' RAFTER '
"Therapy Dog Extraordinaire"
Quail Run’s Carolina Hoppin’ John is his registered name , but he is more infamously know as “RAFTER
“ . Therapy dog extraordinaire !
Jane Hirsch ( RAFTER’S Mom ) had grown up to be quite the tennis fancier . In fact Jane spent 22 years as a tennis
instructor herself , and of course , be as It may , all tennis instructors maintain a tennis Pro in their hearts to call “
their hero “ . Jane’s tennis hero was none other than the Australian tennis Pro , Patrick Rafter “ for whom
the dog “ RAFTER “ was named . Patrick Rafter , Australia’s leading tennis pro for many years has many wins
to his credit ranging from multiple US Opens to holding Australia’s top titles for several years . You can read more
about Patrick Rafter at www.patrickrafter.com.ar/ . Researching some of the info on both Mr. Rafter and RAFTER the dog , I
simply became fascinated with the appropriation of this dogs association with the name RAFTER . Patrick Rafter and his ’Cherish
The Children ’ non profit organization was founded with his winnings of the Australian Open in 1999 . Mr. Rafter’s
Cherish The Children site can be found at www.cherishthechildren.com.au/ . All that said to say this . RAFTER , ( the dog
of course ) has more than followed the foot steps of a great athlete towards helping a cause that reaches children and canines
alike in a time of despair .
Jane , finished with her tennis career and looking for a canine companion , acquired RAFTER from a breeder at the ripe
young age of 8 weeks old . Bearing in mind , Jane had only been exposed to dogz on a minimal level as a child and had not
owned a dog of any sort as an adult . For some unknown reason Jane chose to take on the lifestyle of the non-stop action of
an Australian Shepherd , and I am sure , as Aussie owners we are all aware of the miracles she is about to ensue that the
breed can bring into our lives . In my personal 25 plus years of being acquainted with this breed , I can only recall recommending
the Aussie to a very few as a pet and or friend . A truly magical breed of course , that can rise to the call of duty in such
a way as RAFTER has done over time . Aware as we all are of the demands that this breed brings on us to give it a job or suffer
, here is a dog that suffered severely only to step up to the plate to take on a job few humans and or dogz could do so well
.
Jane acquired RAFTER with a true dog handler/owner heart with the intention of getting her dog involved and giving him
a job and things to keep him occupied . Among exposing RAFTER to obedience , agility and a smorgasboard of other dog things
to do , Jane had RAFTER registered as a therapy dog through Therapy Dogs Incorporated at the young age of 14 months . More
info on Therapy Dogs Inc. can be found on their website
www.therpaydogs.com/ . Dixie Dancing Dogs is a group that has highly trained dogs that throw a wide array of dance moves mixed with
tricks and entertainment to suit all ages . They are the largest canine musical freestyle club in the Southeast and are headquartered
in Atlanta GA . Take the time to view scheduled events pages on their site in hopes of catching a show in your area . Jane
has coupled the Dixie Dancing Dogs efforts , many tricks and moves and of course endless time into a life of strict dedication
to cheering up those who need such therapy and requires no thing material or otherwise for herself or RAFTER in return .
At just over the age of two , when all things are looking glorious and fun to turn the world into a happier place , RAFTER
began to feel not so much like being the entertainer he knew he was destined to be . RAFTER began showing sings of some disinterest
in all the goings on that all this activity required . But as the faithful and willing Aussie way of being is , RAFTER still
performed his duties like a pro until one day something made things turn for the worse . When jumping down from the SUV one
day , RAFTER was stifled with pain and let out a yelp that left Jane’s blood running like ice water . RAFTER , showing
extreme signs of pain seemed more than unwilling to be himself . With much concern , Jane takes RAFTER to see Dr. Feinberg
of Charles Towne Veterinary Clinic in Charleston South Carolina . Dr. Feinberg ( past President of The American Animal Hospital
Association ) examines RAFTER thoroughly and the examine comes up showing no broken bones . Dr. Feinberg sends him home with
pain medicine and bed rest orders followed by light duty for a healing process . The pain subsides for a while but soon returns
. Upon the second visit to Dr. Feinberg’s , the Doc refers RAFTER to Dr. Kent at the University of Georgia’s Veterinary
Medicine Clinic . Without expressing all the miseries that come from multiple testing over the course of five days , RAFTER
was diagnosed with osteosarcoma , a type of bone cancer ( or tumor ) in his 7th vertebrae , which typically moves
to the lungs and is almost always fatal .
