From the moment baby Nora arrived home, her Basset Hounds, Gracie and Grumpy, never left her side. And they refused to leave her when tragedy struck a few months later.
Nora suffered a stroke on April 6, 2016, which caused severe brain damage. Her parents were devastated when they learned nothing could be done to save her.
When hospital staff asked Mary and her husband John if they had any final wishes, the parents asked if they could bring Gracie and Grumpy to the hospital to be with Nora.
“Gracie, especially, took on the role as second mother,” Nora’s mom, Mary Hall, told ABC News. “Whenever Nora would cry, Gracie would run to see what was wrong. She was always, always by Nora and kissing her and making sure she was OK.”
“I didn’t want to go home and have them sniffing around for her and not knowing where she went,” Mary said. “They lowered the bed so the dogs could lay with her, and Gracie ran up and licked [Nora].”
Having the dogs be with Nora brought them a lot of comfort, although it was clear to Mary and John that their dogs could sense there was something wrong and by the end of the first day at hospital Mary said they were visibly depressed. But she is grateful that her daughter could spend her final moments with them.
Nora’s parents will always remember their short time together as a family as filled with joy. “She was just a really happy baby,” Mary said. “She was happy all the time.”
Nora passed away on May 2 at 5 months old with her family by her side.
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