Hospital Therapy Rabbits on Hand for 'Bunny Day'

By SYDNEY LUPKIN

abcnews.go.com

ht nyu easter bunny 1 tl 5 150403 16x9 992 resized 600

The Easter Bunny has some sweet competition in the form of two therapy rabbits at NYU Langone Medical Center in Manhattan.

Nutmeg and Clovis, both 5 years old, live on the 13th floor of the hospital, and this week, they visited patients for Bunny Day, the hospital's nondenominational springtime celebration. They wore rabbit ears (yes, really), a bonnet, and sat on a basket of eggs.

"The bunny cart is decorated to the hilt, and then we'll go and see patients and work with patients," said Gwenn Fried, manager of horticultural therapy services at NYU Langone. "The patients adore it."

As she travels the hospital with one rabbit at a time (Rabbits need breaks, too!), she said she hands patients a plastic Easter egg, and it contains either a sticker or a bunny treat.

"The bunny is very excited about the bunny treat," she laughed.

The bunnies visited 15 patients on Thursday and will visit more today and tomorrow, Fried said.

The rabbits are part of a therapy program that's been at the hospital for about 13 years. Sometimes, doctors recommend the bunny therapy, and sometimes patients request it, but Fried said she's seen them work magic on children and adults alike.

"One dad just said, 'I really think Clovis changed our lives,'" Fried told ABC News last year. "He's the most patient animal I've ever seen in my life."

ht nyu easter bunny 1 tl 150403 4x3 992 resized 600

Recent Posts

Nursing: Leading the Charge for Healthcare Diversity
Diversity in healthcare is essential for ensuring fair treatment and enhancing patient outcomes. Among healthcare professionals, Nurses have emerged as champions for diversity, leveraging their...
Read More
Nurses Take the #1 Spot on Gallup’s Annual Poll for 23 Years Straight
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Three in four Americans consider nurses highly honest and ethical, making them the most trusted of 23 professions rated in Gallup’s annual measurement. Grade-school teachers rank...
Read More
How to Transition from Bedside Nursing to Leadership Roles
The journey from bedside Nursing to leadership can feel like a leap into uncharted territory. However, with the right mindset, preparation, and strategy, this transition can be both fulfilling and...
Read More

Subscribe to Email Our Newsletter

Education_Award_Square