BooBoo, St. Joseph's First Therapy Dog
The Therapy Dog Program began to honor BooBoo Lopez, our first ever Therapy dog, who began his service to St. Joseph’s in 2005. BooBoo was found abandoned on the side of the road just outside the home of Carolyn and Rudy Lopez. When Carolyn was hospitalized for three months in our Skilled Nursing facility during her battle with cancer, BooBoo came to visit, forming instant connections with patients, staff and other visitors.
This inspired Carolyn, who has been volunteering at St. Joseph's since 1995 to get BooBoo officially certified as a therapy dog. The pair returned to St. Joseph's Medical Center as volunteers, bringing comfort to patients in the Cancer Center. As the program grew, the entire hospital was visited by BooBoo and an ever-growing pack of Therapy Dogs, following in BooBoo's small but mighty pawprints.
"BooBoo Hugs For You": a special stuffed animal and card are given out across the hospital by Carolyn and other members of the BooBoo family.
While the entire hospital benefits from BooBoo's legacy, the Cancer Center remains a special place - one where BooBoo visited both Carolyn and Rudy during their battles with cancer, and where the therapy dog program began.
Upon BooBoo's passing, St. Joseph's Foundation honored BooBoo with a gift in his name to support wrap-around care for cancer patients. You can contribute to this legacy of healing by donating to the fund below.
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