Joelle, Jammer a comforting combination at Health First

BY MARIA SONNENBERG

Health First volunteer coordinator

Joelle Boccabella is followed by a golden shadow at Health First, and the shadow’s name is Jammer, the hospital system’s facility dog.

Provided by the nonprofit Canine Companions for Independence, Labrador/golden retriever Jammer brightens the day of everyone he meets at Viera, Palm Bay and Cape Canaveral hospitals.

Wearing his work vest and his official Health First badge, Jammer is ready to help Boccabella. The five-year-old canine takes his duties of cheering patients and staff and providing encouragement at the Joint Centers very seriously.

“He’s the motivator,” Boccabella said.

Jammer’s role with patients who have recently received a hip or knee replacement is to get them up and walking.

“He’ll walk beside them and it gets them asking me questions about the dog and they’re not thinking about their exercise,” Boccabella said.

On at least one occasion, Jammer has been known to remove the socks off a patient and give them to him. Jammer also works with physical therapists to assist patients trying to regain mobility after a stroke.

Michelle Sokol, the nurse manager of the medical and surgical units at Viera Hospital, knows the joy that is Jammer.

“Joelle and Jammer come to the unit happy and smiling,” she said.

They proceed to cheer up patients and staff alike.

“The team will gather around to pet Jammer, and you can see their spirits lift,” Sokol added.

At Palm Bay Hospital, Jammer and Joelle are part of Team Lavender, a fastacting team who help support associates through acute, negative mental health events.

“The pastor usually comes down and talks to me, so it’s what is the immediate need when we first get there,” Boccabella said.

When associates have experienced stressful or heart-wrenching cases in the Emergency Department or the ICU, Jammer helps by offering a furry head to pat and soulful eyes that overflow with gentleness.

In his third year with Health First, Jammer relaxes as passionately as he works. Once the vest comes off, he chills out on the little hammock Boccabella placed in her lanai at home.

He also likes watching television.

“He likes surfing for some reason, and I’ve caught him staring at the TV when they’re surfing,” she said.

When the vest is back on, however, Jammer knows it is time to get back to work.

“His whole demeanor changes,” Boccabella said. SL