Charlie Daniels, 17, a patient at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, gives Triumph a graham cracker as her caretaker, Marion "Moe" Moeller, looks on. (photo by Susan Urmy)
Children’s Hospital’s Triumph focus of book on service dogs
Triumph, one of the volunteer therapy dogs serving patients at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, will be featured in a national book titled “To the Rescue.”
The book, authored by Elise Lufkin, is the third in a series featuring rescued dogs. The latest installation will focus on rescued dogs that have become therapy or service companions.
Triumph was rescued from a roadside in Turkey, where she was found with her back legs severed. She was flown to a rescue group in the United States, where she was nursed back to health with the help of her caretaker, Marion “Moe” Moeller, who lives in Mt. Juliet. Triumph underwent a series of ground-breaking surgeries in Denver to receive permanent, implanted leg prosthetics. She is also a certified therapy dog from the Delta Society, and is one of the only double-amputee therapy dogs in the world.
Lufkin and renowned photographer Diana Walker chronicled Triumph's visit to Children's Hospital on June 17.
“I feel so fortunate to have learned of Triumph's amazing story,” Lufkin said. “It's inspiring on so many levels — her recovery; her kind, friendly, cheerful attitude; the enormous generosity shown by many people both in Turkey and here, especially Moe, so generous in saving Triumph and caring for her, so generous in sharing her now with others.”