Therapy Dog Named After Cancer Survivor Reunites at Marshall

When Bella Masters walked into Marshall University's library, she didn't expect to meet her namesake on four legs.

A friend had told her about a therapy dog on campus with a familiar name. Bella had to see for herself, and there she was—Isabella, a therapy dog named in her honor.

Years earlier, 8-year-old Bella fought osteosarcoma, a bone cancer in her right leg. The treatment meant surgeries, chemotherapy, and countless days at Cabell Huntington Hospital in West Virginia.

During those difficult stays, therapy dogs brought moments of light. Robin Ash visited patients with her therapy dog Angel for decades, and Bella remembers those visits clearly.

After Bella completed treatment and rang the cancer-free bell, she appeared in a hospital commercial alongside Robin and Angel. It was a joyful moment captured on camera, but neither knew how much deeper their connection would grow.

When Angel passed away, Robin knew exactly what to name her next therapy dog. The story of young Bella's fight and recovery had stayed with her in a deeply personal way.

"We have to name her Isabella," Robin decided. The new therapy dog began visiting hospitals, hospice centers, and Marshall's campus through the MU PAWS program.

Then came the library reunion. When Bella introduced herself, Robin recognized her immediately—the girl from the hospital, now a Marshall student studying biomedical engineering.

Sunny's Take

This story captures something beautiful about how relationships can transform over time. Bella now navigates campus on a prosthetic leg, an experience that inspired her to pursue a career in prosthetics and orthotics so she can help others.

Robin, a Marshall graduate herself, continues her mission of bringing comfort to those who need it. Through the university's Paws in the Halls program, Isabella was assigned to visit Bella's residence hall, turning their chance encounter into something ongoing.

"I cannot wait to see my name twin more often," Bella said. "It is always nice to know you have a friend on campus."

For Bella, now preparing to enter her senior year, the reunion came at just the right time. She calls herself a childhood cancer survivor and advocate, finding inspiration in being surrounded by others working toward their goals.

What started as brief moments of comfort in a hospital room has become a lasting friendship woven into everyday campus life. Some connections, it turns out, have a way of staying with us and showing up exactly when we need them most.