In 2001, Tina started having migraines and seizures at age 23. She went to countless doctors and neurologists, hoping to find some medication to help. Sadly, even regular injections don’t completely stop the seizures.
In 2018, a devastating seizure wiped Tina’s memory, causing her to lose the first 40 years of her life. Not only is Max the German Shepherd her service dog who detects and protects her during seizures, but he also comforts her as she deals with that loss.
Tina, who goes by @tina_n_max on TikTok, uploaded a video that captured Max performing an alert. The now viral video, set appropriately to the tune of “If I Didn’t Have You,” shows just how valuable having a service dog is when you suffer from debilitating seizures.
An Unexpected Demonstration Of Max’s Skills
When the video begins, Tina stands at her kitchen sink washing dishes. A caption over the video explains:
“This was supposed to be a training session clip but he alerted to something I didn’t know was coming!”
After a second, Max suddenly lifts his head and sniffs, then gets up off the floor where he was lying. He starts trying to get his mom’s attention.
Despite the fact that he is still in training for service dog duties, Max seems to already have a pretty good grip on what to do. He clearly senses something wrong and knows he has to tell his mom about it.
For a few seconds, Tina doesn’t realize Max is trying to alert her. As she moves away from the sink, she takes a step forward, and Max starts to head her off. Max then nudges his mom to slide underneath her.
By putting his body underneath hers, he’s ensuring her head doesn’t hit the ground and she won’t hurt herself. This is an essential skill of a seizure alert dog. With this knowledge, Max can save his mom’s life.
Tina explained this particular situation in a comment on the video:
“He wasn’t giving up! I totally missed the first alert. I thought he wanted some lovins.”
Watch the entire incredible clip on TikTok:
@tina_n_maxMy lifesaver 💜##Max##Tina ##fyp ##epilepsyservicedog ##germanshepherd ##dogsoftiktok ##bestfriends ##epilepsyawareness ##epilepsywarrior♬ If I Didn’t Have You – Thompson Square
Following Max’s Training Journey
The unexpected demonstration video has been viewed nearly 8 million times. Plus, that video is just one of many on Tina and Max’s TikTok that show the incredible things a trained service dog can do.
So far, videos indicate that Max has learned how to help his mom in all kinds of situations. He knows what to do if something happens in the shower, or if there’s a distance between them and Tina experiences a seizure.
Dealing with epilepsy and migraines, in addition to her memory loss, can be very emotionally draining for Tina. Max’s presence is calming, and of course, he loves his mom. Service dogs really are so incredible.
Featured Image: TikTok
Toledo, United States.
