Dog now cancer-free one year later

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Pink Heals tour made a stop in Orlando Tuesday, raising awareness for women fighting cancer and helping to celebrate a milestone for Conrad, a therapy dog who's inspiring others with his own survival story.

Completing weeks of radiation and medical procedures, Conrad has been cancer free for a year. His owner, Amy Morton, says the black lab was diagnosed with bone cancer last September. Now the only sign of the cancer is a white spot on his nose.

The irony in Conrad's diagnosis is that he had worked as a therapy dog for cancer patients for almost eight years. Morton took Conrad to visit the patient's at Orlando Health's MD Anderson Cancer Center several times a month. There he would visit with patients and give them a reason to smile with his constantly wagging tail and his friendly demeanor.

"It was very ironic to always be the giver and then have the challenge of the battle himself, but he fought the battle," said Morton.

Morton said even during his own cancer treatment Conrad was able to keep inspiring other patients with his visits. Conrad made a guest appearance at Tuesday's Orlando stop of the Pink Heals Tour organized by the national organization, Guardians of the Ribbon.

The group travels all across the country in pink fire trucks, raising funds and awareness for women battling any form of cancer. The Orlando stop at the MD Anderson Cancer Center was significant because Tuesday marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

A pink fire truck was stationed outside Orlando Health for hours, where anyone was invited to sign the truck to show their support for the cause.

Conrad even garnered a fan club at his appearance Tuesday, giving those affected by cancer a reason to smile. Morton says Conrad will continue his visits with patients and now he's healthier and happier than ever.

Ronda Sapashe is a cancer survivor and a nurse at Orlando Health. She had firsthand experience witnessing the joy Conrad brings to patients on each of his visits.

"They see him as a survivor, and I think that gives our patients a lot of inspiration and hope and happiness to know that if Conrad can survive, so can I," Sapashe said.