VALDESE, N.C.,None — Six-month-old hospital therapy dog in training Siobhan (pronounced like Shavon) has some big shoes — err paws — to fill.
The Great Dane's predecessor at Valdese and Grace hospitals in Burke County and Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory was Morgan, also a Great Dane, who died in July.
Kenneth and Eileen Diem were Morgan's owners/handlers and adopted Siobhan from a couple in Kentucky.
After Morgan's death, the couple, who has raised Great Danes for more than 40 years, said they were done being doggie parents. Eileen Diem said she was depressed and in bed for weeks after losing Morgan.
But when news of Morgan's death spread to the Bluegrass state, the couple from Kentucky called the Diems to tell them about Siobhan and then emailed them a photo. The photo of the jet black puppy was all it took for Siobhan to become the next member of the Diem's family, which also includes seven children and more than 20 grandchildren.
Hospital staff and patients are glad the Diems are back with a Great Dane.
"After the loss of Morgan, everyone at BRHC (Blue Ridge HealthCare) was devastated," said Wanda Saunders.
Saunders was the executive assistant to the president and CEO of Blue Ridge but this week started her new job as system patient advocate.
She said, "Trained therapy dogs such as Siobhan work wonders for a patient's morale, and how can you rub a dog's head and not smile? We love and value our beautiful therapy dog."
Phyllis Deal works at Grace Hospital and her husband, Johnny Deal, is a patient at the Infusion Center at Valdese Hospital.
"I have seen both sides of it," Phyllis Deal said about therapy dogs. "They can help the employees and the patients. And kids go crazy over them."
Siobhan is still in training and doesn't have her therapy dog certification yet but is making rounds a few times a week with hospital staff and most recently patients.
Saunders said she has watched Siobhan progress since her first visits when Kenneth Diem could carry her into the hospital. She also said the patients already are talking about Siobhan's visits and giving her head rubs.
Siobhan visited the Infusion Center on Thursday and introduced herself to patients receiving antibiotics or cancer drugs intravenously. Some of the patients are there for four hours or longer at a time.
Siobhan proved to be a welcome interruption for at least three of the patients Thursday.
"I love dogs," said patient Darrell Keller. "I wish I could bring my own. She has given me something to play with."
At 6-months-old, Siobhan still has a lot of puppy in her.
She eagerly jumped in Keller's lap and wolfed down a treat he offered her.
When she got bored with Keller, she started biting her leash and a display in the lobby of gingerbread houses at nose level for the canine proved a constant distraction.
"She has a short attention span," Kenneth Diem said.
But she also has the temperament the Diems want in a therapy dog.
"She already is more willing than Morgan to give affection," Kenneth Diem said. "She has no qualms about coming into the Infusion Center and resting her head on the beds."
The Diems expect Siobhan, whose name is Irish and means God's grace, should be fully certified by May.
She tips the scales at 80 pounds but when fully grown could reach 130 pounds.
It's the Diems' job to read people and keep the dog away from those who may be leery of her.
"She only goes where she's wanted," Kenneth Diem said.
The Diems got started in the therapy dog business with Morgan soon after they retired to Morganton from New York City.
Eileen Diem became ill and had to spend the night at Grace Hospital. She begged the staff to let Kenneth Diem bring Morgan to her hospital room to visit her. She was such a hit with other patients and staff that the Diems had her certified as a therapy dog.
She first worked at Catawba Valley Medical Center and then at Grace and Valdese for the last 2.5 years of her life.
Visiting the hospitals is therapy for the Diems, too, who said they missed interacting with people at the hospitals between Morgan's death and Siobhan's arrival.
"We meet so many nice people," Eileen said. "The staff and patients became our friends."