As the third longest-serving therapy dog in the country, she helps bring joy to those who need it most.
Kayla, a 14-year-old former stray Labrador-mix, has been a therapy dog since 1998 soon after Lori Morgan, of Green, Ohio adopted her.
One of Kayla’s biggest fans is 10-year old Joey Karam who sadly has had more brain surgeries than birthdays. While Joey has had to watch far too many of his favorite Scooby-Doo shows on televisions at Akron Ohio’s Children’s Hospital, he looks forward to Kayla‘s visits.
““Dog visits get you through the day sometimes,” Karam said as Kayla nestled with him in bed.
Sadly, though Kayla may be fighting cancer herself. Her veterinarian recently discovered a large tumor in her shoulder.
It’s either a hemangioma or hemangiosarcoma, Morgan said, “but Kayla would need surgery to get an exact diagnosis and prognosis. We’re not sure we should put her through that at her age.”
Kayla’s walks through the hospital are slower now and may be coming to an end after years of making patients smile at the children’s hospital, Akron, Ohio City Hospital and the Ridgewood Road Hospice Center.
Kayla also went with Morgan, who has a master’s degree in school counseling, to New York City after 9/11 and comforted survivors, victims’ families and first responders, like the soldier who sat next to Kayla during breakfast in a Salvation Army tent. As he was petting her, he released some of the stress of finding human remains, Morgan said.
Kayla has also helped students Morgan has counseled.
“There are many times Kayla licked a child’s face as tears fell,” said Morgan.
“I can’t tell you the number of students, patients and staff Kayla has touched over the years, but I know that even after she is gone, she will continue to live on in their memories and hearts. That is what’s important to me … all the people that carry little pieces of Kayla around with them.”
Kayla is a hero to all who know her I’m sure!! God bless her and all of the dear children who she makes feel better for a little while with her visits.