Loki is a sight for sore eyes at the University of Maryland Medical Center where she acts as a therapy dog.
“We were doing therapy for the entire hospital system,” her owner Caroline Benzel told CNN. “Whether it be custodians, first responders, nurses, doctors, patients, or even family members in the waiting room.”
But the COVID-19 pandemic has forced hospitals to bar therapy dogs for the time being.
Now, the two-year-old Rottweiler and her owner, who is a second-year medical student at the University of Maryland, are finding more creative ways to reach those in need.
They’ve employed FaceTime to deliver some therapeutic “telemedicine” to those on the frontlines. But they’re also making sure their colleagues have more than just a friendly, furry face to say hello to.
Benzel got a taste of the discomfort faced by medical workers who have to wear personal protective gear for hours at a time a few weeks ago.
Now, she’s decided to put together some self-care essentials for her colleagues to try and ease some of that pain.
Her “Hero Healing Kits” include skin moisturizers, lotions, lip balm, medicated powder, tea, and other items that make dealing with chafing, bruises, and even stress a little easier.
They’re particularly popular because each kit has a picture of Loki’s friendly face on the front.
“I’ve never met a dog that’s so empathetic. It’s kind of strange. There have been many circumstances at the hospital where she can just read a situation where a patient is in a very bad way or a family member is going through a loss,” Benzel told Good Morning America.
Each care package also includes a thank you note for those making the sacrifice to treat patients in the midst of this pandemic, often spending weeks at a time away from their loved ones to do so.
After the first round was successful, Benzel appealed for help to create more Hero Kits, and the response has been overwhelming. As of April 22, 2020, she had collected donations for roughly 4,200 kits that are being split between her hospital in Maryland and one in Philadelphia.
“The staff has been overwhelmed by the generosity of people,” Benzel said.
The kits are also a way for the young medical student to pay it forward after Loki needed pricey ACL surgery last year (for which the money was due upfront).
“I didn’t know how I was going to come up with that kind of money as a medical student,” Benzel said. “The hospital staff [at UMMC] suggested I do a GoFundMe, and the whole surgery and physical therapy ended up being covered by donations within two weeks.”
“They did that for me when I was down and I know the people there are going through a hard time now themselves. I wanted to do what I could to return the favor and show them how much I care about them and the UMMC system,” she added.
If you’d like to donate to this project, there are now three hospitals accepting donations for Benzel and Loki’s Hero Healing Kits.
The Amazon wishlist for Baltimore/Montgomery County can be found here, the list for hospitals in the Philadelphia suburbs (organized by Jackie Krevitz) can be found here, and the latest list for those wanting to donate to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota is here.
The items are very inexpensive and allow just about anyone with a few extra dollars to help to make a difference.
And the movement is constantly expanding, so be sure to check out Loki the Therapy Rottweiler’s Facebook page for updates about new efforts.
Benzel has also created an email address for anyone who wants to get in touch directly regarding donations or who might be interested in making Hero Healing Kits for a hospital closer to home: [email protected].
Be sure to scroll down below to see Loki in action.
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