Joanne Oke knows what an impact companionship can have on kids with chronic medical conditions — and what special bonds puppies can forge with kids.
Joanne’s son, Jarett, was diagnosed with uncontrollable epilepsy when he was just 18 months old. Now in his 20s, Jarett has needed regular medical support for much of his life.
In spring 2016, Jarett had to be put in a medically induced coma twice in a six-week span.
“The (PCCU) department was amazing and we could not thank them enough,” she says.
The many trips to Children’s Hospital left Joanne moved and motivated.
“During those sixteen and a half years with Jarett at Children’s Hospital I unfortunately had to witness some pretty sad medical issues with other children also,” she says. “Just like my son, I knew those children would have to spend most of their childhood in the hospital and it truly broke my heart.”
Joanne has nothing but praise for the care her son received at Children’s Hospital.
“Until Jarett turned eighteen, we were truly blessed to have had Children’s Hospital there for him,” Joanne says. “We were even more fortunate to have Dr. Levin as Jarett’s neurologist.”
Recently, Jarett had a grand mal seizure while playing hockey that broke his jaw and a bone in his ear. However, those on the ice with him knew about his epilepsy and knew what to do – it could have been much worse. For both Jarett and Joanne, the experience underscored the importance of knowing you’re not going through tough times alone.
Although Jarett hasn’t been a patient at Children’s for many years, Joanne has never forgotten all those other families and kids she encountered at Children’s Hospital.
Last spring, when her family grew with the addition of a litter of Bernedoodle – a cross between Bernese Mountain dogs and poodles — puppies, Joanne decided to offer one or two of the puppies to families with children who are facing medical issues. She reached out to Children’s Health Foundation to gauge interest. The response from the families was so overwhelming that she opted to give all seven puppies away.
Jordyn, who received one of the puppies, says she named the new addition Tilli, and it was love at first sight. “That feeling holding her and she was cuddling up to my face was the best feeling,” she recalls.
Jorday says Tilli fit right in with their other dog, a black lab named Charlie, and they’ve since become inseparable.
“Tilli enjoys walks, runs, playing with her toys and playing with me and Charlie,” Jordyn says. “Tilli even goes on my trampoline with me, and she loves to snuggle up on the couch with me. Tilli always needs to be touching me or my mom when she sits beside us, whether she sits right on our feet or just a paw on our lap.”
Seven-year-old Joseph, who has trisomy 13, also received a puppy from Joanne and Jarrett.
Joseph’s mom, Brittany, says that their puppy, named Annie, has been “a wonderful addition to our family,” and that she’s especially loving with Joseph.
“Annie always has Joseph in her view. She naps in places around the house where she can always see him. She’ll let him pull on her fur and tail and cuddle up to him while he plays,” Brittany says. “She wakes up with Joseph in the morning and loves all his night-nurses. She is a great cuddler, extremely kind-hearted, and much like Joseph, she just wants to love.”
Like Jarett, the kids who received puppies get an extra reason to know they’re not facing their medical conditions alone. “I know I cannot change their medical condition but at least I can help put a smile on their face,” Joanne says. “Hopefully these puppies can be their own little support puppies for these kids.”
