Imagine this: you bring a dog into your life, spend six happy years together, and then suddenly everything changes overnight, and not for the better.
That’s exactly what happened to Dagmar Gudmundsson from Idaho and her beloved dog, Tyrion, when he woke from one of his naps one day.
Instead of his usual cheerful energy, Tyrion struggled to stand. His legs gave out beneath him, and he could barely move.
What followed was a heartbreaking diagnosis that completely turned their world upside down.
A Sudden And Devastating Diagnosis
Dagmar first met Tyrion while attending college in California. She had taken a road trip with friends when she came across the pup and decided to bring him home for $300. At the time, Tyrion was in poor shape, covered in ticks and fleas, but Dagmar saw past that and gave him the loving home he desperately needed.
Over the years, the two shared an inseparable bond. Tyrion thrived in her care, and together they built a life full of companionship and joy.
Then, one ordinary evening, everything changed.
After waking from a nap, Tyrion couldn’t move his back legs or his tail. Within hours, he was completely paralyzed. At first, veterinarians suspected a spinal condition known as IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease).
But further testing revealed something even more serious. After undergoing multiple exams and an MRI, Tyrion was diagnosed with Meningoencephalomyelitis of Unknown Origin, a rare autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord.
Almost instantly, Tyrion’s world shifted. He would now need a wheelchair to move, and Dagmar had to adjust to caring for a dog who could no longer walk.
Despite the shock, neither of them gave up. Their strength and determination would soon inspire thousands online.
Small Steps, Big Miracles
It took about two weeks for Tyrion to adjust to his new reality and begin moving around in his wheelchair.
Dagmar made sure he received the best possible care. Tyrion started regular hydrotherapy, physical therapy, and acupuncture, which gradually helped his body regain muscle strength.
Soon, he began moving his legs again, not through conscious effort, but through reflex and muscle memory.
“He is still 100% paralyzed back there but he’s spinal walking! So he’s able to ‘walk’ using only reflex and muscle memory. His brain has zero control over his back legs,” Dagmar wrote on Instagram.
In one TikTok post that quickly went viral, Dagmar shared Tyrion’s progress during a hydrotherapy session, and viewers couldn’t believe their eyes.
After more than a year of therapy, Tyrion was walking again. His determination paid off. His body had become so strong that people online began to question whether he had ever been paralyzed.
“Once a week. Every week for a year and a half you watch his body strengthen and learn to control itself without the help of his mind. He’s gotten so strong, people don’t even believe he’s paralyzed anymore,” the video caption read.
Watching Tyrion take even a few small steps was an emotional victory for Dagmar, who had never stopped believing in him.
“This has been an emotional rollercoaster but I knew that I would do whatever I could and whatever I could afford to do to give him the best quality of life,” she shared in another TikTok.
Now eight years old, Tyrion is thriving. He has regained his confidence, his joy, and his will to keep moving forward.
Every day, he continues to prove that with love, care, and perseverance, even the impossible can become possible.