Everyone knows that having a dog around the house can bring joy and companionship. But did you know that dogs are also capable of saving lives? Meet Axel, the heroic border collie who recently saved the life of a teenager experiencing a stroke.
One morning, Amanda Tanner of Spring, Texas, was startled awake by her 1-year-old dog, Axel, at 5 a.m. The usually calm Axel was barking persistently and jumping on the bed, clearly trying to get Amanda’s attention. Sensing that something was wrong, she knew she had to pay attention to what her loyal companion was trying to tell her.
When Amanda’s husband went to let Axel outside, the dog refused to leave the bedroom of their 17-year-old son, Gabriel. This caught their attention, and upon opening Gabriel’s bedroom door, they were shocked to find him experiencing a stroke. Gabriel, a healthy high school senior, had slurred speech and was unable to feel his right side.
Without Axel’s intervention, it’s terrifying to think what might have happened. Axel’s quick thinking and alertness saved the day by signaling the urgency of the situation. Gabriel was immediately rushed to the emergency room for treatment, thanks to the heroic actions of this incredible dog.
Gabriel’s stroke required immediate medical attention. If it had gone unnoticed and untreated for several more hours, the brain damage could have been much worse. Dr. Sabih Effendi, Gabriel’s neurosurgeon, explains that the neurons in the brain start dying rapidly when a stroke occurs. The fact that Axel alerted the family early on significantly improved Gabriel’s outcome.
The incident has left the Tanner family shaken. No one expects their healthy teenager to suddenly have a stroke. Amanda wrote on Facebook, “Our entire lives stopped in time for a bit and basically exploded. I saw these things in movies and testimonials but never thought I’d ever experience such a thing. No one signs up for this!”
Gabriel himself experienced no pain during the stroke, only fuzzy and “zoomed-in” vision and a headache the night before. Doctors determined that the cause was a spontaneous dissection of an artery delivering blood to his brain.
In the weeks following the stroke, Gabriel has been making remarkable progress, and he hopes to return to school and resume his normal life soon. Throughout it all, Axel has become Gabriel’s loyal protector, following him everywhere and sleeping by his side.
Axel, the brave and intuitive dog, truly saved Gabriel’s life. It’s awe-inspiring to witness how smart and protective dogs can be. Let’s share this incredible story of loyalty and heroism to remind ourselves of the incredible bond between humans and their canine companions.
Thankful for Axel’s presence, we wish Gabriel a speedy and complete recovery! Please share this incredible and heartwarming story.
