The mom was surprised when learned that the dog had the same disease as her daughter.
A mother from Minnesota was shocked when she learned that the dog she was planning to adopt had the same rare disease as her daughter. This only strengthened her decision to take him in.
Niki Mikolai always remembers with great emotion the birth of her daughter Avery 15 years ago and the terrible time that followed.
According to KARE 11, 4 hours after birth, she was urgently operated on due to a rare cardiac anomaly. The newborn did suffer from pulmonary stenosis, corresponding to a narrowing of the pulmonary artery that restricts blood flow.
Today, the teenager is leading an almost normal life thanks to a pacemaker implanted in her.
Recently, while in lockdown, Avery and his mother were looking for a dog to adopt. While visiting No Dog Left Behind, located in Brooklyn Center in Minnesota (northern USA), they came across a photo of Annie, a pit bull/Siberian husky mix. Before being adopted, the dog was abandoned on a farm in Kentucky.
Annie had a heart murmur and required a thorough examination by a veterinarian to determine the cause. Niki Mikolai offered to act as a foster mom to see if the cohabitation goes well and maybe help her find a new family when she recovers.
A sign that they were to meet
The diagnosis was announced a few days after the dog arrived at her home; Annie suffered from two heart problems, one of which was… pulmonary stenosis. Mother could not believe her ears.
Annie was to undergo the same treatment: a balloon valvuloplasty. A tiny balloon is inserted into the narrowed artery using a catheter and then inflated to widen it. The object is then deflated and removed.
The operation took place last month at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Hospital. A few days later, Niki Mikolai officially adopted her.
Annie is getting better and better, she even started running and playing again. Mother and daughter are happy to see her so happy and in good shape. For them, if Annie was born with the same disease as Avery, it must have been a sign that they were destined to meet.
