told her that I was.

ELBEE She never would have recognized her if she’d been alone.

It turned out she was an ICU nurse at UCLA who loved the People Animal Connection. She knew Stanley and Gus plus thought she had met Charley years ago. She asked me about Henry who was being so sweet with her.

As soon as I told her that he was an eleven month old puppy in training, she couldn’t wait to call her friend, a PICU nurse at the hospital. While they were talking she decided to FaceTime so that her friend could see him too.

After she finished the call and was getting ready to leave, she took a moment to tell me how much it meant to the staff to have the dogs back in the hospital. She said they were truly helping everyone cope with the ongoing stress of COVID.

It was such a random but heartwarming encounter. The dogs continue to bring so much unexpected light into my life.