Cancer survivors Keith Jewett and Wena the dog share joy with patients | Corewell Health

“Would you like to visit the dog?” asks hospital volunteer Keith Jewett as Wena, his therapy dog, stands by and wags.

Few can resist.

After saying yes, Wena and Keith approach, and Wena gently rests her head on the patient’s or visitor’s lap and gladly accepts petting.

And for a few precious moments, thoughts of Cancer calm down as Wena’s soft eyes and soft fur bring joy to those she meets.

If a conversation follows, as it often does, Keith shares that Weena is also a cancer survivor and shows the scar where the mast cell tumor was removed on Weena’s side in the fall of 2020 when she was just a puppy.

Although the tumor was removed, Weena’s prognosis was not good. But with Wena enjoying good health after a year, Jewett made up her mind to serve others.

“When it was past its expiration date, that was a sign — you beat cancer,” Jewett said. “I thought, ‘It must be a cancer cure bitch.'” “

Winna, a spaniel mix, is trained and certified by the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. She and Jowett have been volunteering at Corewell Health’s Big Rapids and Reed City Hospitals and at the Susan P. Wheatlake Regional Cancer Center since May 2022.

A cancer survivor himself, Jewett takes Wena with him when he visits the cancer center for treatment.

After spending time with the patients and visitors, Jewett and Wena stopped by to see the team members, make rounds and bring smiles. Wena and Patient Services Representative Shannon Carmichael are always happy to see each other.

“For patients and team members alike, Winna is just a ray of sunshine and often seems to know when to make her rounds,” said Carmichael. “Her affection can brighten even the darkest of days.”

Jewett’s cancer journey began in the late 1990s when he was diagnosed with two types of leukemia. He began receiving treatment from visiting doctors in a trailer behind Reed City Hospital before building the Susan B. Whitlake Regional Cancer Center.

“I was here,” he joked, “before I was here.”

He was also diagnosed with choroidal melanoma and eye cancer in 2015 and prostate cancer in 2016. Jewett has a right prosthetic eye after having his eye removed in 2018.

Jewett is a professor emeritus at Ferris State University where he has taught computer programming, networking, and electronics for 18 years.

He joined FSU after retiring from the Navy, where he served 20 years, partly on a nuclear submarine.

Jewett’s wife of 49 years, Mary, has spoken out about buying a dog in 2020. The couple lives in Hawkins, Michigan, near Reed City.

“She was meant to be my therapy dog,” he said of Weena.

Jewett is affected by describing Wena’s influence on her interactions with patients.

“She has a great temper,” he said. “I love watching how people respond to it. It really affects some people.”

Wena spent time with cancer patient Wendy Montague, of Big Rapids, on Jan. 23 at the Cancer Center. Montague strokes Wena’s head and ears and speaks briefly with Jewett.

It was a short, but sweet exchange. Sadly, three weeks later, Montague passed away.

Wena, who is now over 3 years old, is showing no signs of slowing down. She and Jowett volunteer at hospitals and cancer centers two to three hours each week.

“Patients and staff alike love spending time with Keith and Wena,” said Voluntary Services Coordinator Susie Hicks. “The therapy dogs are always popular and Wina is so sweet – and of course Keith has a very interesting story.”

When asked why he decided to volunteer, Jewett was quick to appreciate Wena.

He said, “I wouldn’t have done this without her.” “We are both cancer survivors.”