Facility Dog Eases Journey for Pediatric Patient Undergoing Three Spinal Surgeries in Six Months

Kayce doesn't have a medical or nursing degree. But that hasn't stopped him from becoming a beloved caregiver at Mass General Brigham for Children.

Matthew Hoggard can attest to Kayce's special skills. The 21-year-old from Amesbury, Massachusetts, endured three major spinal surgeries in six months. Kayce's affectionate, calming nature helped him make it through an incredibly trying period. 

Kayce, a member of the Mass General Brigham for Children care team since October 2024, happens to be a dog. Specifically, a golden retriever–yellow labrador mix. The fluffy pup is specially trained to provide emotional support for pediatric patients like Matthew. 

"He became more than a cheerful visitor," Jane Hoggard, Matthew's mother, said of Kayce. "He was a lifeline, a healer, and a trusted friend whose presence was instrumental in easing anxiety and supporting Matthew's healing through each ordeal."

An uphill battle with his health

Since being born three months premature, weighing only a pound and a half, Matthew has received much of his medical care at Mass General Brigham for Children. Early in life, he had problems with his lungs and developmental delays. At age 16, he began experiencing orthopedic disorders. As a result, he had several surgeries to address issues with his hamstrings, right heel, and spine. 

Then came a diagnosis of kyphosis. This is a forward curvature of the vertebrae (back bones) in the upper back, which produces a "humpback" or rounded appearance. Following years of wearing a back brace, the pain became so severe that Matthew couldn't walk. Eventually, he was confined to a wheelchair for most of his waking hours. 

After his pediatric orthopedic surgeon moved out of the area, Zabrina Shabin, MD, took over Matthew's care. She specializes in treating children with kyphosis and a wide range of other orthopedic ailments. 

Dr. Shabin ordered imaging scans, bone scans, and other tests to confirm the source of Matthew's intense back pain. Kyphosis was indeed the cause. She recommended spinal fusion, a procedure that involves joining together multiple vertebrae to provide stability and reduce pain. 

The surgery, which Dr. Shabin performed alongside John Braun, MD, went well. She later stopped by Matthew's room to see how he was doing. 

"Matthew tends to be quiet, but once he's comfortable with someone, his sarcasm and humor come through," Jane said. "When she walked in, he said, 'Man, did you do a number on me!'"

Matthew had a lengthy recovery in the hospital due to gastrointestinal complications caused by medications. As the days went on, Jane said, "He went to a dark place. I was very, very concerned about him." 

Everything changed the moment he met Kayce. 

'It was going to be okay' 

Eva Mintz has been a child life specialist at Mass General Brigham for Children for 17 years. A year ago, she traveled to a Georgia facility that trains puppies to serve as therapy dogs in children's hospitals. There, she met Kayce, who was 14 months old at the time. 

Eva brought Kayce home and now serves as his primary handler. He lives with her and accompanies her to work at Mass General Brigham for Children five days a week. Together, they visit 10-12 children a day across two inpatient pediatric units. 

"Pet therapy dogs usually come in with their volunteer handlers for a couple hours a week," Eva said. "Kayce is a facility dog, meaning he's a full-time part of our clinical team here. He can do things like provide distraction and comfort while kids undergo procedures. And then afterwards, he's there to help them relax as they recover." 

The first time Eva showed up with Kayce, Matthew wasn't in a good mood. Although the Hoggards have a dog at home, Matthew didn't seem interested in interacting with this one. 

"I swear, Kayce sensed it," Jane said. "He slowly went up to Matthew, eventually nudging his arm and putting his head there. That's when I saw a smile on Matthew's face that I hadn't seen in a long time. It let me know it was going to be okay." 

Finding a bright side

Matthew ended up spending a month in the hospital. Over that stretch, he and Jane came to look forward to regular appearances by Kayce. The visits often followed a similar pattern: At Matthew's urging, Kayce would jump up on the bed. Then Kayce would fall asleep, while Matthew would stroke his head or paw. 

