A (Wo)man’s Best Friend: Meet Patches

Jaq, Patches and Warren with Jaq’s plush Patches

“We call him Velcro because he’s always stuck to Jaq’s side,” says Warren, who, along with their dog Patches, has become well-known at QCH. Warren and Patches visited Jaq up on A3 every day she was at QCH. “And the staff love Patches – they know when we’re coming in and always say hello. Patches has made a such a difference with Jaq, but he’s also made the staff happy.”

Patches is Jaq’s therapy dog. Jaq and Warren have had Patches for almost 7 years and he’s spent most of his life attached to Jaq’s hip – like Velcro.

On Halloween last year, Jaq fell asleep. When Warren went to wake her up a few hours later, she wouldn’t. She was immediately rushed to our ICU for care. The ICU team did everything they could to help her: many diagnostic tests, a medically induced coma, a spinal tap and being put on a ventilator for 14 days, to name a few. Jaq is a type 1 diabetic.

“The ICU is mystical,” Warren says. “They provide life-saving care behind those doors. You can tell how hard they work to get their patients better, yet the patients don’t remember. It’s a mystical place.”

Jaq was transferred to A3 a few weeks later. Judy Rowlands, Jaq’s Speech Language Pathologist, was the one who first suggested bringing Patches in to help Jaq’s recovery. She helped get Patches in the door. “We cannot say enough nice things about her or about the care Jaq received. Judy thought Patches would help Jaq get better – and within days, Jaq improved. The care in this hospital has been amazing. Judy has been amazing.”

Patches visited Jaq every day for over three months on A3. “We’ve gotten to know the hospital very well, and how qualified the people are here,” says Warren. “They work so hard and step up to help their patients get better. They took a personal interest in Jaq and the quality of care she received is off the scale. We’re thankful for everyone – it’s the best care in the world.”

Jaq, Warren and Patches have a daily dance party, something they do when Warren first arrives to get Jaq up and moving – she’s been recovering well and is able to walk, talk and eat again. Patches always ends up by Jaq’s side. “He’s my cuddle bug!”