PALMETTO (WSNN) – A Suncoast girl goes from fighting for her life to living it. Cuteness Alert: The story involves an adorable dog.
“It was devastating; she is my only child,” Mom of Brain Aneurysm survivor, Misty Garrison said. “When the doctor told me, she pulled me into the hallway, and she just said, ‘McKenzie has the largest aneurysm I’ve ever seen in my whole life.’ The aneurysm was 45 millimeters.”
At age 17, McKenzie Hanlon’s life changed forever.
“Actually terrified, and thinking of just pushing through,” McKenzie said.
Six brain surgeries later, McKenzie survived two-nearly-fatal strokes and an induced coma.
“But when she woke up, she was paralyzed on the right side; she couldn’t walk, she couldn’t move her hand, she could not talk, she could not see,” Garrison said.
McKenzie lost about 80 percent of her sight, with only a little vision left in her right eye. And speaking is difficult due to aphasia.
“The odds were against us for sure, but she’s fought her way back; she’s walking, she’s talking, as you can see,” Garrison said.
And found herself graduating with a 3.6 GPA. Things began to turn around for Mckenzie. Now at 22, she’s relearning how to walk through life. But this time, with a four-legged friend, named ‘CJ,’ by her side.
“When I got the dog, I knew that I was going to be protected and safe with the dog,” McKenzie said.
The Southeastern Guide Dogs matched her with the perfect pal.
“It was really fun to see them come together. I feel like CJ picked up right away that she needs to be a little more patient,” Certified Guide Dog Trainer, Alice Ryskamp said. “She was really really good.”
McKenzie says CJ changed her life.
“More independence, more strength, more confidence,” McKenzie said.
“It’s going to give her the ability to go to college,” Garrison said.
“I’m so excited to navigate the world with CJ.” McKenzie said.
McKenzie says she hopes to go to U-S-F to study social work. Her dream job? Working at Southeastern Guide Dogs.