Gaylord Speciality Healthcare News

'Nash Wednesdays' bring joy to Gaylord Hospital patients this holiday season - Gaylord

Written by Kathy Kraines | December 08, 2022

Fox 61 News
By Jim Altman
Dec. 7, 2022

WALLINGFORD, Conn. β€” Just in time for the holiday season, Nash, an 85-pound black Labrador Retriever, is making his rounds at Gaylord Hospital.

With his handler Amanda McQuaid, a recreation therapist at Gaylord, Nash has been on a mission to spread more joy to patients in December.

β€œHe provides a sense of comfort [to patients], almost like a serotonin boost,” McQuaid said of Nash.

Nash, who will turn 3 years old on Christmas Eve, is popular with patients like Nicole Pedonti, from Portland. Pedonti is fighting back from the effects of metabolic complications, that have temporarily confined her to a wheelchair.