FEATURE
Canine Companions for
®
Independence at Baylor Scott
& White Health – Kinkeade
Center Opens
A series of events in November marked the opening of
Canine Companions for Independence® at Baylor Scott & White
Health – Kinkeade Campus, the first assistance dog training center campus in the nation connected to a health care system. The
campus will provide highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing
support cost-free to individuals with physical and developmental
disabilities who qualify through the application process.
“We have a long history of innovation and collaboration, and we
are proud to add this moment to that history,” said Joel T. Allison,
CEO of Baylor Scott & White Health. “This is another example of
how we’re working to take care of the total patient.”
The events kicked off with a private preview for donors to thank
those who have helped Baylor Health Care System Foundation
raise nearly $7 million in support of this initiative, including a $2
million pledge from The Hal and Diane Brierley Foundation
and a $2 million grant from The Rees-Jones Foundation.
The following day, the Kinkeade Campus held its first graduation ceremony. This celebration marks the end of an assistance
dog’s professional training and the beginning of a partnership
between a human in need and a canine that will provide endless
service and companionship. The four teams of graduates included
San Antonio native and U.S. Army Captain Michael Caspers
and his new service dog, Vincent. To make the weekend even more
special, he was honored during the halftime show of the Dallas
Cowboys Veterans Day game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington,
Tex. Vincent joined him on the field to share in the moment.
Michael lost his lower right leg to an insurgent’s bomb in
Afghanistan in 2011. After he spent more than 20 months in recovery, the Army offered to send him off to civilian life with his new
bride. However, Michael volunteered to go back to Afghanistan,
this time with the 2nd Ranger Battalion from Joint Base LewisMcChord in Washington.
He said his desire to serve after the amputation was to honor
two of his platoon’s soldiers seriously injured the day he lost his
leg. Michael said deploying with the Rangers felt good, especially
since he was able to complete the mission. “It provided closure for
me,” he said.
Michael, a new father, is excited to bring his new companion
home to Fort Carson in Colorado to integrate into both his home
life and Army family. He hopes that Vincent will not only give
him more independence and assistance with day-to-day tasks, but
more importantly take that burden off of his wife so she can care
for their 4-month-old son, Marshall.
For more information on Canine Companions for Independence at
Baylor Scott & White – Kinkeade Campus, contact Sarah Burdi at
214.820.4721 or [email protected].