Hero Service Dog Senses Medical Crisis

Quick Smiles:Veteran Hank Ford credits service dog Tommy with saving his life.Tommy detected a hidden heart emergency and refused to let Hank sleep.Doctors say Tommy’s alert helped prevent a possible stroke or worse.In Fort Lupton, Colorado, Army and Marine Corps veteran Hank Ford relies on the unique support of his 3-year-old service dog, Tommy.Their connection became life-saving after Tommy alerted Hank to a medical crisis just as it struck.“He wasn’t the light at the end of the tunnel. He was the light,” Ford shared while describing the comfort Tommy brings him.One morning, Tommy barked and pawed at Hank, refusing to let him sleep after his wife left for work.Initially thinking Tommy needed to go out, Hank stood up and immediately felt dizzy and weak.The loyal dog kept insisting, drawing Hank’s attention to his racing heartbeat and prompting a hospital visit.Doctors discovered Hank had severe atrial fibrillation requiring urgent treatment, crediting his quick action—and Tommy—with preventing a possible stroke.“I believe that if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now. He saved my life.”Stories like this remind us of the extraordinary bonds we can share with our animal companions, turning ordinary days into moments of true heroism.Source