As lightly as many people may think about pregnancy, it is undoubtedly a difficult phase for many women. While these are not as difficult for some as compared to others, each one of them comes with the usual cautions, great pains, mood swings, and much more.

Alhanna was a woman aspiring to become a mother someday. And when she had intolerable pains, everyone said that these were just part and parcel of the phase. But things did not unfold as easily as they should have. Even the doctors couldn’t understand what was wrong, but there was someone who knew something wasn't right all along...

Happy Family

This story follows the life of a woman named Alhanna Butler and her husband, Ricky Butler. The couple lived alone with hopes of having a baby someday. Nonetheless, they lived happily—but they were unaware of the problems that were about to hit their lives and how they would end up coping with the unexpected.

Lucky for them, they had their dog Keola who accompanied them wherever they went. Alhanna and Ricky had Keola ever since she was a pup. And they started a new life with Keola by their side. Keola was protective of Alhanna and stood by her side through thick and thin.

The Akita

Keola, the dog, was an American Akita breed. This particular breed had originated from Northern Japan’s mountainous regions and was known as a protective and intelligent species. Highly loyal, these dogs were traditionally used as guards, hunters, and fighters, owing to their large size and sheer strength. In packs, these could hunt down animals as big as elks and bears.

Keola was loyal to her family as well. Having been with her owners for years now, Keola was protective of Alhanna. Even though dogs are known for their sense of smell, this one was particularly strongly instinctive and showed signs of intelligence that are rarely found in dogs.

Ricky, Alhanna, and Keola

The three of them lived a humble life, with the husband and wife going out to work while Keola would wait for them. Not much playful, but Keola had a strong sense of connection with the Butlers, and while it was not expressive, Alhanna and Ricky understood the bond of love between them.

But there was this hollow that was felt by the couple. The family wasn’t complete without a child, and they knew it was about time to have one. Both of them were excited about their new decision and equally wanted to go ahead with it. Keola was sharper than either of the Butlers, but the couple was yet to find out.

The Phase of Pregnancy

The couple’s decision was pretty strong, they knew what they wanted and they were ready to go forth with adding a new family member to their small and humble abode. Alhanna was a wise woman. She already knew that the phase of gestation came with a range of symptoms that might make her a bit uncomfortable.

Things such as mood swings, untimely nausea, and problems including backache and lower-abdominal pains. But she was ready for all of it. She did understand that all of that was important to have a healthy gestation. The pains are only because the uterus starts to expand and make way for a new life.

Sniffing the Pregnancy

After Alhanna and Ricky’s first pregnancy test came negative, they threw it away in the trash without thinking over it or waiting for a cue. Keola, on the other hand, knew something was up and bought it back from the trash to show a faint second line. This was surprising for her but Ricky didn’t pay heed at first.

Alhanna bought a few new strips, expensive ones this time, to check again. And guess what? She was two weeks into her gestation. The couple wasn’t only shocked to see this, but they knew that their dog was surely something special and not to be taken for granted.

Passing the Note

Alhanna didn’t go about yelling the news to her husband. Instead, she wrote a note about it and put it in Keola’s collar as if the dog wrote the news herself. Ricky was over the moon as soon as he found out. The couple now understood that Keola could detect things that they didn’t understand.

However, their happiness was shadowed soon, and a few months into the pregnancy, Alhanna started to experience intense pains that shouldn’t have come up so early into her gestation. Now, this is undoubtedly a complicated period, and it is different for every woman. But the intensity of the symptoms here was unusual.

Keola’s Reaction

Even though Keola was protective as is and already liked to spend most of her time around the Butlers, when she sensed the pregnancy, she would mostly stay around Alhanna. There was something about the soon-to-be mother that kicked in the dog's motherly instincts as well and made it extra tender to her presence.

And the couple could see those changes happening. Alhanna, in particular, knew this was not ordinary behavior. She assumed Keola wanted to be around her because she was going through a tough phase. But the actual reason why the dog was extra-protective would soon be disclosed to the couple as a surprise.

Usual Symptoms of a Pregnancy

Women usually experience nausea with or without vomiting, dizziness at times, and light-headedness. All of these symptoms appear due to the increase of Beta-hCG (a hormone in women), which is released during gestation. This is the hormone that is detected on pregnancy strips through urine after six weeks of the last menstruation.

In addition to that, some women also experience mild lower-abdominal cramps, lower back pain, breast tenderness, and engorgement. Now, while the intensity of either of these symptoms can differ from person to person, these are pretty much common. Although these occurrences trouble many women, numerous neglect these to enjoy the coming of a new life.

Alhanna’s Case

In Alhanna’s case, however, the pains were too intense to ignore. They knew it was normal with pregnancies, but Keola felt something was unusual. She started acting odd. She would wait outside the bathroom door while Alhanna was inside and the worrisome look on her face troubled the to-be mother.

Since it was Alhanna’s first time expecting, she and her husband both thought it would be best to visit the doctors rather than invite any unexpected problems. Much to her surprise, the doctors didn’t detect anything unusual. They told her that the back pain and nausea were normal. She was told the same by her peers and friends.

