Kepu Savou thought he had come down with a cold. When his symptoms persisted, he visited a doctor and learned that his heart was failing – something Savou never would've imagined at age 29.
Therapy dog lifts patients' hearts
He has been an inpatient at UW Medical Center, awaiting a donor heart for transplant. While the monthslong experience has been difficult, he says a program called Paws for Patients has provided much-needed emotional support. Program volunteers bring registered therapy dogs to visit patients who face challenging medical conditions.
Dog therapy has been shown to improve moods, decrease anxiety, and reduce loneliness.
Decoding the genetic roots of stroke and heart attack