Sandy Pobanz
Benji has a nose for trouble. A big, black nose. And when he finds trouble, he happily lends a helping paw.
Benji is a pet therapy dog on the Scottsdale, Ariz., campus of Mayo Clinic. His partner in caring is long-time Mayo Clinic friend and benefactor Sandy Pobanz.
When Sandy Pobanz and her 2-year-old golden retriever Benji walk through the doors of Mayo Clinic in Arizona, they bring a special brand of healing. On one of his first visits, Benji, a certified therapy dog, hopped up into a chair next to a woman with throat cancer. He set his paw on her arm and licked her cheek.
"She just lit up," Sandy says. "When I see the healing effect Benji brings, it's so heartwarming. It's the most rewarding thing I've ever done."
Sandy was inspired to explore the idea of getting involved in pet therapy after attending the "Dr. Jack" lecture at the 2010 meeting of The Mayo Legacy, a membership group for people who have made a planned gift arrangement with Mayo Clinic. She kept on the lookout for just the right animal, and eventually took home a 2-and-half-month-old puppy from Orangevale, California.
Fourteen months later, Benji was fully trained in the art of visiting patients. He has a special aptitude for this service. Since his first visit with patients in the radiation oncology outpatient clinic on Mayo's Scottsdale campus in 2012, he has become a welcome, healing presence.
Sandy volunteers at the hospital's Pain Clinic and she and Benji visit patients in the Radiation Oncology Clinic and in their homes.
"I get the biggest thrill walking into Mayo with Benji in his therapy dog vest, swiping my badge over the access keypad and walking through those doors as part of the Mayo team," Sandy says. This experience has confirmed for Sandy something she already knew: The medical care at Mayo Clinic is the best in the world. Since becoming a pet therapy volunteer, Sandy gets an inside look at Mayo. "I can see it's seamless. They are what they say they are. The doctors, the staff, they're selfless."
It's because of these high standards that Sandy is confident in her choice to include Mayo Clinic in her estate plans. "Mayo Clinic's standards are high. That's why I know my money, my parents' money, will be used in the way we designated, and it will be done efficiently, honestly and appropriately," Sandy says. "My parents sacrificed and saved. And they taught me to do the same. They were pleased they got fabulous medical care here. And I am blessed to help carry on this Mayo legacy. I've always felt that if you want to see the results, give when you are alive. But there's also joy with an estate gift, in knowing that when you're gone, it will help Mayo carry on."
Soon Sandy may be visiting patients with another dog as well. Her second golden retriever, Teddy, is in training.
You can become a member of The Mayo Legacy by including a gift in your estate plan to provide hope and healing to every patient in the future. Get inspired by reading how other benefactors show their support.