Miller Children's & Women's Hospital

Some heroes wear scrubs. One has four paws.

Cancer. Traumatic injuries. Long hospital stays. Difficult therapies. Every year, thousands of children come to MemorialCare Miller Children's & Women's Hospital for specialized care. While our physicians, nurses, and therapists work tirelessly to heal their bodies, Karat, our full-time facility dog, helps heal their hearts.

Working alongside our rehabilitation team, Karat is more than a comforting companion. She is a trusted member of the care team, helping children feel safe during difficult moments, encouraging participation in therapy, reducing anxiety before procedures, and bringing smiles when they are needed most.

For 11-year-old Cami, a leukemia diagnosis brought fear, uncertainty, and days when he didn't want to eat.

When he met Zeta, and later Karat after Zeta's retirement, everything changed. During rehabilitation, Karat stayed faithfully by Cami's side, offering comfort on the hardest days and motivation during therapy. Throwing a frisbee for Karat became more than a game; it became a reason to keep moving forward.

For 15-year-old Sandro, a devastating diving accident resulted in a severe spinal cord injury and months of intensive rehabilitation.

Determined to regain his independence, he worked alongside an extraordinary team of therapists and specialists. Throughout his recovery, Karat was there to encourage him through challenging therapy sessions, celebrate every milestone, and remind him that he was never alone. Four months after admittance, Sandro stood from his wheelchair and took his first steps toward the hospital doors. It was a celebration not only of his determination, but of the compassionate team that supported him.  

Every wagging tail. Every therapy session. Every bedside visit. Karat helps transform fear into courage, anxiety into confidence, and difficult days into moments of joy.

Your generosity helps sustain the Facility Dog Program, so children like Cami, Sandro, and countless others continue to receive compassionate, family-centered care that heals beyond medicine. You're making a difference for children by supporting the hospital that's right here in your backyard.

About Miller Children's & Women's Hospital

We’re a not-for-profit, pediatric teaching hospital that treats more than 13,000 children each year in the hospital and has become a regional pediatric destination for thousands of children who need specialized care in our Outpatient Specialty Centers each year. Our Cherese Mari Laulhere BirthCare Center delivers more than 5,000 babies each year and receives nearly 100 transported high-risk moms. More than 850 pediatric specialists and sub-specialists, as well as nearly 100 OB/GYNs, including 10 high-risk pregnancy specialists (maternal-fetal specialists), ensure that the highest quality, compassionate care is given to each patient and their family.

We’re one of eight free-standing children’s hospitals in California, and the only one of its kind in a major health system, such as MemorialCare. Miller Children's & Women's embodies MemorialCare’s core values, which are integrated through the MemorialCare iABC’S: integrity, accountability, best practices, compassion, and synergy.