When you have a stroke in your sleep, you might not make it to the hospital alive. But luckily for an elderly couple in Sandy, Utah, their dog helped them detect a medical emergency in the middle of the night.
The couple, Jim and Judy Cooper, had a newly fostered dog when the incident occurred. They adopted an Australian shepherd heeler-mix puppy named Thibodeaux. However, the first week after adoption, they almost returned the 7-month-old dog because they thought she wasn’t a good fit for them.
It’s a good thing they changed their minds, though. Jim and Judy decided to keep the dog and continue training at home. Little did they know that this was a decision they would be thankful for later.
When Thibodeaux finished her crate training, the Coopers let her sleep with them in their bedroom. And then, the fateful night happened.
At around 2:00 A.M., Judy suddenly awoke to a bedroom noise. She thought that Jim just had a bad dream. But she didn’t receive any answer when she asked him some questions.
Concerned about what was going on, Judy switched the light on and saw Thibodeaux on top of Jim’s chest. The dog was whining and staring down at Jim. And that’s when Judy realized that something was wrong.
They rushed 82-year-old Jim to a medical facility, and the doctors successfully saved his life. He had a stroke, and he survived thanks to Thibodeaux’s timely detection. According to Jim, the dog was his hero and deserved a medal.
Finally, Thibodeaux proved her worth to the Cooper family. She demonstrated that dogs are men’s loyal friends and can also be the first responders during an emergency and save your life.
Video credit to Did You Know Animals? via YouTube