Not -so-Comfortable Aftermath

Upon hearing that the doctors found nothing extraordinary, Alhanna and Ricky both returned home, with both of them needing much rest. The constant worry regarding the mother’s as well as child’s health had drained both of them, and they crashed, thinking that everything was going to be fine.

But it was probably not going to be so. The sharp and unbearable pains still disturbed Alhanna. She trusted the doctors and her peers and decided to take up this difficult phase as a challenge. She thought she’d survive the agony since it was only a few more months before this would all be over, and she would finally become a mother.

Non-Supportive Peers

Keola would pace around and even cry while Alhanna was out of the house. She would stare her in the eyes, trying to say that something was wrong. The expecting mother had nothing to show to prove it, and when she told other people about this, they were skeptical. No one laughed at her, but they weren’t supportive either.

They told her that she was just being a wimp and the dog might only be acting up. There was nothing to worry about. The pains and nausea were common. They said that if Alhanna could not deal with these symptoms, she won’t be able to go through with the labor.

Alhanna’s Mother

Now, things started to get scary when the doctors couldn’t say much. Alhanna and Ricky were both concerned and wanted to seek help, but they didn’t know where to go. Alhanna’s mother, on the other hand, told her to visit the hospital again. She knew the dog wasn’t to be taken lightly.

And to Alhanna’s luck, she was already inside the hospital when she collapsed. The doctors understood this was something more than just pregnancy and took her into intensive care. Alhanna was detected with a double kidney infection and an antibiotic-resistant bug. They had surely not expected things to be so bad.

A Second Opinion

Doctors generally recommend against patients going to multiple doctors since it may cause confusion and a clash of diagnoses. However, at times if a patient is not healed or dissatisfied with a particular diagnosis or treatment, they might suggest getting a second opinion, probably from some other doctor.

Alhanna’s mother recommended her to do the same, considering the dog’s concern and odd behavior suggesting that all was not well. And that was the turning point in Alhanna’s story. She was in for an awful surprise. Even though she wanted to get her ailment treated and be well for good, she didn’t expect what was coming her way.

A Rare Condition

Alhanna’s condition was so rare that the doctors had to devise a new antibiotic strain to treat her. She’d already mentioned to Ricky that Keola had already suspected the situation was pretty bad. Keola would nudge her, cry, and even act distraught when she was about to leave for work.

These were all actions that were never seen from Keola before. She was acting out of the ordinary, and these were all bad signs. While no one understood Alhanna, this dog tried to communicate but sadly couldn’t convey that to the others around her. According to mit.edu, dogs can actually sniff out a range of ailments.

The Treatment

Besides the novel medicine for her treatment, Alhanna was kept in the hospital for over a month to ensure that she, as well as her baby, would be safe. But before that, when she wasn’t diagnosed with the ailment, she said that discussing this matter with her friends and peers was awful.

The ones that told her that her dog was acting up and she was just being a wimp probably would have gotten an answer after Alhanna decided to release this story onto her social media. The ailment was so rare that it even had the doctors scratching their heads, with a few of them gathering to discuss the possible cure.

Little Lincoln

Thankfully, the turmoil was over soon, and the family was blessed with a boy in November 2015, whom they named Lincoln. And as they say, a dog is man’s best friend; Lincoln had his first best friend from the moment that he was born. Not only did Keola care for the baby, but she had also already saved Lincoln’s life.

Akc.org suggests that canines that spend a lot of time with children can form a special bond with them. Lincoln already had what one could wish for: loving parents and a best friend in the form of a faithful and protective pet dog. He had them before he had even opened his eyes.

Post-partum

The couple lived at the hospital for a few days after Lincoln's birth. The hospital needed to make sure the baby was in good health, and the mother's infection didn't trickle down, affecting his health. But that didn't last for long, and the couple was happy while Alhanna recovered as well.

They were eager to take Lincoln home to meet his new friend. The level of joy they felt was out of this world, and they were having the time of their life at the hospital. It was not long before the doctors declared that everything was clear and the infant and his mother could finally go home.

Baby’s Best Friend

Lincoln got the best welcome that a child could ever get. He was first greeted by his parents at the hospital, who were so eager to have him for so long. And finally, the day was here when they could hold him in their hands and all the troubles that haunted them at one time were over.

When the couple first came home with the little one, Keola would show all gentle reactions towards the kid. But it was to wonder if the two would share the same bond for years to come. While Akitas are known for being good babysitters, can they become good friends too?

Alhanna Trusted Keola

Alhanna trusted Keola around the newborn at all times. After all, Keola knew about Lincoln’s coming before anyone else did. She would rest her head on Alhanna’s tummy and show her signs of the happening. Keola even played a vital role in saving Lincoln’s as well as his mother’s lives.

