Overcoming cancer is a remarkable feat for anyone, and it’s sure to touch everyone’s heartstrings when it’s a therapy dog. As per WFMY News 2, a therapy dog named Quinn has beaten cancer and entered remission.
Quinn works at Randolph Health in North Carolina and was diagnosed with lymphoma in June. He concluded his chemotherapy treatment on Nov. 27.
The dog is all better now, and on Tuesday, Dec. 5, he rang the “cancer survivor bell” at the same hospital he worked at to celebrate, WXII 12 reports.
Therapy dog trained every night to ring the bell
At Randolph Health, nurse Patty Cox displayed her woodworking skills, fashioning a special wooden bell holder for Quinn. The dog’s owner, Marsha Rogers, also showed immense dedication as she diligently practiced with him every night, preparing him to ring the bell for the big day.
Quinn volunteers at the hospital alongside his owner, Rogers, who has worked with therapy dogs for more than three decades.
Rogers has pet insurance for Quinn, which allowed the dog to obtain a chemotherapy treatment plan.
Tabitha Dixon is the hospital’s Director of Clinical Support. She told WFMY News 2, “We just knew that he was gonna beat this, and so it’s such a full circle moment for us here at Randolph Health.”
Service dog helped hospital staff and patients throughout pandemic
The Golden Retriever began his service at the hospital during the pandemic when staff and patients needed support the most.
Dixon explained, “It was a really uncertain time, things were constantly changing … and it was an emotional time for us, and so when Quinn came in, it just changed the morale of the entire department.”
While he couldn’t offer medical treatment or even speak — at least not in a conventional way — the therapy dog provided solace and comfort to everyone he met.
Jen Hamilton is a nurse and TikTok influencer with 3.3 million followers. She commented, “It’s such an unexpected comfort that we can bring in cause it’s not normal to see animals in a hospital setting.” Continuing, she added, “So, it kind of brings a creature comforts of home maybe they have pets at home that bring them comfort, and it kind of takes their mind off the things that are happening to them at the moment.”
The nurses at the hospital believe that Quinn’s victory over cancer has marked a significant moment in the hospital’s history
According to Larissa Skipper, Clinical Supervisor of PICU, “You don’t see these celebrations often, I mean, we have cancer patients that you know beat cancer, you just don’t see animals getting this kind of treatment and getting through it and surviving.”
