Gabriel Silva, 17, was asleep when Axel, a Border Collie mix, sensed something was wrong.
Around 5:30 am, Axel jumped onto Gabriel's parents' bed, trying to wake them.
Determined to get help
Thinking the dog needed to go outside, Gabriel's father, Daines, got up. However, Axel refused to go out and instead ran to Gabriel's room, scratching at the door.
Inside, Gabriel was struggling. He had woken up earlier feeling disoriented and had difficulty walking, with numbness on his right side and slurred speech. When Daines asked
Gabriel to shake his hand, but he couldn't.
Realising something was terribly wrong, Daines rushed Gabriel to the hospital. There, doctors confirmed Gabriel had suffered a stroke. Thanks to Axel's alert behaviour, Gabriel received timely medical care, which experts say was crucial to his recovery.
Loyal canine companion
Today, Gabriel has regained his ability to walk, speak, and move his arm. Things could have been very different without Axel.
Axel, whom the family adopted just over a year ago, is now hailed as a hero. Gabriel's mother plans to honour the loyal dog with a medal.
Since the incident, Axel has stayed by Gabriel's side, following him everywhere and even sleeping in his room.
Well done Axel!
