the torch Fall 2017, Issue 3 | Page 10

$115,000 gift connects veterans with assistance dogs On a hot, August afternoon, Anthem, a yellow-lab/golden retriever mix, stood obediently between the two most important humans in his life. On Anthem’s left sat Trista Hageman, the woman who’d raised him the past 18 months. On his right were retired 1st Lt. Tate Landin, and Tate’s wife, Jessica. Later that day, Anthem Dr. Amrinder Binda, Greyson Gallagher, Jessica Tate, retired 1st Lt. Tate Tim Gallagher Dr. Bill Roberts Landin, Trista and Hageman, and Tate’s service dog, Anthem would go home with the Landins to begin his new life as Tate’s assistance dog. funding to market the service proud to be a small part of fulfilling part of a unique collaboration that is no charge for the dog to its When Tate returned home to his & White Health and Canine philanthropic support. assistance-dog training program. Independence, in collaboration with Independence at Baylor Scott & Foundation, helps veterans in a way marked the first time that an Kozmetsky, a Kozmetsky Family affiliated with a health care system. remarkable dogs not only promote Anthem, Trista and the Landins are specifically to veterans. Since there began in 2014 between Baylor Scott recipients, its training depends on Companions for Independence ® , an “Canine Companions for this mission.” wife and young daughter, Abigail, after his deployment to Afghanistan, he received devastating news. He had an aggressive brain tumor: a stage IV glioblastoma. The Canine Companions for Bayl o r H e a lth Ca re S ys te m White Health - Kinkeade Campus like n o oth e r,” s a i d A a r o n assistance-dog training center had Fo u n d a t i o n t r u s te e . “ T h e s e craniotomy physical independence, but they underwent two-and-a-half years of Sponsorship of a Dog a l so p rovi de a n unde nia ble Tate and Anthem are one of two therapeutic effect on these proud, supported by a generous gift from “For the sacrifices these heroes Recovery and Rehabilitation Tate unde r we nt a 20 -hour and received chemotherapy treatments. He also rehabilitation. Though h e’s surpassed what his therapists thought he’d achieve, Tate still needs veteran/assistance-dog teams brave men and women. the Kozmetsky Family Foundation. have made for our country, we sponsor one assistance dog. The loyalty and stability provided by Tate, thanks in large part to Trista. A $115,000 provides sponsorship for live their best lives possible. in raising a puppy as she saw the It costs approximately $50,000 to believe they deserve the unwavering Kozmetsky Family Foundation gift of Canine Companions to help them two assistance dogs, plus additional Kozmetsky Family Foundation is 10 help with small daily tasks, like opening doors and turning on lights. Anthem is well equipped to help social worker, she became interested Kinkeade Campus being built. She