A Dose of Paw-sitiv­i­ty with Elsa

Spreading paw-sitivity throughout Onslow Memorial Hospital.

Welcome to A Dose of Paw-sitivity with Elsa. Elsa and her handler, Gail, spend their days visiting patients, teammates, and clinics throughout Onslow Memorial Hospital, sharing comfort, smiles, and plenty of tail wags. Through her visits across the hospital and outpatient clinics, Elsa’s mission is simple, bring a little extra joy and encouragement to everyone she meets while spreading paw-sitivity throughout Onslow Memorial Hospital.

Hello, my friends!

It’s me, Elsa… although sometimes my mom calls me Elsa May. Shhh… that’s usually when I’m sort of in trouble, and in case you didn’t know, my mom is Gail. ❤️

I’m so excited to share some of my recent adventures with all of you.

One of my favorite things is visiting my special friends in ED Pod 4. Sometimes they let me hop up on the bed and stay for a little visit. Other times, people prefer that I stay outside the room, which is okay too. I’m happy to just lay by the door and keep watch.

Lately, I’ve been very busy because I now visit about 10 clinics, especially on Fridays. That’s when there are fewer patients, and I get to spend extra time helping the staff relax after a long week.

Elsa’s Favorite Stop This Month

• Ms. Karen at Onslow Pulmonology Associates.
• Mr. Mike, at Onslow Outpatient Rehab who sometimes shares an apple with me while he’s working. (That’s definitely one of my favorite snacks!)
• The wonderful teams at Onslow Radiation Oncology and ICU.
• Ms. Beverly, who always has a treat ready for me… even if she sometimes lets me bark when I’m supposed to whisper for it.

Every department I visit means the world to me. Mom and I say a little prayer each day that everyone feels a bit better after our visits.

Elsa’s Health Update

I wanted to share something with my friends. I’ve had to make a few visits to that very strange place called the vet. They’ve taken my blood four times (I’m still not sure why they needed all of it).

Mom even drove me all the way to Wilmington for X-rays, and I’ll be heading back soon for an ultrasound and a muscle biopsy. The doctors are checking to see why I might be losing a little muscle mass.

But don’t worry, I feel just fine, and Mom always makes sure I get the best care. Nothing is stopping me from coming to see all of you.

Until Next Time

Mom and I are so grateful that you allow us to visit and share a little joy with patients and staff throughout the hospital.

Thank you for letting me spread a little paw-sitivity around Onslow Memorial Hospital.

Love, Queen Elsa 🐾