A five-year-old boy named Leon, or fondly called Mancub, has autism. He’s also dealing with a rare condition called Chiari malformation, which causes frequent headaches. On top of these, he is being fed via a gastronomy tube in his tummy.
Even if Mancub is at an age where kids become very talkative, he doesn’t speak at all. He prefers keeping to himself over interacting with people. But everything has changed when his parents have brought home a Cocker Spaniel named Fern.
Fern changed Mancub’s world
Apparently, Mancub’s family operates a falconry business that requires the services of a dog. The boy’s parents, fortunately, fell in love with Fern’s gentle and adorable personality. They finally decided to get the Cocker Spaniel and introduce him to Mancub.
It was puppy love at first sight! Mancub’s eyes lit up, and ultimately, the two became inseparable. According to Hayley, Mancub’s mom, it was the boy’s first time to interact with someone. She added that his son’s eyes had a sparkle that they hadn’t seen before.
Hayley was more than happy to see Mancub coming out of his shell. She then decided to get a dog trainer to teach the Cocker Spaniel the basics of assisting a kid. What was more interesting was that Fern already had nurturing tendencies towards Mancub even before the training began.
Take this one situation, for instance. Mancub would usually headbutt himself when his headaches persisted. Fern, on the other hand, naturally figured out how to keep Mancub from hurting himself.
The love between Mancub and Fern is strong
After several years of being together, Mancub and Fern have definitely become siblings with a very strong bond. The duo’s relationship even inspired Hayley to start a charity named T.A.P (Together Anything is Pawsibble) Assistance Dogs. The said charity helps families of autistic kids to find dogs that suit their children.
Mancub and Fern’s story is indeed inspiring. It only goes to show how the warmth and unconditional love of a dog can change someone’s world.
Image Source: Together Anything is Pawsibble via Facebook