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Treatment for depression can be hairy and wild, says the heartwarming story of Robin Sipe, a 67-year-old woman with COPD
What prescription could the doctor give to a woman with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); What would be the guidelines beyond flu and coronavirus vaccination to protect against a serious respiratory infection?
Many things one could think of, but it would be difficult to think of a pet, say a kitten like the one that came to strengthen the health of Robin Sipe, a 67-year-old woman with COPD who felt the breath of death three times while hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit at Sentara RMH Medical Center. As then, so now it was her pulmonologist and therapist of 15 years, Earl D. King, who would become the mechanical god, according to her moving story published in Washington Post.
«I lost recently my cat and I sank into sadness and depression” was the first thing she sulkily said to Dr. King last September, to officially receive it prescription for adopting another cat, along with a boosted flu vaccine in October and one against COVID-19 in November. The prescription, Dr. King said, was something of a guarantee that Sipe would follow the recommendation—without thinking that she disobeyed or was “tricked” by her ears during the medical visit.
Dr. King’s recipe (Photo: The Washington Post)
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The directive for a new feline was no accident. Dr. King immediately recommended cat adoption after considering numerous studies linking pets with a better mental state and more successful management of depressive symptoms. A look at the extensive scientific literature is enough for anyone interested to discover studies that highlight the positive effect of four-legged friends on physical and mental health such as stress relief, strengthening the effort to quit smoking, better sleep, emotional empowerment in children with autism, improving cognitive ability and protecting children from allergies.
To the doctor’s surprise, Sipe immediately complied; stopping to do her shopping on the way home, she saw a small, black and white stray kitten missing its front left paw. “I’m so glad Robin found a new cat, especially one with a disabilityDr. King commented.
Robin Sipe with Earlene (Photo: The Washington Post)
It didn’t take much thought to name the lively seven-week-old cat. “I decided to name her Earlene after Dr. Earl KingSipe said of the feline who now helps her breathe better and heal her heart after the shock of the death of Datura, the all-black shorthair cat who “gone” suddenly.