"Kayce is about 85 pounds, so he's a big boy," Eva said. "Many parents have told me that his size is in part what makes him so comforting—like a weighted blanket. He'll get right up on the bed, snuggle in close, and give a lot of love." 

When Matthew was discharged, he worried that he would miss Kayce. Unfortunately, his future would include more hospital stays. 

A few weeks after going home and starting physical therapy locally, Matthew began having upper back spasms and weakness in his arms and legs. One night, he didn't even have the strength to stand up using his walker. Jane emailed Dr. Shabin. Minutes later, Dr. Shabin called to say that Matthew needed to get to the emergency room immediately. 

At the hospital, Matthew had an imaging scan done to see what was wrong. He was found to have a broken vertebrae above the level of his prior surgery. Dr. Shabin gently broke the news that Matthew would need another operation right away. Jane could see how upset Dr. Shabin was, but at least Matthew took the news well. 

"He looks at me with a smile and says, 'At least I'll be able to see Kayce again,'" Jane recalled. 

Two more spinal surgeries follow

During the second surgery, Drs. Shabin and Braun extended the fusion upward to incorporate the broken vertebra. Recovery required a 10-day stay in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Kayce helped Matthew maintain an even keel. 

"There's no medicine that can heal like Kayce does for Matthew," Jane said. "Being in the hospital day in and day out can be draining. Kayce and Eva would walk in the room, and we could forget about that life for a little while."

By this time, Matthew had also formed a close bond with Dr. Shabin. "He felt comfortable and safe with her," Jane said. "When things were tough, he would ask for her. We've been through many specialists over the years, and she's in the top echelon for sure."

Following his discharge, Matthew continued his recovery at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Boston. After returning home, he had intense outpatient physical therapy in addition to regular follow-ups with Dr. Shabin. She soon grew concerned about the state of his lumbar spine (the five vertebrae in the lower back), which appeared to be losing its natural curvature. As a result, Matthew was starting to lean forward. Over time, this could have caused the fusion near the top of his spine to fail. 

Dr. Shabin said that Matthew would benefit from a corrective osteotomy. The procedure involves cutting and reshaping bone to restore the curvature of the lower spine. She added that a colleague, Mass General Brigham orthopedic surgeon Stuart Hershman, MD, is highly experienced in performing osteotomies for cases exactly like Matthew's. 

The 10-hour surgery took place almost four months after the prior surgery. Eva brought Kayce by the next day. 

"Eva is awesome. I love her," Jane said. "She saw firsthand the effect that Kayce had on Matthew, and she made sure to get Kayce to his bedside every day she was there. She deserves a lot of credit for her dedication." 

Once again, Matthew required an extended stay in the PICU and rehabilitation at Spaulding Rehabilitation Boston. Two months later, Jane is optimistic that Matthew's spinal problems are at last behind him. "I definitely see a difference in his posture," she said. "I'm forever thankful to Dr. Hershman for that." 

A portrait of perseverance

Matthew is still working to regain full mobility. He uses a walker to get around but is once again able to get up and down stairs. Jane takes him to Spaulding Rehabilitation Boston for outpatient physical therapy and to Dr. Hershman for follow-up visits. Since Matthew is a huge hockey fan, Jane and her daughter, Brie, recently decked out his bedroom with Boston Bruins gear. 

Dr. Shabin is proud of how far Matthew has come. "I've been really impressed by his resilience and mental toughness," she said. "And his parents are incredible advocates for him who have always managed to maintain a positive attitude. They're all lovely people, and I'm happy to see Matthew on the other side of what was a really hard year." 

Matthew has attended The Children's Center for Communication in Beverly, Massachusetts, since age 10 and is on track to graduate next spring. Jane is thankful he will be able to enter the next chapter of his life without the physical pain and limitations that plagued him for so long. 

"I have so much gratitude not only for Eva and Kayce but also for all the doctors and nurses who cared for him," she said. "I thank God for Mass General Brigham; I owe Matthew's life to a lot of people there."