Lifting spirits, one dog at a time

After months of holding out against the novel coronavirus, the Libby Care Center confirmed two residents had tested positive for the virus in late October. As staff worked to isolate those infected, a Libby woman — along with her border collie — hatched a plan to raise morale in the center.

“I happened upon my dog costumes from a dog I lost this year,” said Jamilee Scheiwe. “The costumes happened to fit my new border collie puppy and the second I saw them on him I thought ‘we need to share this with the people of Libby Care.’”

Since the start of the pandemic, administrators restricted visitations inside the facility. Scheiwe was still able to show off her pup Stryker in his bumblebee attire by marching him in front of residents’ windows in mid-October. Buoyed by her first outing, Scheiwe planned another visit to the center on Oct. 30. She encouraged other local pet owners to join her and Stryker for their “puppy parade” by posting on Facebook.

“The resident response was amazing,” she said.

Six or seven other pet owners, along with seven or eight dogs, came out to show their support. During subsequent visits to the center, Scheiwe brought postcards decorated with drawings and positive messages. That way, she said, even if residents were sleeping while she and Stryker came by, they would know that someone had been there thinking of them.

Scheiwe’s connection with the care center began in November 2019 when her grandmother was admitted to the facility after suffering a heart attack, stroke and brain bleed. Over the following months, Scheiwe got to know many of the residents and staff at the center.

While out parading with Stryker, she has met with some of the residents through their windows. When calling for updates on her grandmother’s condition she learned the names of the employees who answered the phones.

“These people who work there had become my lifeline to my grandma and the more I know of them the more they were like family to me,” she said. “The thought of anyone in this extended family being sick hurt me.”

In October, Scheiwe’s grandmother fell and broke some ribs, her pelvis in two places and a shoulder blade. When she went to visit her in the hospital, Schiewe was able to hug her for the first time in months.

“The warmth I felt from that hug told me how much these folks were missing their family in lockdown,” she said.

Looking ahead to the coming months, Scheiwe anticipates returning to the facility frequently to spread cheer.

“Until we can go in and sit with each person, hear their story and give them a hug, we will return.”