Mount Evans Home Health Care & Hospice helps patients in Colorado's mountain communities. For 45 years, they have worked to fulfill final wishes.
A Special Request
Recently, a patient named Dan had a specific wish. He wanted to cuddle a golden retriever with "puppy breath" one last time. A member of his care team, Geneva, quickly sought help. She posted on Reddit, asking the r/Denver and r/goldenretrievers communities for a puppy.
Kristen Mathias, a spokesperson for Mount Evans, explained that their team asks patients about unresolved needs and last wishes. Dan's request for a golden retriever puppy with puppy breath was important.
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Start Your News DetoxThe Reddit community quickly responded. Many suggested local golden retriever rescue groups. Then, Amber Barnett Traub offered her puppy.
Amber wrote, "We have an 11-week-old golden puppy! Her breath smells more like coffee than milk, though. If that’s okay please let us know."
Amber noted that other puppies were too old to have "puppy breath." Luckily, her puppy, Gladdie (short for Galadriel), was 11 weeks old. She still had that special puppy smell, perfectly matching Dan's wish.
Gladdie's Visit
Nurse Geneva connected Amber and her husband, Justin, with Dan. They brought Gladdie to his home the next day.
Amber recalled that Gladdie had a wonderful time with Dan. She played fetch and tug-of-war. She also cuddled with him on his large beanbag couch.
Mount Evans shared that Dan had loved dogs his whole life. His most recent golden retriever had passed away a few months before his diagnosis. He felt heartbroken and alone.
However, his sadness seemed to lift when Gladdie was there.
Amber said they enjoyed hearing Dan's stories about his own golden retrievers: Shea, Molly, and Shanti. Dan talked about the hikes they took. He shared that Shanti was diagnosed at the same time he was, and she had recently passed. Amber felt honored to bring Gladdie to Dan, giving him a chance to feel that golden retriever love again.
A Lasting Memory
Dan passed away a few days after Gladdie's visit. But his memory lives on with the Traubs. Dan gifted them a ball-throwing machine he used with his own dogs. Amber plans to use it once Gladdie is big enough.
His final wish also deeply affected his caregivers at Mount Evans. This agency is one of only two 5-star hospices in Colorado.
Mathias explained that not all patients make a last request. But when they do, the team works hard to honor it. Past requests have included a final sip of beer or helping a patient attend a grandchild's wedding.
Dan was pleased with his visit with Gladdie, though he was tired. He declined offers for another dog visit, saying he was content with his time with Gladdie.
A Facebook post from Mount Evans on August 13 stated, "Moments like these remind us of what hospice care is truly about: Cherishing life, honoring wishes, and bringing comfort when it matters most."
