The Dr Dog Project was started  by Morgan Swift, a fifteen year old girl who had been diagnosed with Rheumatic Fever. Her journey lead her onto a path of service. Morgan was fourteen when she was diagnosed with RF. After her diagnosis a close friend and Cardiologist Mimi Guarneri gave her a stuffed dalmatian. This dalmatian had a story and had traveled many miles.

About five years ago a patient of Dr Guarneri’s from Ecuador, South America  bought a stuffed dalmatian dressed in a doctor’s suit to give to her. Tragically, she ended up passing away before her trip. So, her daughter sent the dalmatian to Mimi knowing it would be important to her mom.  When Morgan was leaving Scripps Medical Centre where she was diagnosed Mimi gave her the Dr Dog. She said, “I feel that this is meant for you now Morgan.” This meant a lot to Morgan and was a symbol of love and hope.

When Morgan started healing she came upon the idea of giving back to other chronically ill children. She felt that giving Dr Dog’s to sick children would be the perfect way to give back and continue the story.  It is her hope that by passing on the Dalmatian to others they will also benefit from the profound medicine that is love.

The Dr Dog Project is now a society named Gift Of Hope For Children Society which was incorporated last year. The mission statement for the society is to bring comfort to chronically ill children through the giving of stuffed dalmatians.