Unique Program Pairs Kids, Pets as Pen-Pals

from Caring For Our Future, Spring 2006

In November 2001, Anne Ingalls Gillespie, BSN, RN, took a lifelong passion for veterinary medicine and combined it with her compassion for child cancer patients to create a unique program at The Children’s Hospital. The program, dubbed the Youth and Pet Survivors Program (YAPS), has become a creative resource for healing.

Ingalls Gillespie and a veterinary nurse partner pair children who are receiving treatment for cancer with dogs and cats who have been treated for cancer. The animals and kids write letters to one another in a pen-pal relationship, with the pets’ human owners serving as secretaries. Whenever possible, the pets and children meet in person. To date, 18 pediatric oncology patients (including one sibling) have been matched with canine and feline cancer survivors.

YAPS is supported by the Animal Care Foundation, a nonprofit organization associated with the Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado (VRCC) in Englewood . As the program grows locally, plans are to take the program to a national and even international level. The vision is to have every children’s hospital partner with veterinary specialists to run their own YAPS programs.

Why is this program valuable? Many pet therapy programs exist, but none of the pets in the other programs have the same challenges as the children with whom they interact. Furthermore, a therapeutic relationship develops even when a child is in isolation and is unable to be in direct contact with “his” animal. The children and teenagers who participate in YAPS develop a very special bond with their canine and feline counterparts.

The kids share stories about chemotherapy, shots, radiation and being away from home, as well as the fun things they get to do and what makes them happy. It is a safe avenue for expression of feelings, and often kids share things with the animals that they wouldn’t share with humans. The relationship is fun, healing and distracting. It also is enriching for the parents and pet owners, who often develop their own friendships, which continue in some cases after the child pen-pal has passed away. One dog and his owner even attended the funeral of his pen-pal, sitting in the front-row pew with the child’s family.

That same dog, a large yellow Lab named Boone, rode in the Courage Classic in July 2005 in memory of the pen-pals who have died and in honor of his current pen-pal, a leukemia survivor who is doing great. Boone was pulled in a bike trailer by his owner and was a hit everywhere he went! His pen-pal, a 13-year-old girl, rode too, on a tandem bike. Before YAPS, this young woman might not have considered riding in the Courage Classic, but with a personal trainer like Boone, she couldn’t resist! What a way to celebrate being cancer-free!

YAPS gained the attention of the Psychology and Social Work Departments at the University of Denver . Ingalls Gillespie is currently facilitating faculty and students from both departments in conducting research on the YAPS program. The first study, “Experiences of Pediatric Oncology Patients in the Youth and Pet Survivors Program,” completed by doctoral student Amanda Nielson, is a qualitative study ready to be published. In this study, YAPS pediatric participants and their parents were interviewed. The study found that “100 percent (29 of 29) participants commended the program, and 100 percent reported they would participate in the YAPS program again.” The Graduate School of Social Work is preparing to do a program evaluation study, looking at standards of practice in animal-assisted therapy programs and how the YAPS program measures up. Both of these studies lend credibility to the YAPS program, provide valuable feedback and give new directions to pursue.

How does the program work? How do kids connect with their animal pen-pals?            

Following an interview with Ingalls Gillespie, a Children’s pediatric cancer patient reads a selection of profiles written by dog and cat cancer survivors. They then can choose the animal that most speaks to them. Before an animal can submit a profile, the animal and his or her owner must complete an interview with Colleen Chambers, the veterinary nurse who manages the animal component of YAPS. Here is the biography of one of the dogs:

Ginger: My Story

Nickname: Ginger-girl.

Age: 8 ½ years.

Sex: Female.

Breed: Labrador Retriever.

Color: Yellow (looks more white).

Favorite treat: Anything except for raw onions!

Favorite game: Catching breakfast cereal pieces. I can catch small pieces in the air easily from a distance.

Favorite spot to be rubbed: Ears and top of nose.

Who else is in your family: Mom, dad, two sisters and two pet rats (Chester and Davey).

How did you come to live with your family? At what age: I was first pick of the litter and came here at 8 weeks of age.

Where do you sleep at night: On my bed in the kitchen, unless mom is home alone, and then I sleep on her bed.

What type of illness were you diagnosed with: Malignant non-hodgkins lymphoma.

What treatments did you go through: Bone marrow, X-rays, blood draws, IVs, bladder sticks and chemotherapy.

What was the hardest part of the treatment: When I got sick and had to stay overnight at the dog hospital without my family. I got so upset I ate my blanket and had to stay longer till my belly got better.

What did you do to have fun while going through the treatments: We took walks outside in the mountains even if I couldn’t go far. I got treats with my medicine. And sometimes I got hamburger.

How is life different if at all: I appreciate every day! I have lived longer than anyone (even the docs) has expected! They thought I was going to die in August but I didn’t and I feel great and look great!

If you were a famous human, who would you be and why: This is a hard question! Probably Terrell Davis of the Broncos. We were both doing great … on top of the world, and then in the fall of 1999 we injured our ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in our knees. After surgery we both got back to normal and then I got diagnosed with cancer and he’s been having a hard time too … I heard.

P.S. I am very friendly and lovable. I do quite a few tricks and give kisses. I also think I would have made a good guide dog, but then I wouldn’t have met my family. I understand quite a few words for a dog, but best of all I am a good listener and can cheer up almost everyone I meet!

Love, Ginger

Ginger’s pen-pal was an 11-year-old girl who outlived her prognosis by months but sadly died after trying every treatment. Ginger was with her just hours before her death, and Ginger’s mom still keeps in touch with the girl’s mom. This is another example of the enormity of the impact of the YAPS program.