Bringing Smiles and Comfort on Four Paws

Her leading duty is offering consolation and comfort to patients at Cabell Huntington Hospital and St. Mary’s Medical Center, but Sophia Maria Jackson has also made numerous appearances at dental offices, schools, and libraries around the Tri-state. Better known as Sophie, the 15-pound Lakeland Terrier brightens everyone’s day when she shows up with tail wagging and paw up for a “high five” to extend unconditional love. She is not the only furry volunteer at Cabell Huntington Hospital and St. Mary’s Medical Center. Nearly a dozen therapy dogs visit the two hospitals regularly, ranging from a shih tzu to a sheltie to a German shepherd. “Regardless what kind of day I am having, when we go for a visit, I always feel blessed when I leave,” said Sophie’s handler, Trina Jackson. “I have visited patients’ rooms where the family or caregiver is trying to convince the patient to do something, and when they see Sophie, they’re often more cooperative.” Pet therapy is serious business. There are more than 50,000 therapy dogs nationwide, spreading love through touch, affection, and interaction with humans. They are trained for the mission too: Sophie took her final exam for her Therapy Dogs International certification in Columbus, Ohio. Jackson acquired Sophie specifically for therapy, starting her training at one year of age. The prestigious pooch has since logged more than a decade in the hospital hallways and patient rooms, spending anywhere from two to four hours on a visit. Her routine includes stops at most departments in both hospitals, including the pediatric unit and labor-and-delivery area at Cabell Huntington. Jackson also honors special requests. “The other day a visitor stopped me and asked if I could go to a room on the sixth floor,” said Jackson. “I planned to start at the bottom that day and work my way up, but I wound up starting at the top.” Married to retired attorney and former state senator Lloyd Jackson II, Trina got interested in therapy dogs when she read an article about an animal who visited a children’s hospital in the Washington, D.C. area. Since the onset of COVID-19, Jackson said her work has also changed. While she still sees patients, a lot of her visits are with doctors and nurses needing a dose of encouragement. “One day a nurse was leaving outpatient surgery; she looked over at the desk and Sophie’s tail was wagging,” Jackson recalled. “Sophie looked at the nurse and raised her paw for a high five. The nurse started crying and said, ‘You don’t know how much I needed this.’ “It’s nice to see that,” Trina said. “That’s what gives me a blessing—to see people’s lives changed just a little.