A man woke three days early from an induced coma thanks to visits from his beloved dog.
Cancer sufferer Andy Szasz, 62, was rushed to hospital with pneumonia on December 9 and placed into a coma the next day when he stopped breathing.
Doctors said Andy, a civil engineer, would be in the coma for at least a week but visits from his four-year-old schnauzer poodle cross Teddy helped him wake early.
Cancer sufferer Andy Szasz, 62, was rushed to hospital with pneumonia on December 9 and placed into a coma the next day when he stopped breathing
Doctors said Andy, a civil engineer, would be in the coma for at least a week but visits from his four-year-old schnauzer poodle cross Teddy helped him wake early
Andy surprised doctors at Southampton General Hospital by waking after just four days and was boosted by regular video calls with Teddy, helped by his four grown-up sons
His wife Estelle, 49, then convinced hospital staff to allow her to bring the pet in for a visit.
She said that hearing about Teddy while he was asleep ‘definitely helped’ Andy to wake up much earlier than doctors had predicted.
The couple brought Teddy home from an RSPCA shelter in Fareham just three months before Andy was diagnosed with bowel cancer in August 2012.
He had received treatment and overcome an initial bout of cancer before being taken ill and rushed to intensive care.
School administrator Estelle said: ‘There’s no doubt that talking to Teddy every day after Andy woke up sped his recovery.
The couple brought Teddy home from an RSPCA shelter in Fareham just three months before Andy was diagnosed with bowel cancer in August 2012 (Estelle and Andy pictured)
‘Being able to take him into hospital gave Andy that drive to recover much faster than the doctors expected.
‘The doctors told me that Andy would be in the coma for at least a week, but he woke up four days later and all he could talk about was seeing Teddy.
‘Teddy is such an incredibly lovely and loyal dog and he’s always had a special relationship with Andy.’
Hospital staff encourage family members to bring pet dogs and cats into the hospital grounds, but these reunions are usually confined to the outdoors.
But in the case of Andy’s rehabilitation, staff made an exception and allowed Teddy to come into the hospital itself when Andy was moved to the high-dependency unit.
Estelle said that she ‘smuggled’ devoted Teddy into the unit in a bag for life so that he could visit his beloved owner.
Fiona Hall, senior sister on the general intensive care unit, said: ‘It can be hugely beneficial for patients, relatives, friends and staff.
‘It can be motivational, aiding recovery, and can provide a pleasant and familiar experience in what can otherwise prove to be a long, uncomfortable journey in hospital.
‘Dogs from the charity Pets as Therapy often visit patients at the bedside if they or their relatives wish and evidence shows stimulating senses can enhance patients’ recoveries.’
Andy was home in time for Christmas and is building up his strength in order to be able to take Teddy for walks when Estelle returns to work.
