Autistic Boy Finds a New Friend

This powerful and uplifting news video from CNN depicts just how a dog might impact a kid’s life

When a normal couple has their first boy, they are overjoyed. But they soon notice something different about Johnny, their son, because he would rarely interact or talk to other people and would keep to himself, having a hard time expressing his feelings and emotions to others. He couldn’t really relate to other people well. Then, one night, Johnny’s mother sat down to watch a newscast, and on the news was a story of a pitbull who had been mistreated. Doctors said she had a very, very slim chance of survival, but the pitbull made it anyway. Johnny’s mother felt that adopting the pup would be a good idea, but at first her husband was skeptical, since they already had 3 kids total.

That all changed the moment Johnny met Xena the pitbull. They had an instant bond and were always together. Johnny slowly but surely started being social, doing homework, talking to others, and best of all, eating. He would even cut up bananas for the dog. In the end, this really shows how the power of friendship can be so important in even just one person’s life.