MAKING THE ROUNDS WITH OSCAR

The Inspirational Story of a Doctor, His Patients and a Very Special Cat

by DAVID DOSA

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New hardcover book, 256 pages, published 2010.

A remarkable cat. A special gift. A life-changing journey.

They thought he was just a cat.

When Oscar arrived at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rhode Island in 2005, he was a just cute little guy with attitude. He loved to stretch out in a puddle of sunlight and chase his tail until he was dizzy. Occasionally he consented to a scratch behind the ears, but only when it suited him. In other words, he was a typical cat. Or so it seemed. It wasn't long before Oscar had created something of a stir.

Apparently this ordinary cat possesses an extraordinary gift: he knows instinctively when end of life is near.

Oscar is a welcome distraction for the residents of Steere House, many of whom are living with Alzheimer's. But he never spends much time with them - until they are in their last hours. Then, as if this were his job, Oscar strides purposely into a patient's room, curls up on the bed, and begins his vigil. Oscar's provides comfort and companionship when people need him most. And his presence lets caregivers and loved ones know that it’s time to say goodbye.

Oscar's gift is a tender mercy. He teaches by example: embracing moments of life that so many of us shy away from.

The extraordinary - and true - story of a cat with a remarkable gift. In the summer of 2007 Oscar the cat made headlines around the world. Why? Because he knows when the patients in Steere House, the Rhode Island hospice where he lives, are going to die. Oscar curls up on their beds, keeps them company and enables the families to be with their loved ones at the end.

Dr David Dosa's job is to respond to people's medical needs, treat them for their ailments and communicate with their families. Oscar takes care of the rest. He is a steady companion and, because of him, patients don't die alone. Can a cat really predict death? Is he smelling something or responding to behavioural clues? Is he helping guide souls to heaven? Oscar's warm and profound story is heartfelt, sometimes even funny, but always inspiring.

Making the Rounds with Oscar: The Inspirational Story of a Doctor, His Patients and a Very Special Cat is based on the author's essay written for the New England Journal of Medicine. It shares Dr Dosa's experiences of working with the elderly and with a unique nursing-home cat whose uncanny, apparently precognitive vigils at the sides of residents who are about to die has enabled Steere House hospice staffers to administer patient care and notice to loved ones.

Making Rounds with Oscar is the story of an unusual cat, the patients he serves, their caregivers, and of one doctor who learns how to listen. Heartfelt, inspiring, and full of the humor and pathos, this book allows readers to take a walk into a world rarely seen from the outside, a world we often misunderstand.

About the Author:

Dr David Dosa is a geriatrician in Rhode Island and an assistant professor of medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Dr Dosa has published in scientific peer-reviewed literature in the areas of nursing home quality improvement, delirium and end of life care. He lives in Rhode Island with his wife and two children. After the remarkable story of Oscar made headlines on morning television programs, magazines and newspapers around the world, David decided to write a book about his experiences with Oscar.

About the Cat:

Oscar is a tabby cat who resides on the third floor of the Steere House Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Providence, Rhode Island. Adopted by the nursing home as a kitten, Oscar has lived his entire life on the 41 bed advanced dementia unit. Much of his first year on the unit was nondescript until Oscar suddenly began making visits to residents on the third floor shortly before his first birthday. Though his visits originally went unnoticed, family members and staff began to realize that Oscar’s appearances coincided with the deaths of terminal patients on the third floor. The passing of residents on the third floor was not unexpected due to the advanced condition of residents on the floor; however, Oscar’s visits proved to coincide remarkably with a resident’s final hours. Otherwise he was nowhere to be found.  On several occasions over the next year, Oscar seemed to be the first “health care provider” on the floor to realize that a resident was about to die.

In time, staff at the nursing home began to rely on Oscar as an “early warning system” announcing to those present that it was time to notify family and increase hospice services for those close to death. For his service to his patients, a local Hospice organization even awarded him with their annual “Hospice Champion” award. When Dr. Dosa’s essay was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Oscar’s story made international headlines. For several days, “Oscar the cat” was the most widely searched term on several web search engines.

These days, Oscar continues to patrol the halls of Steere House’s third floor dementia unit.  Although he has at times been caught sleeping on the job, Oscar continues to hold vigils for departing patients - mostly to the delight of family members struggling to deal with the death of their loved ones. He continues to be mentioned routinely in obituaries and during funeral services. 

If you enjoyed Dewey, Marley and Me, A Friend Like Henry and Chosen by a Horse, you will love Making the Rounds with Oscar.

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Making the Rounds with Oscar: The Inspirational Story of a Doctor, His Patients and a Very Special Cat by David Dosa