Dogs are truly remarkable creatures. Almost universally, they possess an unyielding optimism that brightens any room, brings smiles to our faces, and has the power to transform our lives. Even those who have endured the worst abuse and neglect often emerge ready to forgive without hesitation. Dogs embody pure love, and when they receive love in return, they are capable of achieving extraordinary things.

Kardi is one of those dogs that has taken the love he is given and made miracles happen with it. His life had a sad start, but his story really began when he met Kelsey. That was the moment Kardi experienced true love for the first time and her life changed completely. Dog mom Kelsey R. tells iHeartDogs:

“Kardi came into my life on 10/11/2012. I rescued her from a breeder who was no longer useful to her and had her spayed or neutered when she was 2 years old. He had spent most of his first two years of life in a cage.

“Kardi was very scared and shy at first, but quickly adapted to her new life. She went everywhere with me and since I was a college student at the time, she made a lot of new friends. Kardi is the typical ‘clown’ French bulldog. He loves to make people smile and has the silliest personality. She LOVES toys and is rarely seen without one in her mouth.

“When he’s not playing with his toys, he loves to take a nap. She is also very attached to me (her mom), so wherever I am, you can bet she is there. “She is often referred to as my shadow and very much my mama’s girl.”

While he was in college, a friend’s brother passed away unexpectedly and he was really grieving the sudden loss. Kardi understood that he needed support and was there to help him through a very difficult time.

“Kardi would sit with him for hours and bring him toys to try to brighten his day. “She knew he was going through a tough time and had a natural talent for being a therapy dog.”

Kelsey saw that Kardi had a natural disposition for therapeutic work, and in 2015, the two became a registered therapy team.

“He loves people of all ages but his specialty was Alzheimer’s patients. Kardi always pushed their hands to remind them to keep petting her. “She brought so many smiles to people in nursing homes, rehab centers, hospitals, classrooms and summer camps.”

But that year also brought some difficulties for Kelsey and Kardi.

“Kardi became paralyzed in 2015 at the age of 4 due to intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). It is a disease that ages and prematurely hardens the spinal discs, causing them to rupture towards the spine. Kardi ruptured a couple of discs in her lumbar spine and unfortunately was not a candidate for surgery due to other medical issues. Kardi never regained the use of his hind legs and suffered permanently from urinary and intestinal incontinence.

Even without the use of her legs and the loss of bowel control, Kelsey says Kardi remained happy and optimistic.

“Kardi was very strong through all of this and never felt bad for herself. Every day she became stronger and happier. Kardi learned to move on his front legs and can actually run faster than I can walk. A couple of months after he was paralyzed, a secret fund was raised at the veterinary clinic where my sister and I worked and Kardi was given a pink Walkin’ Wheels wheelchair.

“Kardi was strapped into the wheelchair and literally went for a run and hasn’t stopped running since. He prefers to move around the house and use his wheelchair for outdoor activities. Kardi has learned to go down a couple of steps in his wheelchair, lie down in it, turn wide corners to avoid hitting things, and back up.”

Kardi is a speed machine in her wheelchair and has since become something of a celebrity. She has been a pin girl several times for Walkin’ Pets and in 2019 won a Halloween costume contest as a Budweiser Clydesdale. Another year, she was pulling a stroller with her sister, Bonnie Rose, sitting in a matching costume!

Although Kardi adapted to his new situation and his new direction, there was still more bad news to come.

“Unfortunately, Kardi has had many hereditary health problems over the years due to poor parenting. We found out that Kardi has transitional cell carcinoma (TCC/bladder cancer) through an ultrasound in March 2020. She had a urinary tract infection and blood in her urine that was not responding to antibiotics, so she had an ultrasound which confirmed bladder cancer.

“Many treatment options were discussed with Kardi’s internal medicine specialist, but none were a good option due to Kardi’s other medications that would interact negatively with them.”

“Kardi was given between 3 and 6 months to live and this completely crushed me. I got engaged in September 2020 and our wedding date was set for 02/21/2021. My dream has always been for Kardi to be at my wedding. Kardi has literally been with me through everything and I couldn’t imagine not having her there on the happiest day of my life.

The diagnosis was difficult, but after everything they had been through together in eight years, Kelsey wasn’t going to let Kardi fight alone. He was going to give Kardi his best chance and as long and happy a life as he could.

“Kardi’s strength through everything he has been dealt in life is simply amazing. Kardi has never felt bad for herself. He literally wakes up every day with a smile on his face and conquers the day in true Kardi style.

“She has taught me many life lessons along the way and I am truly honored to be her mother. She and I really lean on each other during our bad days and help keep each other motivated. To say we are a team would be an understatement. Kardi is my soul dog and we have a connection/bond unlike anything I have ever experienced. “We just understand each other.”

“Kardi had a lot of ups and downs since her diagnosis and it wasn’t clear if she would make it to February. Kardi has been with me through everything; The good, the bad and the ugly. I never had a doubt that she wouldn’t be by my side at my wedding. My husband loves her as much as I do and also wanted her to be present at our wedding.”

Together, Kardi and Kelsey turned out to be a tougher and more resilient team than the specialist expected. Kardi was only expected to arrive in the summer of 2020, but the following February, almost a year after being told she only had 3 to 6 months to live, she was able to watch her human get married. According to Kelsey, not only was she present at the wedding, but she “stole the show”!