Doctor: Family Dog Saved Mother's Life

February 29, 2008

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – An Annapolis family is hailing their five-year old Labrador, McKenzie, as a hero for saving their mother’s life.

The family’s dog came to the rescue of her owner who suffered a pulmonary embolism while the rest of the family was away.

The dog was able to keep Debbie Meeks conscious after she passed out from the pulmonary embolism, which doctors say can be fatal if immediate medical care is not received. Meeks said she is the living proof that her dog, McKenzie, is quite a special animal.

“I’m extremely grateful and I know it’s by the grace of God that I lived,” Meeks said.

It all happened on Sunday, Feb. 17, when Meeks woke up from a nap. She said she remembered something felt very strange in her legs.

“I had no control of my legs and this heat went over me,” Meeks said.

Shortly after, she lost consciousness. With her husband and three children away on a ski trip, Meeks was all alone in the house. But when she woke up in the hallway, she saw a friendly face.

“I woke up in the hallway and the dog was over me, her nose was in my face, but she’s not a big licker,” Meeks said. ‘But she kept nudging me along.”

And McKenzie kept nudging Meeks every time she lost consciousness. The dog bumped and licked the woman until she was able to crawl to the phone and dial 911.

“I scooted again to the front door and I laid there,” said Meeks who continued to be kept awake by McKenzie.

Help arrived and Meeks was taken to the hospital, where doctors told her she had suffered from a pulmonary embolism. It occurred when an artery in her lung became blocked.

But they also said the five-year old family pet played a vital role in Meeks surviving the episode by getting her to the hospital when she did.

“When you look at the statistics and think, what’s the probability of me being home with my dog, able to keep me going enough, to get me to the phone to get help,” Meeks said. “It’s a miracle.”

Interestingly enough, when the family took a vote to get the dog, Meeks was the only “no” vote. Now she couldn’t be more grateful for the additional family member being there her hour of need.

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