When one woman brought home a service dog to help with anxiety and other mental health needs, she may not have realized it, but that very dog would save her life in more ways than one.

Shauna Darcy initially brought Ruby home to help with agoraphobia, anxiety, and depression.
However, little Ruby ended up helping out with so much more! Darcy explained to The Dodo how Ruby ended up alerting her to a very serious medical condition that she had previously not known about.

“While she was training to be a service dog I noticed that she started picking up on changes in my heart rate and would act funny — for example, paw at me, try to get my attention, get on top of me, etc.”
Due to Ruby’s apparent concern, Darcy went to the doctors for a checkup.

The doctors diagnosed Darcy with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a rare heart condition.According to the US Department Of Health, symptoms for this rare genetic condition include fragile arteries, muscles, and internal organs, premature aging of the skin of the hands and feet, and easy bruising, amongst others.

Ruby works to help her mother on a daily basis, however she can.Ruby helps her mother through panic attacks, carrying and retrieving items, and is also reportedly trained to perform deep pressure therapy as Darcy confirmed.

“When I pass out she gets on top of me and applies all her pressure on me and licks my hands and face until I come around.”
Ruby really puts my angry little dog who steals my toast to shame!

Needless to say, the pair are pretty much inseparable.And that was never more clear than during a medical emergency when Ruby’s loyalty to her owner shone through.

By the time the paramedics had arrived, Darcy had taken a serious turn for the worse.
She explained that at that point, she was in a lot of pain and was barely conscious, which means help was called at exactly the right time.

During her owner’s stay, Ruby never left her side.
Darcy shares her and Ruby’s life events on Instagram, and the heartwarming images of Ruby stoically

waiting on her mother’s bed have warmed even Instagram’s icy, Photoshopped heart!

It didn’t matter whether Darcy was awake or unconscious, Ruby wouldn’t leave her mother’s bed. She was determined to make sure she was okay.
She’ll be there for Darcy through thick and thin, no matter what, which must be an enormous comfort.

When Ms. Darcy was recently rushed to hospital, Ruby wouldn’t leave her owner’s side.

Ms. Darcy went into atrial fibrillation, and though she felt fine at first, Ruby alerted her to the fact that something was wrong, which prompted Darcy to call an ambulance.

By the time the paramedics had arrived, Ms. Darcy was apparently barely conscious and in terrible pain.

Ruby became a supremely popular doggo while she and Darcy stayed in the hospital together.

Apparently, plenty of people popped by to meet this lifesaving pup in person, and she was always eager to say hello to them. But ever the devoted dog, Ruby made sure that she never strayed too far from Darcy.

Ruby is a wonderful example of the stellar work that service dogs provide!

She not only helps her owner with physical ailments, but she helps Darcy get up the courage to do things she otherwise wouldn’t be able to.

Darcy recently shared this photo of her incredible dog and added a touching caption to highlight just how much Ruby does to help her.

“There is no way I’d be able to see my parents if it wasn’t for ruby,” she wrote. “I was way too anxious to fly alone (my partner dislikes flying) but now with Ruby, it’s possible. “