Where do you live (city/area)?
We live in Northfield (we make the 40-minute trek because we love the people at Aultman).

When did you begin volunteering at Aultman Health Foundation?
We began volunteering in February 2016.

In what department do you volunteer?
We are part of the Happy Tails program. We spend most of our time in the lobby, the neurology unit, the surgery family waiting room and the cancer center.

How did you decide to be a volunteer? 
I had considered becoming a therapy dog team for years but Asha had been sick for quite some time so we were unable to meet the certification requirements. Once she made a complete recovery, I looked for a place that was offering the next Pet Partners Therapy Dog certification classes and Aultman was it! After we got our certification, we were given the option to choose the hospital that we would like to volunteer. We really liked the people that we met during our certification classes and testing, so we chose Aultman.

What do you like best about volunteering? 
We love the connections we make each time we visit the hospital. We visit much of the same staff and have developed some wonderful relationships. We also enjoy knowing that we are bringing some joy to patients and families who may be having a difficult day.

What are some of your hobbies/interests outside of volunteering?
I love the outdoors – swimming, biking and running. I also spend quite a bit of time volunteering at our local animal shelter. And, of course, I love spending time with my husband, Trevor, and our house full of pets!

Tell us about your loved ones (parents, spouse, children, grandchildren).

I have a wonderful husband named Trevor. We have been married for 11 years and just moved from Portland, Oregon to Ohio in 2015.

Tell us something interesting about yourself that many of your friends may not know. 

Hmm…that’s tough. I’d say something most people don’t know is that I am a diehard Jersey girl. I grew up in New Jersey and that will always be home. As for Asha, many patients and visitors don’t realize that she is both blind and deaf.

To learn more about Asha's story, check out this recent feature from WKYC Channel 3!