Staring at what seems to be almost assured demise for RAFTER , Jane inquired on what the healing process efforts would
be , if any . Told By Dr. Kent and his capable staff that it required radiation treatments every other day for one month with
an expectation of living only 9 to 18 months at best . With heartbreak setting in with Jane , and RAFTER facing a situation
he surely will not understand , Jane steps back to punt and takes on the task like a true fighter to survive . Driving from
Charleston South Carolina to Athens Georgia is a chore few of us would be willing to endeavor and or endure even if we were
capable . For a month , the every other day drive continues . After this marathon driving and treatment experience , RAFTER
was looking at a 1 month check up followed by check ups every three months . At 5 ½ months RAFTER showed to be in remission
. Folks , if you think you are jumping for joy now , that isn’t even half of the miracle taking place here . After a
full year of jumping through less than pleasant hoops , RAFTER showed absolutely no signs of the tumor in his 7th
vertebrae . Totally healed is what the Doctor was looking at . Amazed , thankful and shocked at what was deemed a full recovery
, RAFTER was now back in action and about to move on to his best feat yet .
As we know , RAFTER is a registered therapy dog . He does much of his work at The Medical University of South Carolina
Children’s Hospital where he met Volunteer Coordinator Christine Messick . RAFTER was MUSC’s very first therapy
dog and now has a hand painted portrait of himself hanging in the lobby as you enter the facility . MUSC’s Children’s
Hospital is where RAFTER also met young Erik Simao . Erik had been diagnosed with brain cancer . Once again , rising to the
occasion , ( did you really expect less ) RAFTER makes it a point to befriend Erik Simao in his time of needing a pal who
understood . It is reported that Erik mentioned to RAFTER that the kids at school teased him about having no hair from the
treatments . RAFTER made it very clear that dogz hold no concern for the appearance of a friend , but the strength of their
loyalty .
I had the pleasure of communicating with Erik’s mother and she quotes Erik in saying , “ it was knowing RAFTER
had suffered and pulled through the same thing that made him strong and knowing looking forward to seeing RAFTER gave Erik
something to think about other than the treatments ” . Erik’s mom tells me that Erik related so strongly to RAFTER
that Erik wanted a puppy but the doctor laid down the law and said no dog at that time . To much of a health risk for Erik
at that stage of treatment . Erik’s mom also is convinced that Erik learned a great lesson that dogs are not just pets
, but are also friends like no other . Erik so wanted a canine friend , and now that Erik is also in remission with no sign
of the cancer ( is that miracle number two or what ? ) he now has a Cavalier King Charles as a full time pal . RAFTER , without
question and according to Erik , will be his pal for life ( literally ) . Folks , the time RAFTER has spent as a therapy dog
is far more extensive than I can reflect here . Visits to Erik’s home , to MUSC combined with an all out effort to see
Erik through his toughest times is a countless task .
I now would like to ask us all to take a moment and look at ourselves and our canine pals and ask , could we do all of
this , and only for a treat if even that ? Can we see the hand painted picture that such a dog and a boy can give us , to
stop and do something for someone else ? I often ask people if they have ever seen the movie , “ Pay it Forward “
. Have you seen it ? I am believing that RAFTER has paid something very forward and am just as sure Erik will also .
When I spoke to Dr. Feinberg of Charles Towne Veterinary Clinic on the phone requesting comment on his opinion of RAFTER
in general , Dr. Feinberg asked me to give him a starting point to work from and he would “ try “ to comment from
there . I soon found myself listening to a man with endless good report about the spirit of RAFTER throughout his ordeal to
the point I think even Dr. Feinberg realized he had a momentum going that was hard to stop . Dr. Feinberg’s comment
that stood strongest in my mind was that “ RAFTER was always a true star , willing to perform and do the job at hand
“ . Dr. Feinberg seemed no less than honored to have RAFTER and Jane as clients and expressing it with true excitement
and sincerity in his voice .
RAFTER is 8 ½ years old now and has his own non-profit organization called “ TROT FOR THE CURE “ . The efforts
of RAFTER involving ‘ TROT FOR THE CURE ‘ has raised over $30,000 in the last three years and the 4th
annual ‘ TROT ‘ in 2008 is expected to be a grand success as well . I personally intend on being there this year
for the “ TROT “ with high hopes of shaking the hands of both the miracle dog RAFTER and the miracle boy Erik
. ‘ TROT FOR THE CURE ‘ proceeds go to Canine Cancer Research at the University of Georgia , Dr. Northrup ( Oncologist
) presiding . The ‘ TROT ‘ takes place in Charleston SC and official information regarding the ‘ TROT ‘
can be obtained through the Dixie Dancing Dogs website . A ’ TROT FOR THE CURE ’ press release is also posted
below .
The list goes on and on for RAFTER and his efforts . He is a full time therapy dog and wonder worker so don’t miss
out on some of his action , not excluding ordering one of his books by clicking on the image of his book cover at the top
of this page . Another very interesting website is
