Metro Heart Patient And Her Pup Now Have Matching Scars

<p>Lily Funk and her 6-month-old puppy, Minnie, are back in each other's arms.</p>

Friday, March 11th 2016, 5:58 pm

By: News 9


A Mustang toddler's bond with her puppy has taken on a whole new meaning.

The 3-year-old girl has had four open-heart surgeries.

Now her dog is recovering from its own health scare and helping the child cope with her heart condition at the same time.

The 6-month-old Great Pyrenees, Minnie, has been recovering at the BluePearl Veterinary Partners hospital in Oklahoma City.

Lily Funk has missed her Minnie.

With all the love she showers on Minnie, it is hard to believe Lily only has half a heart.

She was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. 

The week after the family adopted Minnie, Lily suffered two cardiac arrests and a stroke.

She actually died in her mother’s arms and then Tiffany Funk was able to resuscitate the child with CPR.

Lily is now undergoing extensive rehabilitation and Minnie has been the bright spot in her day.

“She was such a grump, having her chest open, she just wasn't feeling all that great but as soon as that puppy came in, she was all smiles,” said Tiffany Funk, Lily’s mother.

Then Minnie got severely injured when she escaped from her pin and ran away for 24 hours.

The dog had casts on both legs for a while and is still nursing one broken leg that also required a skin graft.

Minnie's scare has actually helped Lily cope.

They even have matching scars.

“She understands hurt, since she's been through so much,” Tiffany Funk told News 9.

The staff at BluePearl Veterinary Partners hospital has been honored to help the family care for their beloved pet.

“She has Minnie as her puppy, her fluffy live teddy bear basically and we want to get her well so as Minnie grows up and Lily grows up, they grow up together,” said Dr. Jodie Lamb, Minnie's surgeon.

The Funk family has been through a lot and Minnie’s injury came at the worst time.

On top of Lily’s hospitalizations, Jesse Funk lost his job and then lost a second job after that.

Minnie's vet bill was $5,000 and the family did not have the money to pay for it.

They considered giving Minnie away, but then a national pet charity called Frankie's Friends stepped in and raised all the money for the family in less than 24 hours.

“It makes you realize and believe in the good of people again, you know,” Jesse Funk said, surrounded by his family.

Minnie now gets to go back home with Lily.

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