Jewett’s most cancers journey began within the late 90s when he was recognized with two forms of blood most cancers. He started receiving remedy from visiting physicians in a trailer behind Reed Metropolis Hospital earlier than the Susan P. Wheatlake Regional Most cancers Middle was constructed. (Johnny Quirin | Corewell Well being Beat)
“Sufferers and employees alike love spending time with Keith and Winna,” stated volunteer providers coordinator Suzie Hicks. (Johnny Quirin | Corewell Well being Beat)
Winna, a Spaniel combine, was educated and is licensed with the Alliance of Remedy Canines. She and Jewett have been volunteering at Corewell Well being Massive Rapids and Reed Metropolis hospitals and on the Susan P. Wheatlake Regional Most cancers Middle since Could of 2022. (Johnny Quirin | Corewell Well being Beat)
Winna gently locations her head on a affected person or customer’s lap and gladly accepts petting. (Johnny Quirin | Corewell Well being Beat)
Winna takes a relaxation from her remedy canine duties. (Johnny Quirin | Corewell Well being Beat)
Winna provides Corewell Well being affected person service consultant Shannon Carmichael a kiss. (Johnny Quirin | Corewell Well being Beat)
Jewett will get emotional in describing the have an effect on Winna has when interacting with sufferers. “She has a beautiful temperament,” he stated. “I really like watching how folks reply to her. It actually impacts some folks.” (Johnny Quirin | Corewell Well being Beat)
After spending time with sufferers and guests, Jewett and Winna cease by to see staff members, making the rounds and bringing smiles. (Johnny Quirin | Corewell Well being Beat)
When requested why he determined to volunteer, Jewett is fast to credit score Winna. “I wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t for her,” he stated. “We’re each most cancers survivors.” (Johnny Quirin | Corewell Well being Beat)
“When she outlived her expiration date, that was an indication–she beat her most cancers,” Jewett stated. “I believed, ‘she must be a most cancers remedy canine.’” (Johnny Quirin | Corewell Well being Beat)
“Would you want a doggie go to?” asks hospital volunteer Keith Jewett as his remedy canine, Winna, stands on the prepared, tail a wagging.
Few can resist.
After saying sure, Winna and Keith method, and Winna gently locations her head on a affected person or customer’s lap and gladly accepts petting.
And for a couple of valuable moments, the ideas of most cancers subside as Winna’s comfortable eyes and comfortable fur convey pleasure to these she encounters.
If dialog follows, because it usually does, Keith shares that Winna is a most cancers survivor too and reveals the scar the place a mast cell tumor was faraway from Winna’s facet within the fall of 2020 when she was solely a pet.
Regardless of eradicating the tumor, Winna’s prognosis wasn’t good. However with Winna in good well being a yr later, Jewett made the choice to have her serve others.
“When she outlived her expiration date, that was an indication–she beat her most cancers,” Jewett stated. “I believed, ‘she must be a most cancers remedy canine.’”
Winna, a Spaniel combine, was educated and is licensed with the Alliance of Remedy Canines. She and Jewett have been volunteering at Corewell Well being’s Massive Rapids and Reed Metropolis hospitals and on the Susan P. Wheatlake Regional Most cancers Middle since Could of 2022.
A most cancers survivor himself, Jewett additionally takes Winna with him when he visits the most cancers middle for his personal remedy.
After spending time with sufferers and guests, Jewett and Winna cease by to see staff members, making the rounds and bringing smiles. Winna and affected person providers consultant Shannon Carmichael are at all times blissful to see one another.
“For sufferers and us staff members alike, Winna is only a ray of sunshine who usually appears to know simply when to make her rounds,” Carmichael stated. “Her affection can brighten even the darkest of days.”
Jewett’s most cancers journey began within the late 90s when he was recognized with two forms of blood most cancers. He started receiving remedy from visiting physicians in a trailer behind Reed Metropolis Hospital earlier than the Susan P. Wheatlake Regional Most cancers Middle was constructed.
“I used to be right here, earlier than right here was right here,” he joked.
He was additionally recognized with choroidal melanoma, most cancers of the attention, in 2015 and prostate most cancers in 2016. Jewett has a prosthetic proper eye after having his eye eliminated in 2018.
Jewett is a retired professor at Ferris State College the place he taught laptop programming, networking and electronics for 18 years.
He joined FSU after retiring from the Navy, the place he served 20 years, partly on a nuclear submarine.
Jewett’s spouse of 49 years, Mary, talked him into getting a canine in 2020. The couple lives in Hawkins, Michigan, close to Reed Metropolis.
“She was imagined to be my remedy canine,” he stated of Winna.
Jewett will get emotional in describing the have an effect on Winna has when interacting with sufferers.
“She has a beautiful temperament,” he stated. “I really like watching how folks reply to her. It actually impacts some folks.”
Winna frolicked with most cancers affected person Wendy Montague, from Massive Rapids, on January 23 on the most cancers middle. Montague stroked Winna’s head and ears and chatted briefly with Jewett.
It was a brief, however candy, change. Sadly, three weeks later, Montague handed away.
Winna, now over 3 years previous, reveals no indicators of slowing down. She and Jewett volunteer on the hospitals and most cancers middle two to a few hours every week.
“Sufferers and employees alike love spending time with Keith and Winna,” stated volunteer providers coordinator Suzie Hicks. “Remedy canine are at all times well-liked and Winna is such a sweetie–and naturally Keith has a really fascinating story.”
When requested why he determined to volunteer, Jewett is fast to credit score Winna.
“I wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t for her,” he stated. “We’re each most cancers survivors.”
