How Posey Supported Kadence Through Recovery
Before Kadence was even born, her mom Kendra knew she was going to need special care. She was diagnosed with a heart condition in vitro, which meant she would have to undergo surgery at just a couple months old. Kendra wanted to the very best medical care possible for her daughter, and she knew that meant traveling from their home in Wyoming to Rocky Mountain Children’s (RMC) in Denver. It was a long trek, but it was worth it.
Kadence’s surgery meant the family would need to stay near the hospital for a while so doctors could monitor her recovery. Kendra was worried about her baby undergoing surgery at such a young age, so being close by was crucial. That was when Kendra first got connected with Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation (RMCHF). We were able to make sure Kendra had a place to stay close to the hospital so she could be there to support her daughter.
Kadence’s first surgery went well and she was able to return back home. Fast forward to today and Kadence is now a happy nine-year-old living in Alaska with her family. All signs pointed to good health these past nine years, until one day when her doctor found a complication in her heart. The surgery she had as a baby was successful, but she was experiencing a restriction in her pulmonary valve. After careful monitoring, the doctors gave Kendra the news she was dreading—Kadence needed another surgery.
“I anticipated my daughter’s first surgery would be the most difficult thing I would experience. But this was even worse,” Kendra said. “Having had nine years to love and adore her more and more made this even more stressful.”
Kendra knew that if her daughter needed a second surgery, she needed a team she trusted, so the family flew the 3,000 miles to Denver to receive care at RMC—the same place that took such good care of them when Kadence was born. But the trip didn’t come without stress. Traveling so far away meant they needed a place to stay again, not to mention the cost of gas and rental cars. These seemingly little things started to pile up, and Kendra was feeling stressed.
“The things that seemed like little things were so big for us,” she said.
Just like last time, their social worker connected them with our Foundation, and we were able to support them with lodging and gas cards. And then Kadence found comfort in a way Kendra didn’t expect: a furry friend.
During Kadence’s pre-op appointment, Kendra noticed that she started getting increasingly anxious as the day went on. As the doctor explained what would happen, Kadence was beginning to shut down.
“It was really hard because even though there were so many great people around to keep her engaged, I knew she was shutting down. Even I couldn’t get her to smile,” Kendra said. “She was having a really hard time.”
Their social worker jumped into action and contacted RMC’s Child Life Team, who brought in Posey, one of the hospital facility dogs supported by the Foundation’s PAWS for RMC program. As soon as Posey walked into the room, Kadence relaxed, smiled, made it through her appointment, and ended the day on a high note. The next day, before she went into surgery, Posey was there to give the snuggles and comfort Kadence needed.
“As soon as Posey walked into the room, Kadence lit up. Posey snuggled with her while her doctor explained what would happen,” Kendra shared.
After her surgery, Posey played a huge part in her recovery. Kadence had a popsicle with Posey after she woke up. When she had to get up and walk for the first time, she held Posey’s leash. When she just needed some comfort, Posey was there with unconditional love and snuggles.
“It was a positive distraction for all of us,” Kendra said, “and you can’t put a price on that when you are in the worst days of your life.”
At RMCHF, we know the little things we can take for granted often make the biggest difference. Just getting a room at a hotel and a cuddle from Posey made a huge impact and helped Kadence through her recovery. Every dollar can make an impact for children like Kadence, and you can be a part of it by making a gift today to RMCHF! As Kendra says, for families like hers, “The little things were immensely impactful because then I could focus on making sure my daughter was ok.”