What if... we bring joy with us?

‍

Joy has a way of surprising you.

Not the small kind of joy, but the kind that fills your heart so much it moves you. The kind that makes you literally laugh out loud from your belly and breathe deeper. The kind that overflows into every part of your life.

This kind of joy does not ask permission.

It simply walks into the room and changes everything.

And sometimes, that joy walks in on four legs.

The moment when my son, Brayden, reunited in the hospital with his dog, Dugan, sparked that kind of joy. There was nothing more pure or healing than that moment. Later, when we learned that only two children’s hospitals in the country offered families that opportunity, we knew something had to change. We didn’t wait for joy to find its way into hospital rooms; we brought joy with us.

From coast to coast, the Mobile Family Pet Reunion Center made its way to hospitals so families and hospital leaders could see the vision for themselves. We saw hospital leaders walk through the trailer in awe. We overheard whispers at conferences about the pet center “you have to see to believe.” We stayed steady through delays and long approval processes because the vision was clear.

And then the contracts began arriving:

Manning Family Children’s in New Orleans, LA
Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis, IN
Connecticut Children’s in Hartford, CT

And then the kids in New Orleans began visiting and we saw Abigail’s experience. We saw that joy can arrive in an instant, even when the future remains uncertain. We saw that joy can be medicine. And uninhibited joy requires belief, hope, and love. The same ingredients bravery requires.

Every reunion, every smile, every moment of joy was and is made possible by you. You believed in us. You hoped with us. You loved deeper than we imagined.

Next week, we will share the final chapter of this story. Until then—

Be Joyful. Be Brave!

In Courageous Gratitude,

‍

John Otten

CEO and Co-Founder, Brave Like Me Foundation

‍