Therapy dog program helps stroke patients recover at suburban hospital

For patients recovering from a stroke, brain injury and other neurological condition, rehabilitation is an essential part of their healing. At Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, a rare program includes man s best friend. Milo is a Native American Indian dog who this week was working with two recent stroke patients. “Milo is very motivated by treats,” said Bill Egan with Rainbow Assisted Animal Therapy Dogs. “When he sees the bag come out, his vest go on, he knows it s time to go work. He s like a different dog. And he s prepared. He s been very well trained. He loves to be with people.” Alyssa Jacobs is an occupational therapist who works with Milo. “We get a lot of different diagnoses here, big ones, we get our neurological stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, we have transplants, we get orthopedic injuries, all sorts of things,” said Jacobs. “Any one of those diagnoses can cause a major change in your day-to-day life. Jacobs said she can modify just abou