Therapy dog helps ICU patient speak again

A therapy dog has been credited with helping a woman speak again, after she survived a cardiac arrest and 40 minutes without a pulse.

Kathy Hackney, from Bingley, collapsed on a cruise ship on New Year's Eve while travelling to Madeira.

She spent two weeks unresponsive in intensive care, where her husband Peter Hackney was warned his wife might not recover or could face significant brain damage.

After being taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary by air ambulance, the family said regular visits from a Shih Tzu, named Ella, helped to change things for the better while Kathy was in the ICU.

Ella is part of the Pets As Therapy (PAT) charity programme and visits the hospital every Thursday, alongside her owner Kieron Mackrill.

"Things very quickly changed very positively once Kathy arrived at BRI," Peter said.

"When Ella first visited Kathy in ICU I had already left after visiting her, but a close family member was there.

"Although I had heard Kathy communicate and talk earlier in the week, this was the family member's first visit to BRI, and they had not heard her speak.

"As soon as Kieron put Ella on the bed, Kathy sat up and said: 'Isn't she beautiful.' Tears ensued as these were the first words that the family member had heard Kathy speak since before we departed on our cruise."

He added that his wife had "perked up no end" during Ella's weekly visits.

Kieron, who is part of the volunteering team, noticed an "instant bond" as soon as he placed Ella on Kathy's knee.

"It's been very emotional but very rewarding for both Ella and me to see and be part of Kathy's journey, it's just an incredible story," he said.

While Kathy is still having problems with her short-term memory, she has been well enough to return home after spending two months recovering from her cardiac arrestat Bradford Royal Infirmary.

The couple hope to see the New Year's Eve fireworks in Madeira in the future and Kathy is looking forward to painting, walking, playing the ukulele and seeing her cat.

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