A family’s two basset hounds refused to leave a dying child’s side after doctor’s informed her parents the devastating news that she wouldn’t survive.
“It was really nice,” mom Mary Hall of Deluth, Minnesota, told ABC News. “It brought us a lot of comfort to have them [there]. But by the end of the first day, you could see they were stressed out and depressed. Normally, they’re very happy-go-lucky. We knew they could sense there was something wrong.”
Nora Hall, 5 months old, died May 2 after suffering a stroke April 6 and spending three weeks in the hospital.
The stroke had affected both sides of her brain, causing severe damage, her mother said.
Courtesy Mary Hall
The family dogs, 8-year-old Grumpy and Gracie, fell in love with Nora as soon as she arrived from the hospital, Hall said.
“Gracie, especially, took on the role as second mother,” she said. “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.”
Courtesy Mary Hall
As Nora’s days were sadly numbered, Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis asked Mary and John Hall whether they had any final wishes for their daughter.
“I asked, ‘If you could let us have our dogs [at the hospital], we’d really appreciate that,'” Hall recalled. “I didn’t want to go home and have them sniffing around for her and not knowing where she went. They lowered the bed so the dogs could lay with her and Gracie ran up and licked her [Nora].”
Courtesy Mary Hall
Hall said she is grateful for the hospital honoring the special exception of having Nora, Gracie and Grumpy together one last time.
The family snapped photos of the touching goodbyes and posted them on Facebook.
“She was just a really happy baby,” Hall said. “Before we went into the hospital, she’d just start laughing. She was happy all the time.”
Nicole Marie
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Awe
Dawn Gilmartin
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Such a shame
Ree Riley
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God bless this dear family…..their dear little one and their dogs.
Tammy Hand Phillips
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Precious, precious dogs…. So in tune to human need…. They are truly 4-legged angels on earth….
Paul Diana Browning Sr.
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So sad and so beautiful at the same time.
Martha Sedwick
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that is the most wonderful keepsake you will ever need prayers for all of you
Chris Burke
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❤❤❤
Steve Morrow
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Animals know. Especially dogs. We just had to one of our dogs down and before it happend I saw them say good-bye. Very heart breaking. Even more heart breaking when it’s a child. God Bless this family and watch over them.
Susan Maier Poole
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So very sad and also beautifully touching.
Carol Wood
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God bless the whole family
Lorrie Randle
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Was touching watching dog gentleness for little girl
Lisa Madinger
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Im soooo sry for your loss, im glad you all could be together at the end, very sweet. If i could, why did she have a stroke, was she born with some problems
Rose Anne Decuir
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Pure Angel!
Karla Wingfield
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I never ceases to be amazed. Cindy Messler Pack
Ana Maria Espina
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Los animales son maravillosos, no tiene defectos, solo retribuyen Amor.
Lynda Weelans
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So sorry for your family’s loss.
Brian Spradling
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Dogs are so smart and feeling.
Lorrie Randle
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Rip little girl
Steven Vlottes
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Omg! This is incredibly sad and proof that dogs are not only our best friends but incredibly sensitive to their human friends and know when something is wrong! If anyone says dogs don’t have feelings tell them to read this story!
Tim Long
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sorry
Hildegard Carella
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God Bless all the family!
Joanna Vitone
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She is an angel in heaven. She watches over Gracie & Grumpy & Mom& Dad
Chris Cafaro Stutz
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Kudos to the hospital for allowing the families wishes
Karen Hannon
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So sad and beautiful
Kyle Teachey
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Jason Johnson
Doug Zikmund
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YES DOGS ARE TRUE MEMBERS OF A FAMILY. PRAYS TO YOUR GAMILY ANX YOUR LATE DAUGHTER.
Patricia Stanton
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Sad, I love all dogs .
Christine Anderson
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My heart breaks. May God watch over all.
Ryan Martucci
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I didnt want to witness this alone
Andrea Marsocci Kucmerowski
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We can cry about it tomorrow on our walk
Stan Mance
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The love of our Dogs nothing is stronger
Andrea Marsocci Kucmerowski
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This is why I love dogs
Donna Boutilier
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Animals do know, so sorry. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Josee Payette
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I understand this pain. I have lived through it. Sending prayers.
Jillian L Butler
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I can’t…. God bless the family, I’m so so sorry for the loss of your sweet baby…has me in tears.
Deb Sullens
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What a wonderful thing for the hospital to do ❤️❤️
Jason Allmaras
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Lauren Elyse DaSilva
Toni Moser-Schmelzer
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So sorry for your loss! Glad they let your dogs in.there to be with her one last time!
Pauletta Evans-hanselman
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Dogs know when all is not right with their people God bless them!!!
Linda Gragg Ramos
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So sorry for your loss.
Shane Scinto
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I just put my dog down last week this exact time and it still has me broken. I’m sure they do know what is happening also.
Sheldon Gniech
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Such a beautiful little girl
Charlene RIchards
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What a beautiful yet very sad story and I’m so very sorry for your loss of your child it’s so devistating to lose ones child. But I’m happy that all of you were allowed to be together in the end my prayers are with all of you God bless you during this difficult time
Jackie Pagano
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A beautiful story
Jackie Pagano
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God bless that child
Iris Prince
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So sad to loose her but so heart warming ,,too see how much those dogs. Loved that little baby,,..it hurts my heart ,,you can not measure love,,i can all most see all three of them runninga thru heaven playing one day …
James Mitchell
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Absolutely wonderful.
Patricia Kelley
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I don’t understand your motivation for posting that types of videos you have posted tonight. You need to get your act together.
Bonnie J. Hodgson
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So very sorry for the loss of your baby girl. She was so beautiful looking. As each day goes by they will begin to be better for you. But you will always have her in your heart looking down on you and Daddy as your angel. RIP
Élisabeth Monthioux
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Repose en paix au paradis des anges. Tu as été toute ta courte vie accompagnée par tes 2 chiens qui ne t’ont pas quitté jusqu’à la fin. Condoléances à la famille.