Girl Struggling With Anxiety After Dad's Accident Surprised With Sausage Dog For Comfort

A 12-year-old who has been struggling with anxiety after her father was involved in a lift-threatening accident burst into tears when she was surprised with a sausage dog puppy to comfort her. For youngster Payton, from Folkston, Georgia, the last 12 months have been extremely difficult, after her father, Ethan, was hit by a drunk driver while working in Atlanta last year. Ethan suffered a traumatic brain injury, and for months his family didn’t know if he would survive while he was on life support. During his recovery, Ethan was moved to rehab in Jacksonville, Florida, with each change making things more difficult for Payton, who has always been a daddy's girl, according to the family. Before the accident Payton was loving and outgoing but afterward she started suffering from anxiety and was extremely worried. And so, as a way of trying to cheer her up, Ethan and mom Mandy, from Folkston, Georgia, decided to revisit a request Payton had been making since before the accident. She had always wanted a sausage dog, so her parents contacted a friend who also happened to breed Weiner dogs, who said she would have a puppy ready around Payton's birthday in August. Having collected the dog, Mandy then purchased toys, treats and a bowl, which she put into a gift bag and presented to Payton on July 13 as an early birthday present.

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