Therefore, she had no reason to distrust the dog and considered her the perfect watchdog and/or babysitter for the little one. The two would sleep together, eat together, play with each other, and much more to show a bond that no other two people had in that house. It felt like Lincoln had a sibling instead of a pet.

Keola as a Babysitter

Keola’s traits were not out of the ordinary. Akitas have long been known as effective babysitters. Despite their docile looks, they have the characteristic of being highly protective of their fellow humans. It was these factors that made Japan declare them as a national treasure in 1931, along with the Shiba, Kai, Kishu, Hokkaido, and Shikoku breeds.

They do not bark without reason, and when they do, people around them can be sure there is something wrong. Besides that, ancient Japanese women relied on them to take care of their young while they were out for work. This breed is therefore highly revered in the country. We can be pretty sure that Alhanna’s household feels the same way.

Grown-Up Lincoln

As Lincoln grew up, he had Keola and his parents by his side at all times. The former more than the latter. Even when he would sleep in his cot, the Akita would stand guard beside his bed and never leave him unattended. With that in mind, his parents knew he was in safe hands.

Keola was with them through thick and thin, and as Lincoln passed each milestone. And none of this could have been possible if the dog wasn’t around to let Alhanna know of the danger that she was going through during her gestation. The Butlers did feel blessed for having Keola.

Alhanna’s Experience

As Alhanna shared the experience of her pregnancy—the pains, rough times, and the support of her husband and Keola—on her Facebook after it had all happened, she also shared cute images of the infant with the dog. The two seemed inseparable and as if they were the best of friends.

Lincoln loved Keola’s company and vice versa. They would often be seen snuggled up with each other. Both of them showed no signs of parting anytime in the future and as if they were going to share many more experiences to come. It was the kind of calm that came after a passing disaster.

The Silent Hunter

Akitas are known in Japan as silent hunters. While they’re out to hunt large animals, they won’t bark or make a sound to avoid alerting their hunt. Also known to Nonetheless, they can die or kill for their human masters. And Keola was not much different. She was tamed and only acted up when she sensed trouble.

Additionally, the quality of standing guard beside her family and not making noise while she was around Lincoln made her a perfect companion for the family. And after she’d saved Alhanna from the ordeal, she was all the more trusted. The couple would take her everywhere with them.

Pet Dogs Saving the World

While this is a unique story of a dog saving a human life, this isn’t the only one. A humorist named Josh Billings was of a similar idea. He said that these creatures love their fellow humans more than they love themselves. And that was the case recorded here as well; Keola knew Alhanna and her moods better than anyone else.

In many cases around the world, dogs have taken split-second actions to rescue people from fires, car accidents, drowning, and much more. In 2017, People’s magazine reported that a dog’s barking saved a little infant from dying in shivering cold outside the house of its owners.

Butlers and Keola

Even though Alhanna was baffled by her dog’s unusual antics at first, she knew something was wrong, and that saved her life. It was probably that moment that had herself and Ricky trust Keola no matter what the circumstance. Their beloved pet had led them to the hospital.

After her diagnosis, Alhanna knew that Keola was a special creature capable of the unthinkable. The pictures that were made public later showed the four of them together as a happy family, with Lincoln happy in the presence of his parents and his trusted friend, the Akita. That was all that an infant ever needed, to be loved.

Animals have Soul

According to a British veterinarian named James Herriot, animals are better than humans in terms of having a soul, i.e., being able to feel the emotion of love. And this was true in this story as well. Keola’s love was able to sense what the others around her could not.

It was as if she knew her masters better than they knew themselves. Even Alhanna could not put her finger on the root cause if it was or was not something to worry about. If Keola had not shown her concern, Alhanna might have never stepped foot in the hospital for in-depth testing and diagnosis.

Life in Pictures

Alhanna had posted pictures of Keola with her family multiple times—in poses varying from Akita standing by her side to laying his face on her tummy, snuggling with Lincoln, and much more. Their story, based from Doncaster, England, has been featured in multiple media outlets, however, primarily on social media.

She’d started to post more and more photos of Keola after her first visit to the hospital after experiencing lower back pains during her pregnancy. That was the first time Keola stared her in the eye in an unusual way, as if signaling that she could sense something out of the ordinary.

The Happy Ending

It was obvious that this happy ending would not have been possible had Keola not warned Alhanna about the ongoing ailment at the time of her gestation. Also, if she would’ve not taken her warnings seriously and not gone to the hospital on time, things would have been different in the end.

Alhanna’s ailment was so severe that she might not have survived had she not paid a visit to the hospital on time. The diagnosis of her lethal condition was essential if she and her son were to live for the little one to come into this world and live in a happy family.

Global Reaction to the Story

Alhanna had posted these images along with a story on her Facebook account when all this was over. Giving in to the fact that this was a one-in-a-million sort of occurrence, not only was the story shared all over social media, but many news outlets reported it as well.

The world got to know about the intelligent dog and how it saved the lives of a pregnant woman as well as her baby. Keola became a hero in no time for displaying concern through her incredible instinct. And that was only possible due to the love that she shared with her family.