Brooke Moon, Hospice Preceptor for our Clinton office, has always believed that the smallest acts of compassion can leave the biggest impact. During admission, our team asks every patient what their Three Most Important Things (TMIT) are. These are the personal things they care about that we can honor to bring them comfort. Our goal is to honor one of these TMITs at each visit. 

Our Clinton team had a patient was known for being standoffish with people, especially around new faces. Opening up did not come easily. But there was one thing that could always soften her up, a deep love for animals, especially dogs. Talking about dogs brought a different light into the room. Her eyes brightened, her voice softened, and for a moment, the anxiety and guardedness seemed to fade away. 

Brooke remembered a previous TMIT involving another patient who had found tremendous comfort in a weighted stuffed dog. She immediately knew she wanted to recreate that same sense of peace, and she got to work ordering another weighted dog, hoping it could provide comfort in a season filled with uncertainty and loneliness. 

The patient had been longing for another pet ever since moving, missing the companionship and unconditional comfort that only a dog could bring.  

When Brooke presented the weighted dog, the room fell silent. Tears began to fall — not tears of sadness, but tears of pure happiness and gratitude.  As she held the weighted dog close, an instant sense of relief washed over her. The gentle weight brought familiarity, calmness, and peace. It eased anxiousness almost immediately, offering comfort in a way words never could. 

In that moment, Brooke’s kindness became more than a gift. It became connection, understanding, and love — honoring not just a patient’s needs but the very thing that brought her comfort most in life: the unconditional love of a dog.