You’ll often hear people say that we don’t deserve dogs just because they’re so good natured and loving, and they have a magical ability to lift our spirits when we’re down. It’s hard to imagine how we could possibly deserve such incredible animals.
But, deserved or not, they just keep proving their awesomeness every day. Just their companionship can feel like a lifesaver at times. And in a real crisis, they can surprise us.
We’re used to getting bizarre stories out of Florida, so this heartwarming tale is a welcome change.
Maureen Hatcher of St. Augustine has her dogs to thank after they literally saved her life. As First Coast News reported, Maureen found herself in a grave situation when she collapsed in her home on December 3, 2018.
She knew immediately that it was bad.
She didn’t realize how bad, however. A blood clot had formed and cut off blood flow to the right side of her brain, causing a stroke. Time was of the essence. Otherwise alone, Maureen looked to her trusty Labradors, Bella and Sadie, for assistance.
“I remember Sadie coming in,” she said. “I said mommy needs help and then they were gone.”
Maureen’s doorbell camera captured their reaction, as Bella and Sadie ran out the front door barking and crossed the street. The pair alerted Maureen’s neighbor, who appears on the doorbell camera moments later. She entered the house, found Maureen, and called 911.
Not just Sadie and Bella, but fate was on Maureen’s side that day.
For one thing, her front door was ajar. She told First Coast News that her door locks automatically — if it hadn’t been a little bit open, the dogs never would have been able to summon help.
Another fateful moment happened when the paramedics made their decision of where to take Maureen for treatment.
The doorbell camera also captured the dramatic scene of the paramedics taking Maureen out of her home. Rather than taking her to the nearest ER, they took Maureen to the stroke center at Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville rather than the nearest ER. According to Dr. Nima Aghaebrahim, that likely saved her life. “When a stroke happens, time is everything,” he said.
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Until a few years ago, a patient in Maureen’s situation might not have survived.
However, the specialists at the stroke center performed a new procedure involving using dye to find the clot and, through an incision in Maureen’s femoral artery, using a stent retriever to remove it. “It’s the highlight of our career that we’re able to help people such as Mrs. Hatcher,” Dr. Aghaebrahim said.
Maureen is well aware of how many things had to right for her that day.
“I had an angel across the street, I had a great rescue in the neighborhood, and the hospital. By rights, I shouldn’t be in the shape that I’m in,” she said. “I am blessed…very blessed.”
Check out First Coast News’ video including the doorbell cam footage below!
