Leah Davidson, 9, was rolled out on her hospital bed so she could visit Charlie in the playroom. Leah is being treated for osteogenesis imperfecta, a group of inherited disorders characterized by fragile bones that break easily. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Charlie and his owner, Ronica Froese, have been registered as an animal-assisted therapy and activities team with Pet Partners since 2015. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Rowan Oisten, 2, pets Charlie's chest. Rowan is being treated for tonsillitis. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Charlie stands in the elevator to go up to the seventh floor to visit with patients. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Leah pets Charlie on the nose. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Children line up around Charlie to give him some love. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Charlie wears shoes in the hospital so he doesn't slip on the floors. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Charlie and Froese pass out plush horses with Band-Aids on them that read, "Get well." (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Austin Coultes, 9, visits with Charlie. Austin is being treated for shunt failure. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Froese had always wanted a miniature horse. She learned they have been used in therapy for more than 20 years. "He was made for the job," she said. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Jerimya Leasure, 5, pets Charlie during her visit with him. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Stephanie Davidson takes the plush horse and gives her daughter, Leah, kisses with it. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Charlie shows his teeth and smiles for the crowd. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Brittany Martin, 2, rides her tricycle up to Charlie, the miniature therapy horse. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Froese loves the joy and smiles Charlie puts on everyone's faces when he visits the hospital. "It's good for everybody's heart," she said. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Leah Davidson, 9, rolled down the hall in her hospital bed to visit Charlie in the playroom. Her mom and staff pushed her bed up to the door and Charlie walked up to the side of her bed to get some love from Leah.
She is being treated for osteogenesis imperfecta, a group of inherited disorders characterized by fragile bones that break easily. She smiled from ear to ear as she touched his nose, whispering, “Hi, Charlie.”
Charlie’s owner, Ronica Froese, especially enjoys Charlie’s visits to the hospital. They started their therapy visits in 2015 when Charlie was just a year old.
“I said if my horse can do this, this is what I want to do with my life,” Froese said. “And it turns out (Charlie) was made for the job.”
Froese handed out cards with Charlie’s hoofprint on them, as well as small plush horses with Band-Aids on their legs that read, “Get well.”
Several children enjoyed their visit with the handsome miniature horse, who sports sneakers and a great attitude.
Froese’s favorite part is seeing the children’s big smiles.
“It’s good for everybody’s heart,” Froese said.
The Child Life team at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital is always looking for community visitors to bring activities and events to the hospital for patients. If you are interested in having your group host an event, more information is available online.
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This story confirms the power of a pet and how good it is for the soul.