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Epileptic girl gains support companion that brings her to tears
My heart! I can't help but cry along with her.
Ashleigh Schalkwyk
04.21.21

There are moments in life that move us with their beauty.

And with the rise of platforms like Facebook and YouTube, we can share these special moments with the world. Sometimes we come across something so special online that we are even moved to tears for another human being that we don’t even know. This video is one of them.

For one 16-year-old girl, what began as a normal birthday celebration with her loved ones ended with an unexpected surprise that has netizens everywhere crying for joy with her.

YouTube/Caters Clips
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YouTube/Caters Clips

Summer Shott, from Raynes Park in southwest London, was born with cerebral palsy. As a result, she suffers from hemiplegia – a condition that affects her movement on the right side of her body.

Mart Production/Unsplash
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Mart Production/Unsplash

Summer often can’t enjoy the same activities as other teenagers.

A simple trip to the cinema or the mall will often leave her with crippling anxiety. And, as she also has epilepsy, she needs to be chaperoned everywhere in case she has an episode.

YouTube/Caters Clips
Source:
YouTube/Caters Clips

At the time, Summer had just finished mock exams at school. But the anxiety of performing well brought on a series of seizures that landed her in the hospital. That’s when her parents decided to step in and give her something for her 16th birthday that would help ease the burden.

It all began with a handwritten card with a surprise inside.

Summer’s reaction is everything.

YouTube/Caters Clips
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YouTube/Caters Clips

Summer begins to read the “anonymous” note inside the card, written in her mom Cherie Johnson’s handwriting.

“To Summer, I’ve been watching you for a while now and I’ve noticed that, even though you work really hard at school, sometimes it’s really hard for you. Sometimes people are mean and sometime’s you’re just really tired. You’re off to college soon and that stresses you out because it’s such a big change. “

YouTube/Caters Clips
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YouTube/Caters Clips

“Also, it’s hard for you seeing your friends off doing fun things that you can’t always do. You’ve been poorly again recently and I know it’s made you a little scared. So, even though you have the best family who love you and an amazing best friend, is there any chance…”

There is a secret flap inside the card that contains the rest of the message. It says: “lift me off gently!!”

YouTube/Caters Clips
Source:
YouTube/Caters Clips

Underneath the flap, it says: “…you have room for a best buddy?”

Summer looks confused for a second, then she spots something to her left and immediately covers her mouth with her hand and bursts into tears of joy.

“He’s mine?! Is he mine?!”

Summer is now holding her heart as though it’s about to burst, sobbing uncontrollably.

She gets up and is presented with a tiny chihuahua puppy, wrapped in a blanket.

YouTube/Caters Clips
Source:
YouTube/Caters Clips

Summer takes the puppy into her arms and says, between sobs, “Hi.” She still can’t believe that the precious little pup is for her. “Is he really mine!?” she asks again. “He’s yours, darling,” her mom reassures her.

Summer sits down and holds her new companion tight.

But there was a reason that getting a puppy was so unexpected – Summer never thought that she’d be allowed to have one!

YouTube/Caters Clips
Source:
YouTube/Caters Clips

“I’m allergic to anything with hair so she has always been under the impression it was never going to happen, which is why we have a tortoise named Eddie, her mom explained to Caters News.

Summer’s parents had been advised by professionals that a therapy dog would help Summer with her anxiety.

“Her 16th birthday was coming up so I caved and decided that I would arrange for her to have a dog that could help her.”

YouTube/Caters Clips
Source:
YouTube/Caters Clips

“Having a support dog means she comes home every day to her own little friend… Since having him she looks forward to the weekend, she’s got someone to look after rather than her always being looked after and it’s given her so much confidence,” Cherie told Caters News.

And, Cherie’s plan worked!

“Her anxiety levels have dropped dramatically and she hasn’t had any of the bigger seizures since she came out of hospital.”

To watch Summer’s tear-jerking reaction to getting a puppy, get the tissues ready and click the video below.

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