our supporters:Barbara
"I believe Barbara F. personifies the definition of an Everyday Hero and should be recognized for her dedication to serving others.
What began as a passion for the Guide Dogs for the Blind program has evolved into something much deeper for Barbara F., department administrator for the Telecommunications department.
A volunteer guide dog trainer since 1998, Barbara stumbled into pet therapy when two of her guide dogs-in-training, Denmark and Lolly, did not meet the requirements to become guide dogs.
Barbara decided to certify Denmark and Lolly in pet therapy to take advantage of each dog's people-friendly personality. Denmark is very intuitive and can sense when a patient or staff member wants to visit with her, while Lolly loves working with children.
Barbara brings Denmark to the Medical Center each Monday/Wednesday/Friday, and she brings Lolly on Tuesday/Thursday.
Barbara, Denmark and Lolly are so popular around the South Bay Medical Center that they don't need to advertise their services. In fact, Barbara oftentimes has requests for pet therapy on her voicemail when she arrives at her desk in the morning. Physicians, employees, patients and their family members see Barbara and her dogs walking the hallways and frequently request pet therapy visits.
The Emergency Room staff particularly enjoys pet therapy visits as a way to cope with the demands of their high-pressure jobs. Barbara's pet therapy has helped countless hospital patients, who may feel lonely or scared when they're hospitalized. The pet therapy allows them to relax and receive some loving attention from a furry friend.
For example, on one occasion Denmark led Barbara to a hospital patient, and Denmark sat with the patient for a while. At the end of the session Denmark gave the patient a goodnight 'kiss' on her cheek, and the patient started crying tears of joy. She said that no one had kissed her goodnight since her husband passed away.
According to hospital policies, pet therapy dogs must be certified and maintain the appropriate vaccinations. Barbara keeps an "employee health screening file" on each dog, and both dogs wear their own South Bay Medical Center identification badges and pet therapy vests.
In addition to their work in the hospital, Barbara and her canine companions visit patients in skilled nursing facilities and at patients' homes through the hospice program. Barbara and Denmark also dedicate their spare time to participate in the HOPE Animal Assisted Crisis Response program, which provides comfort in times of crisis (major fires, disasters, or tragic events).
During the big Castaic fire last fall, Barbara and Denmark provided comfort to firefighters who had not seen their families in many weeks and who were coping with the stresses of managing a large-scale, out-of-control fire. As part of this program Barbara and Denmark are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond to crises.
Most recently Barbara and her dogs provided pet therapy at Operation Purple, a summer camp for children whose military parents are at war serving our country.
In summary, Barbara deserves recognition for bringing smiles and comfort to countless patients and staff members at South Bay Medical Center. Her volunteer work outside of the Medical Center should also be commended. We are very lucky to have Barbara here at Kaiser Permanente South Bay. Thank you for considering this nomination."
Everyday Heroes: Barbara, Denmark, and Lolly
Dear Barbara,
I am pleased to inform you that your Everyday Hero nomination has been selected as a Regional Everyday Hero story. This means the nomination will be featured as a panel at the regional offices and you will be recognized at a reception that will take place to honor you and the other Everyday Heroes.
Only 17 Everyday Hero stories were selected out of more than 100 nominations. It is a tremendous honor and we congratulate your efforts and for making a difference at Kaiser Permanente.
Barbara's nomination reads as follows: