Tilly Gets Accessed

Editor's Note: This is a story that is an amazing testament to the disposition and unbelievable good-nature of my therapy dog. Please do not attempt this with your own animal as they may not be as mellow and trusting as Tilly. I am always trying to come up with new and innovative ways to incorporate Tilly into the daily regime of The Valerie Fund. Sometimes these techniques work and other times they fall flat. This technique not only had the child intrigued about the  procedure, but it also seems to alleviate some of the fear that goes along with the process. The idea behind it was basically, "If Tilly can handle getting accessed then so can I!" It is extremely endearing to see these children become so brave when their best fur-friend Tilly undergoes the same procedures as they do!  I hope you enjoy this amazing Tale of Tilly.

 this is what a port looks like, and it placed under the skin on the 

left or right side of your chest when you are receiving chemotherapy.

  Tilly getting ready to be accessed!

Good afternoon everyone it is me Tilly here to tell you about another day at the hospital with some of my bestest non-fur friends. Today was a special day for me, it was going to be the first time that Alison was going to try out a new experiment to help one of my friends get through his treatments. First let me explain to you what was going to happen, I was going to get accessed, pretend of course. Accessing is a process in which all of the children at the Valerie Center who are undergoing treatment for cancer undergo. Each child, once diagnosed, is given a totally implantable vascular access device which is designed to provide repeated access to the vascular system for the delivery of medications, fluids, blood products and imaging solutions.  The system consists of two primary components: an injection port with a self-sealing silicone septum and a radiopaque silicone rubber beaded catheter. All materials are biocompatible and can be used with virtually all injectable solutions. Port access is performed by percutaneous needle insertion using non-coring needles. I know, I know that was a mouthful, but without understanding what it means to be accessed you can not imagine what it is like for some of my friends who have become fearful of the process. Although, the doctors and nurses have pre-warned Alison and myself that the action of accessing a child does not actually cause too much pain, it can be very, very scary for some of the kids here, and so Alison and I have tried many different techniques to make this part of their visit a little bit less scary.

We all went into the examination room and me, Alison, and my friend John were playing games together while we were waiting for the nurses to proceed with the procedure. Alison helped us build a fort to hide in, away from the nurses, doctors, and especially those needles. She gathered paper to make the walls and then used bandaids to tape up the walls so that we were invisible to the outside world. It was so much fun. John and I were having a marvelous time together. But to all good things there must be an end, that is when the nurse came in. She called out for me and John, but we were quiet as mice. Not a peep came out from behind those paper barriers, but Alison told us it was time for our procedure—so we reluctantly came out. First me and then John. John was nervous, but Alison told him don’t worry Tilly will go first, and so I did. Mom made a bandage of gauze and tape and placed it on my chest—in the same place as John’s port is on his chest. Then she asked me to lay down on the ground, and roll over. Well I felt silly, but John thought this was very funny, and he laughed at me. I did not mind because at least he was laughing. There I was laying on the ground with all four paws sticking straight up in the air, and then the nurse proceeded to access my pretend port with the needle—just like the one they use for John. Once the nurse was done with my port access it was John’s turn, and guess what he said, “Now it’s my turn, right!” and Alison said, “You are right, John.” And guess what the nurse placed the needle into his port without him getting too upset, or anxious, or sick. It was the first time that John had not run out of the room in a panic. It was such a triumphant day for us all. Now that John’s port was accessed the only thing let to do was watch a movie while his chemo dripped into him. So that is just what John and I did, we went into the cinema room and watched a movie together. I think I may have fallen asleep, but don't tell anyone that I fell asleep on the job, ok...it will be our little secret! Be well my friends, big bully smoochies to you all!

I wonder what procedure Tilly will undergo tomorrow? Will Tilly let the nurses access her pretend port again, or was it a once in a lifetime opportunity? You will have to stay tuned to find out!