Sanford Health’s Pet Therapy Program: Jacob and Buddy’s Story

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Sanford Health has added a furry addition that is helping patients in therapy sessions.

Buddy is a therapy dog that is helping one child recover after suffering a stroke a birth.

KVRR’s Brittany Ford joins us live with more.

Brittany?

TJ and Alison, Jacob and Buddy’s story is a touching one.

Physical Therapists at Sanford Health are changing the culture of what physical therapy means for children.

Jacob may look like your average energetic 3–year–old, but he didn’t have the easiest time coming into the world.

Jacob suffered back to back seizures at birth.

“In the process of trying to figure out why he had the seizures. We did an MRI and discovered that he had a stroke,” said Jacob’s mother Karla Haug.

Jacob is working on regaining movement to the left side of his body.

He has been working with Sanford Occupational Therapist Kelly Erdmann since he was 6 months old.

Seeing his love for dogs, she wanted to find a way to add that to their sessions.

“It actually started we had a dog stuffed animal that he loved. He had to put a pig onto it and it walked across the floor and a tail that wagged and he loved that dog,” said Kelly Erdmann Sanford Occupational Therapist.

And in comes Buddy.

From homeless to helpful, Buddy was adopted after he was found abandoned in a city park.

Owner Christie Lindemann says she knew right away he was special.

“He loves children, and he just loves. He has a gift to know who needs some love and attention,” says Christie.

Buddy is now a registered therapy pet through Therapy Pets of the Red River Valley.

The best part about having a therapy dog like Buddy is that the children don’t even know they’re doing the work.

Distracted by wanting to brush and feed Buddy, Jacob doesn’t even realize he is becoming stronger.

“I mean Jacob is just an amazing little boy. We just feel very fortunate with how well he’s doing, and the fact that he has a therapist who works really hard and tries to think out of the box,” said  Karla Haug Jacob’s mother.

Buddy and Kristine do a variety of therapy visits including nursing homes, treatment centers and public libraries.

Reporting LIVE, Brittany Ford KVRR News.