The Pritchett family was a trio of husband and wife- Dex, Lindsey, and their daughter Mikaela. Now this story is about their little girl who never had any trouble sleeping through the night on her own, but all that changed one day, and since then, they haven’t been able to leave Mikaela alone in a room, even during the day. However, after they got a dog, Mikaela’s fear of being alone and anxiety started subsiding. They were initially overjoyed to know that their daughter could rest easy. But if they had known the whole story, their opinions about getting a furry family member would have changed much sooner.
Dex and Lindsey Pritchett weren’t anything special. They raised their daughter Mikaela in Kansas. Dex taught at the university, and Lindsey ran a local bakery. The family was content living a quiet, peaceful existence. However, things started changing when Mikaela turned two.
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The Pritchetts happened to live in a lovely area. They owned a large and lovely home with more room than they knew what to do with. When their little girl’s troubles began, they were distressed and couldn’t find a solution to her problem. Dex and Lindsey decided to add a new member to their family by adopting a dog.
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When their young daughter expressed worry about being alone in her room, it caused a lot of tension and stress in the family. Dex knew that waking up in the middle of the night alone was terrifying for a child, and Mikaela was experiencing it frequently. Dex and Lindsey were understanding of Mikaela’s fear because they knew it was common for children to be afraid of the dark. As time passed, Mikaela cried whenever she was alone, even in the middle of the day.
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The couple didn’t understand why Mikaela’s anxiety about being alone only worsened. She would start crying if they left her alone for more than a second. They realized she required medical attention and decided to take her to a professional pediatrician. But despite their attempt to get her medical aid that day, they wouldn’t make it to the pediatric center at the hospital.
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They loaded up the car and headed for the hospital. They were met by the morning rush hour traffic as soon as they entered the highway. They anticipated being there for some time, so Dex played his favorite CD and chatted with his wife about work. But while they were talking in the front, Mikaela was up to some mischief in the backseat that would change their lives forever.
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Mikaela managed to get out of her seat and gain access to the car window without alerting Dex or Lindsey. Fortunately, she did not roll down the window but instead jumped up and down, her gaze fixed on the road. Dex and Lindsey were deep in conversation when their daughter exclaimed, “Mommy, doggy, doggy!” They were both taken aback by her proximity to the window. Their mouths dropped open when they saw what Mikaela saw outside.
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They had pulled up next to a shelter for abused and abandoned animals. Many animals were running around the shelter, and Mikaela wished they would stop so she could pet them. Since they had a doctor’s appointment, Dex was on the fence about going in. The ringing of his phone was an abrupt interruption. It was the hospital calling to reschedule his daughter’s appointment. Dex took it as no coincidence and felt destiny was leading them into that shelter. After canceling the appointment, he parked in the shelter’s lot and went in with Lindsey and Mikaela.
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Once inside, a pit bull named Silva immediately caught their eye. Dex could hardly believe their luck because Silva embodied the ideal dog he always wanted for a pet. After bringing home their new furry member, the Pritchetts felt Silva’s influence that night. They were so delighted to have Silva join the family that they cooked a special meal to celebrate. The group then settled in for a movie, during which something odd occurred.
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Usually, Mikaela would not fall asleep even with the TV on, but she was sound asleep on the couch with Silva nestled up next to her. Lindsey and Dex tried to remain as quiet as possible while taking Mikaela to her bedroom. Then Silva awoke, and what he did next completely shocked everyone.
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Silva went with Dex and Lindsey to Mikaela’s room and climbed onto the bed, placing himself gently next to Mikaela. After Mikaela’s sleepless nights these past few weeks, the Pritchetts monitored her and stayed close by so they could rush in as soon as she woke up. Lindsey was monitoring her, but since she was exhausted from many sleepless nights, she eventually fell asleep. However, Mikaela slept through the night and didn’t stir. Early in the morning, she came beaming into the kitchen with Silva by her side and a bright smile across her face.
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Dex and Lindsey were confused by this new turn of events. Today was different for Mikaela, who was never an early riser and rarely ever smiled in the morning. Dex wanted answers, so he set up cameras in Mikaela’s room. The cameras were already set up when Dex put Mikaela down for her afternoon nap. She insisted, however, that Silva remains with her, and Dex consented. The footage he found on the camera that evening left him speechless.
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Dex hurried to find out the truth from the camera recordings on his computer. Mikaela had a sound sleep that night, and Silva slept peacefully beside her. Dex was glad that his investment in the cameras to uncover the secret of how Silva would end up in Mikaela’s rom every night, despite Lindsey locking the furry Houdini in the kitchen every night, and How Mikaela had been having no trouble sleeping alone, all paid off. He saw the evidence the moment he went to shut down his computer.
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At night, Mikaela stirred and awoke in fear as usual. After spending some time awake on her bed, she worked up the courage to perform a monster check under her bed and then went straight to the kitchen. He and Lindsey discovered that Mikaela had been bringing Silva to her room every night. She hopped back in bed along with Silva. But she jolted awake again, and with bleary eyes, Mikaela looked around her room, her brows furrowing at the realization that neither of her parents was in sight. However, Silva whined at her and licked her face, pawing her lovingly until she laid back down. But her lips began trembling, and her eyes widened again. The dog laid down next to her and gave her another lick. Dex stared in disbelief as the events unfolded.
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Mikaela eventually calmed down and smiled as she petted Silva until she fell asleep. Dex couldn’t believe what he had just witnessed! As soon as he saw what he saw, he called Lindsey to tell her. Finally, taking Mikaela to a pediatrician, the Pritchetts learned that their daughter had monophobia, or the fear of being alone and that Silva was working with her to overcome this. In fact, one of the best treatment methods for this condition was to have a furry companion. While Mikaela would eventually overcome her anxiety, her bond with Silva only grew stronger.
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