Danville, Illinois - She doesn't wear a white coat, offer
medical advice or dispense medicine.
But each time Hannah makes her rounds at the Veterans
Affairs Illiana Health Care System, she showers patients — and staff — with
loads of affection, lowering their blood pressure and lifting their spirits in
the process.
Hannah, a nearly 8-year-old Collie, is a certified pet
therapy dog, and Marilyn Campbell of Georgetown is her owner and handler.
While Hannah usually draws most of the attention at the Veterans
Hospital in Danville, it's Campbell who is being recognized by the Illinois
Municipal Retirement Fund this month for her volunteer work with her
four-legged friend and other therapy dogs.
In the last 20 years, the Vermilion County Conservation
District retiree has certified more than 200 dogs for therapy service. And once
a week for the last 18 months or so, she and Hannah have been visiting the
veteran patients.
"Ms. Campbell is a wonderful example of an IMRF
retiree who, through service, is making a difference in the community,"
said Louis W. Kosiba, the organization's executive director. "Her story is
an inspiration to others to volunteer their time to help others."
Campbell and six others from across the state were
nominated for IMRF's "Year of the Volunteer" contest, spotlighting
volunteerism within the organization's membership. They will be honored in
December.
At that time, the organization will select one of them as
its Volunteer of the Year. The recipient will receive $1,000 to donate to his
or her preferred service organization.
Nine collies and counting
A Terre Haute, Ind., native, Campbell moved to Vermilion
County to teach science at Danville Junior College, now Danville Area Community
College. She taught there four years and chaired the science department during
the last two.
Then she left to direct the conservation district's
educational programming, which included its year-round outdoor school program
for elementary school students, summer day camp program, teacher training
sessions and adult classes in nature and ecology, among other things. She also
edited the district's newsletter and wrote a column for other publications.
After 25 years with the conservation district, Campbell
took over as the executive director of the Illinois Audubon Society and served
for 12 years. Although she retired in 2007, she continued to edit its magazine
for several years on a volunteer basis.
Campbell has had nine collies over the years. When she
worked for the conservation district, she put one of them in obedience school
and later got involved in a local obedience club.
After taking her dogs to visit residents in a nursing home,
she learned about Therapy Dogs International, which certifies dogs for work.
"Because of my background with the obedience club, TDI
allowed me to register my dog, and we began visiting nursing homes," said
Campbell, who also became an evaluator and has certified more than 200 dogs
primarily from central Illinois and Indiana for work.
"Basically, I conduct a test to show that the dog has
the temperament and obedience to work with people and other dogs,"
explained Campbell, who must recertify as an evaluator and as a handler every
year. "They have to be able to follow commands and show they have good
behavior. There are certain parts of the test they must pass, or it's an
automatic failure — if they jump up on someone or if they don't stay when
they're told to stay or if they are overly nervous when their owner is out of
sight. Of course, if dogs show any sign of aggression, I won't go any further
with the test, but I've never had that happen."
'How does she know?'
While Campbell enjoys evaluating dogs, she especially
enjoys providing pet therapy because it gives her a chance to work with her dog
and other people. In addition to visiting nursing homes, she has volunteered
for the Danville Public Library's Read with a Dog program, Head Start and Camp
Healing Heart, which Carle puts on at the University of Illinois 4-H Camp at
Allerton Park each September.
Campbell knew that Hannah, whom she adopted from the
Indiana Collie Rescue, was cut out for the job when she took her to the special
camp for children who have lost a loved one. They were assigned to sit in on a
grief session for older boys and girls.
Campbell said one boy, who had recently lost his father,
started to talk.
"He got about two sentences out, and he started
crying," she said, recalling how other kids immediately gathered around to
comfort him. Then she saw Hannah push her way into the huddle.
"She got to the boy and started kissing him on the
cheek," Campbell said. "The counselors just looked at me like, 'How
does she know?' They just know. They just have that empathy for people, and
they want to make them feel better. And if they get a hug, it makes them feel
better, too."
Campbell started
going to the Veterans Hospital through one of her friends, Chris Lucas. Lucas
and her therapy dog volunteered there, but could only go once a month because
of their work with hospice patients.
"She encouraged me to go because I had more
time," said Campbell, who started volunteering in the summer of 2014.
"A lot of the veterans are lonely. They don't get very many visitors. I
thought if we could bring them a little joy, it was a worthwhile thing to do. I
enjoy it, and Hannah enjoys it."
'Be sure to come back'
Recently, Campbell and Hannah — sporting her red Therapy
Dogs International bandana around her neck — made their weekly rounds in all of
the hospital's in-patient wards. On other days, they also visit the two
independent living centers.
"It's my favorite dog," veteran Tina Foote cried
when the duo peeked into her room. She threw her arms open, which was Hannah's
cue to jump up on Foote's bed and nuzzle her face. "You can come see me
any time."
As Foote cuddled with the dog, Campbell complimented her on
how nice her hair looks. Foote, who underwent chemotherapy, lost her hair, and
Campbell is happy to see that it has grown back and that Foote is feeling
better.
"It's very relaxing. She reminds me of having my dogs
with me," said Marine Corps veteran Tim Trimble, who talked about his
three dogs who were waiting for him at his home in Rantoul.
As Campbell and Hannah continued to make their way through
the Alzheimer's and dementia, acute psychiatric and palliative care wards,
patients and staff would stop what they were doing, pet the collie or scratch
her ears and smile. Each time, Campbell waited patiently, not wanting to rush
anyone.
"As soon as they come on the ward, they just light up
— even the ones who are not very communicative," said recreation therapist
Casey Haugen, who escorted them through the hospital. She said they look
forward to seeing Hannah, and also Campbell. "She's so dedicated. She's
been coming here so long, she knows most of them by name."
Campbell said she plans to continue visiting the veterans
as long as she and Hannah can.
"Some of these people will say, 'Be sure to come
back.' They appreciate us taking the time to visit with them, and I enjoy
bringing others pleasure and brightening their day."
