Nolan is a 5 year old from Scarborough, ME who has been living
at the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital since April while awaiting a heart transplant. While
there, he gets lots of visits from the many therapy dog teams working at Maine Medical Center, and he loves
them all, especially Deegan the Great Dane.
The Planet Dog Foundation has awarded a $10,000 grant to the therapy dog program at Maine Med, so we are always thrilled to hear stories of patients who are soothed by their presence, and to learn firsthand what a difference they make.
A couple of weeks ago, Barbara Bush herself was coming to read to the kids in the unit, so Nolan decided to do what any kid does in the summertime, and hold a lemonade stand. Mrs. Bush and her Secret Service team all bought lemonade from Nolan!
Nolan raised more than $100 from his lemonade stand from patients, staff and visitors, and decided he wanted to use the money he raised to get presents for all of the therapy dogs who brighten his days, so he contacted Planet Dog.
Planet Dog donated an Orbee ball and a Woof sticker for every dog in the program for Nolan to give to them. Because the dog toys were donated, Nolan donated $50 to the Planet Dog Foundation, and $50 to therapy dog program at Maine Med.
Last week, Nolan had a party in the hospital lobby and all the therapy dogs came! He gave each dog their own Orbee ball, and their Woof sticker, and a thank you note.
Nolan is a sweet, smart and very thoughtful
little boy. Please join everyone at Planet Dog in sending our prayers that he gets a new
heart as soon as possible.