We are deeply saddened to share that Anna has died. We are comforted that she died peacefully on her own terms after a joyful week of feeling great and seeing friends at work. We miss her terribly while also knowing that her spirit and impact with continue to live on in our lives and in the lives of so many patients, families, and colleagues. We are including an article written by Michigan Medicine announcing her death and sharing about her work.
Christina, LJ, and Sarah
Remembering Anna: Memorial for Paws4Patients facility dog to be held Feb. 23
One of the organization’s most beloved team members, Anna, has passed away.
Anna was one of the original facility dogs brought to the organization as part of the Lipschutz-Danzansky Family Paws4Patients Program.
“For nearly a decade, Anna brought joy, love and comfort to everyone she came in contact with,” said Rev. Christina Wright, Ph.D., Chaplain and Associate Director of the Department of Spiritual Care. “We are heartbroken by her loss, but know that her impact will be remembered and felt for years to come here at Michigan Medicine.”
‘We are very proud of her’
Anna arrived at Michigan Medicine in 2016. She came to Michigan Medicine as one of its first two facility dogs, along with Denver, funded by a gift from the Laurence Polatsch Memorial Fund, brother Daniel Polatsch and friend Andrew Kaminsky.
With her loss, Kaminsky shared, “We are deeply saddened to hear of Anna’s passing. We are very proud of her and the way she was able to put so many smiles on the faces of patients, families, colleagues and staff. The opportunity to help start and support this amazing program has been very meaningful for the Kaminsky and Polatsch families.
“We are honored that Anna represented Laurence and was able to positively impact countless people over the past nine years.”
Lainie and Kenny Lipschutz, whose donation endowed the Lipschutz/Danzansky Paws4Patients program, added their condolences:
“Anna was a big reason why our family wanted to get involved and support Paws4Patients. We witnessed how eyes lit up, smiles widened and a calmness settled in as Anna entered a patient room, nuzzled up to a group of visitors or came up to a nurse’s station. She connected with the people around her and brought them comfort in incredible ways.”
Positive until the end
In her time at Michigan Medicine, Anna worked in a number of places, including palliative care, the SICU, adult ICUs, Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital. Throughout her entire career, she was a member of the Department of Spiritual Care.
For the past year, Anna had been undergoing treatment for cancer. While her treatment was no longer effective, Anna showed no signs of decline to the very end of her life.
“Anna loved her work and loved helping people here at the hospital, whether patients, families or her coworkers,” said LJ Brazier, Chaplain and Anna’s handler. “It is comforting to know that she had the energy and spirit to continue her work up until the day she passed away — and went on her own terms, without struggling more from her illness.”
Sharing memories
When her retirement was announced, team members from across Michigan Medicine shared their memories and stories from their interactions with Anna.
The breadth of the responses show how much she was loved across the organization.
“A few years ago, I had heard news that greatly saddened me. As I was walking to the courtyard on my break, Anna came from the opposite direction,” wrote one colleague. “I had passed her many times before and since without anything happening, but that day she stopped and pressed herself against my leg. After a few moments, I reached down and petted her head in thanks. Then she trotted off. It’s a moment I will never forget!”
Another wrote: “Anna comforted my husband in pre-op before his heart surgery. She was such a sweet girl. Anna [has] been a canine pioneer and role model … thank you for everything.”
Anna’s memorial
All Michigan Medicine team members are invited to attend a memorial event for Anna on Monday, Feb. 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the lobby outside Ford Auditorium.
It will be a drop-in style without a traditional service, meaning team members can come and go as their schedule allows. Remarks will be made at noon.
“We know that losing Anna will be felt by different people in different ways,” Wright said. “And this memorial will be a way to come together collectively to grieve and share our memories together.”
Click here to learn more about the Paws4Patients program at Michigan Medicine, which has grown immensely since Anna and Denver’s arrival.
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