In a post shared on Instagram, the dog’s owner, Amy Purdy, explained that when they got the golden retriever he was just a puppy and she was going through surgeries on her leg so he never saw her stand up for two years. “His reaction was concern & confusion,” she said.
Purdy, who has over 452,000 followers on Instagram, is an American actress, model, motivational speaker, and three times paralympics medalist in para-snowboarding. She is also a book author and clothes designer.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
It states: “A bacterial or viral infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord usually causes the swelling. However, injuries, cancer, certain drugs, and other types of infections also can cause meningitis.”
The National Meningitis Association (NMA) says that Purdy had a promising career as a massage therapist ahead when she contracted the bacterial infection.
“One day during the summer of 1999, at age 19, Amy called her mother to tell her she wasn’t feeling well; she had a stiff neck and felt extremely tired. Later that day, Amy began vomiting and became so ill that she had to be rushed to the emergency room by her cousin.”
Once arrived at the hospital, her condition deteriorated quickly and she was diagnosed with meningococcemia, a form of meningococcal disease that causes poisoning of the blood system, and as her organs began to fail and doctors put her into a medically-induced coma.
She suffered from severe gangrene in her legs and feet and doctors had to amputate both of her legs below the knee, and also lost hearing in her left ear. The infection also caused major organ damage and she’s had her kidney and spleen removed.
The post has so far reached 451,000 followers, and most users were delighted by the dog’s reaction. One user, eclenura_zof said: “I feel like he wanted to be careful cos he was so used to you sitting that when he saw you standing “wait I wanna jump on hooman but what if she fall and get hurt?” Then you gave him pets as confirmation that you were OK and he got excited.”
Another user, rocknhawk123, asked: “How long did it take him to get used to the change?” And ohaylyeah wrote: “Oh my goshhhhhhhhhhh.” Fiona19901001 said: “Help me Give the cutie’s dog a kiss!I can see that he cared about you so much.”
Another user, leonoor2607 added: “So glad I got to find your page through this post being shared! You’re a powerhouse of strength. And your dog seems so confused and worried, the sweetest! pups are the best.”
