Ariel the labradoodle is a wonderful companion to 7-year-old Hadley Jo Lange – and her guardian angel!
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Living with epilepsy hasn’t been easy for Hadley Jo or her family, which is why Ariel has been a godsend. The service dog can always be found by her BFF’s side, ready to jump in and save her life.
Hadley Jo had her first seizure at just 17 months old. She was in Heather DeVore Lange’s lap at the time, and the poor mom was terrified. So when Hadley Jo was 2, her parents decided to get her a dog that was trained to detect seizures. Today, they’ll always be grateful they did!
“She’s able to alert us before a seizure happens, and we’re able to administer rescue medication in less than two minutes in order to stop the seizure, so that’s pretty life-changing for us,” Heather told WHAS11. “She truly saves my daughter’s life, and I don’t think I could ever thank her enough for that.”
Because her job is so important, Ariel goes everywhere with Hadley Jo – including St. Patrick Catholic School in Lousiville, Kentucky. In fact, the adorable pup has spent so much time there that she’s become an honorary student!
With the end of the year approaching, the school staff decided to honor Ariel with her own space in the yearbook!
We can only imagine the Langes’ surprise and delight when they opened Hadley Jo’s yearbook – and found Ariel pictured right beside her!
“The inclusiveness and acceptance of my daughter and her service dog means the world to me,” Heather said. “It is beyond comforting to know that my daughter and her service dog have a home away from their home, at school, and that they are loved. They are accepted regardless of their differences.”
Now, this precious family is doing everything they can to help other children who need service dogs by fundraising through the Hope for Hadley Jo Project. After all, generous donations from their own community are the reason they have Ariel at all!
What a beautiful tribute to this furry hero! The day Ariel came into Hadley Jo’s life was a blessing, and the pup deserves all the recognition in the world for keeping her favorite human safe.
See more of this unforgettable duo in the video below, and share this story with other animal lovers.
