2-year-old Truett Palmer received two incredible gifts in 2019:
A brand new heart and a puppy to share his bright future with.
Truett was born with a rare congenital heart defect as well as a condition that causes abnormalities of the head and face. He has undergone several surgeries during his short life, including open-heart surgery this past June.
“At Boston Children’s they did his open heart surgery to hopefully repair, make things better and give him a better quality of life,” Truett’s mother, Danielle Palmer told Good Morning America. “There were complications with the surgery and he had severe heart failure. That’s what put him on the heart transplant list.”
“He was gifted his heart on Oct. 30.”
While recovering, Truett met one of the hospital’s therapy dogs, a Goldendoodle named Zuri. The sweet pooch visited him every week during his stay, and they formed a cherished bond.
When he finally returned home at the end of November, Truett’s parents decided to find him a puppy of his own.
It just so happens that while the Palmers were searching for a Goldendoodle, Gena Gray was looking to place one with a deserving family. Her dog had a litter, and she wanted to pay her happiness forward.
Gray posted the following message to Facebook:
“God has really blessed me with these amazing animals and he’s put it on my heart to be a blessing to someone else. All of my dogs absolutely LOVE children. If you know a family that maybe has a special needs child that has been looking into getting them a puppy as a companion for Christmas please message me.”
More than 100 people responded to the post, including Truett’s mom, Danielle.
“I don’t have children but I love children, so when I had this puppy, instead of getting money I just felt felt like I wanted to help someone because these dogs have been such a blessing to me,” Gray told GMA.
Gray was touched by Truett’s story and decided he was the perfect child to receive the pup. Truett’s dad, Brett and grandfather, Rick McCord happily made the nine hour trip from Missouri to Gray’s home in Kentucky.
“I’m humbled that she would even consider giving us such an amazing puppy,” Danielle Palmer said of Gray’s kind act. “For her to sacrifice that for our family because of what my child has gone through … it’s overwhelming.”
Truett named his new pup Zeda Grace and the pair instantly became inseparable. Whether it’s bath time, story time, or bed time, Zeda Grace is always by her young master’s side.
The Palmers hope Truett’s story will help raise awareness to the importance of organ and tissue donation. One organ donor can save up to eight people while one tissue donor can help improve the lives of up to 50 people.
H/T to Good Morning America
Featured Image c/o Danielle Palmer
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via Whisker Therapy