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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shirley Freyer
Concordia Lutheran Ministries
Tel: 1-724-352-1571 x8266
sfreyer@concordialm.org

Good Samaritan Hospice Patient Receives Visit from Local Horse

Cabot, PA – At Good Samaritan Hospice (GSH), a mission of Concordia Lutheran Ministries, the term “comfort care” can mean a number of things – but perhaps the most appropriate meaning deals with fulfilling the needs and desires of the patient…

…even if it means bringing in a 500 pound animal.

Renfrew resident Arlene MacKinnon has been an avid horse lover her entire life. She moved into the GSH inpatient hospice unit at the Concordia Lund Care Center, regularly receiving visits from family members and her daughter, Chicago resident Carol Lavoie.

Unfortunately, it had been some time since MacKinnon had last seen a horse – an activity that has brought her great pleasure for the last 91 years. On May 20, the staff at GSH, as well as Concordia President and CEO Keith Frndak, decided to make it happen.

Enter “Cappuccino,” a horse owned by Sydney Christman, who lives next door to the Concordia at Cabot campus. One phone call and 10 minutes later, MacKinnon was petting the magnificent animal’s mane.

“This is a miracle, the fact that my mother was even able to get into a wheelchair to get outside” Lavoie said. “I truly feel the presence of the Lord in this place and have never had a spiritual renewal like this. It’s been like a retreat for me (being at GSH with her mother).”

Prior to “Cappuccino” visiting the patients, one GSH staff member brought in a horse towel for MacKinnon, who said she has always loved the scent of the animal. Being able to look one in the eyes was an added bonus.

GSH Executive Director Anzie Kelley said it’s moments such as these that make her job so rewarding.

“I’ve never been in a place that works so hard to make the last days of one’s life so meaningful,” she said. “It’s really a testament to this staff, who not only give everything they have to our patients, but do so creatively.”

For more information on Good Samaritan Hospice, call 1.800.720.2557.