Paralyzed 6-Year-Old Meets Her Future Golden Retriever Service Dog and Bonds with Pup Instantly

In order to help Memphis Rose, who was badly hurt in a car accident, be cared for and comforted, Juliet the golden retriever is now training seven days a week with a dog trainer.

Golden retriever puppy Juliet, 4 months old, and 6-year-old Memphis Rose Hamman, who was recently paralyzed, fell in love the moment they laid eyes on each other on July 27 in front of St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.

According to her mother Gayrene Meade, 30, “Juliet took one glance at Memphis Rose in her wheelchair and leapt onto her lap, licking her and hugging.”

“My kid loves dogs and wants to work with animals. She was overjoyed to see Juliet and had the biggest smile I had ever seen, especially when she discovered that the adorable puppy was being trained to be her service dog. For me, it was a magnificent moment following a terrible few weeks.

Meade, a single mother, learned tragically that her daughter Memphis Rose, her mother Tanya Meade, and her uncle Kenneth Graden had been involved in a head-on collision involving multiple vehicles close to Wellington in western Palm Beach County.

The day following the collision, Graden, who was in the front passenger seat, passed away in the hospital. Tanya, the family’s 2012 Scion’s driver, fractured her knee, while Memphis Rose, who was sitting behind Graden, sustained fractures to her neck, spine, and lungs in addition to a broken spine.

Meade claims that her infant daughter suffered a cardiac arrest as a result of the incident. “She was immobile and without air for two and a half minutes. Fortunately, a doctor was on the scene and began CPR until a Trauma Hawk air ambulance arrived and brought the woman to St. Mary’s Medical Center. She may not recover from her spinal injuries, according to the neurosurgeon, and she has a good risk of becoming paralyzed.

Memphis Rose was given strong medicines during her first two weeks in the hospital, but as time went on, she was weaned off of most of them. She underwent a tracheotomy and spinal surgery, and she still uses a ventilator. Memphis Rose is unable to walk, and her recuperation will take place gradually over the course of many months or years.

Memphis Rose has only shed tears twice, claims Meade. She has always been obstinate, and she wants to walk once more. She may be a girly girl who likes unicorns and sparkly things, but her toughness will come in handy on this voyage.

Through Jupiter resident Lori Griffith, who started Chasin A Dream Foundation, a neighborhood group that aids kids with life-threatening illnesses, Memphis Rose was able to get in touch with golden retriever Juliet.

According to Griffith, who called the Furry Friends Rescue Center in Jupiter after learning that Memphis Rose had a puppy on her wish list, their response “gave me goosebumps and made my heart throb with delight.”

On the day of the incident, Wyoming Sky Goldens in Gillette, Wyoming, a reputable breeder that frequently trains its puppies to be service dogs for veterans, donated Juliet to Furry Friends, Adoption, Clinic & Ranch. Juliet was a confident puppy who was outgoing with people.

According to Kourtney Haddix, owner of Wyoming Sky Goldens, “We had worked with a skilled dog trainer named Summit Earhart who is linked with Furry Friends, Adoption, Clinic & Ranch in Florida, and sent Juliet there to train as a service dog for a veteran.” We are thrilled to be a part of the team that will get Juliet to work for Memphis Rose right now.

Memphis Rose has had the opportunity to see Juliet three or four more times after their initial encounter. Every time they have been together, their affection has developed into what Meade refers to as a friendship “built for Disney movies.”

Juliet traveled with them on the aircraft earlier this month when Memphis Rose was transported to the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Philadelphia for a few weeks of spinal therapy.

She being on that plane “truly helped Memphis and me,” Meade said.

In order to train with Earhart, Juliet has returned to Florida and it should take at least a year. Memphis Rose and Meade will travel back to Florida in the middle of September for an additional week of hospitalization. During this time, they will discover the details of the subsequent round of therapy and the specific medications that will be required. They will also discover a brand-new one-story home with an open layout for Juliet’s yard and a wheelchair-accessible home for Memphis Rose. Fortunately, Juliet will be visible to Memphis Rose as she continues to receive training from Earhart.

Meade predicts that Juliet and Memphis Rose will develop together, have sleepovers, and eventually live with them permanently.

In Palm City, which is located north of West Palm Beach, Earhart is currently training seven days a week with Juliet. Leeds Endowment, a local nonprofit that promotes the independence, health, and productivity of individuals with disabilities, is providing funding for the training.

According to Earhart, Juliet “was born to be a service dog for Memphis Rose.” “However, my program is rigorous; she must learn how to behave in any public space where an oxygen tank may be present. Due to Memphis Rose’s quadriplegia, she needs to be bombproof—she must not get upset over anything or have outbursts when she may meet it.

Juliet will be allowed to think for herself and walk off-leash as part of her advanced obedience training. She’ll be ready to turn on and off the lights, put Memphis Rose to sleep, spend the night with her, and be able to call her mother if the ventilator beeps or if anything else goes wrong unexpectedly.

Earhart, 26, who has been teaching dogs since she was 12 years old, said, “I have had no problems with Juliet.” She is vivacious and excels in obedience, environmental awareness, potty training, and socialising. She has few fears and is curious in new things. Juliet is a confident dog.

Juliet sits outside while Earhart brings her to the supermarket where she gets to know the wheelchairs, sliding doors, trolleys, automobiles, and people. They do everything they can to expose the dog to new activities, including swimming, walking, and running.

Since we are unable to cover everything, we try to expose Juliet to as much as we can so that she will be comfortable with whatever occurs. “Memphis Rose is delighted that Juliet is doing well, and I feel very fortunate to help change this child’s life,” said Memphis Rose.