Leslie Schlang has been a nurse for 45 years, assisting a countless number of rehabilitation patients overcome the effects of stroke, traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. But there’s another role the nurse manager also takes pride in, being the “Mom” and home handler for Mesa, Memorial Regional Hospital South’s therapy dog.
The two spend lots of time visiting patients and families, providing comfort and bringing smiles to those who often spend extended periods of time in the hospital. “Many of our patients have dogs at home they are missing, so being with Mesa makes them happy,” said Schlang. “Mesa also helps decrease the agitation our traumatic brain injury sufferers can experience.”
Mesa lives with Schlang, with the dog helping the longtime nurse through her own trauma after the death of her husband nearly three years ago. “My children are grown and live out of state, so Mesa was my salvation during that time. Like she does for patients, Mesa helped take the pain away.”
