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Nadine Wimmer ReportingA Utah four-year old is celebrating Independence Day on a more personal level this year. He's free from serious medical complications, and KSL viewers played a role.
It's refreshing to follow up on these kinds of stories.
A year ago, a specially trained dog was a Holladay family's best hope for their toddler with epilepsy. KSL viewers helped them raise the money for the dog, and see how he's helping now.
Spencer Smith and Bronco play together and stay together everywhere, even when it's time for bed.
"I love him."
That bond is a powerful medicine.
Spencer used to have dozens of epileptic seizures a day. A strict diet helped. But in the year since Bronco came to their home, Spencer's been seizure-free.
Mike Smith/ Spencer's Father: "When we got the dog they said the main thing he'll do for him is lower his stress level. They say that's the main thing that stops little kids from having seizures."
Stress levels have gone down for the whole family. Mike and Noni Smith can actually go on a date. And for the first time, Spencer can sleep in his own bed.
"There's a comfort level that never was there, that we couldn't have had before."
Mike Smith: "He's trained to hit a button on the wall if there's a problem with Spencer that would alert us in our bedroom. Fortunately, we haven't had to use it and hopefully we never have to."
The dog would've been trained to smell oncoming seizures through chemical scent, but so far that training hasn't been necessary.
Doctors, even Bronco's trainers, can't say exactly why the seizures have stopped. But the Smith's are just thankful for friends and supporters who made it possible.
Noni Smith/ Spencer's Mother: "We have this fabulously trained dog that's been such a blessing to Spencer. He sleeps with him every night and gives us such great peace of mind."
"We're just so grateful we have Bronco and that he's giving him whatever he's giving him, because something's working."
The Smits told us tonight that they're especially grateful for the dog, because over the weekend their younger daughter suffered a seizure. So Bronco may be getting expanded duties.
