In June of 2015, a Mobile, AL woman named Maria was sitting in her car at a red light. Out of nowhere, a robber approached her car and shot her in the face during an attempted carjacking. The bullet went through her nose.
The 26-year-old miraculously survived and underwent two surgeries. However, the devastating incident required the doctors to remove Maria's right eye. She now had to face a scary new reality, and wasn't sure how she'd be able to move forward and find peace again.
Two months after the horrifying shooting, Maria's boyfriend came across a photo online. Staring back at him on the computer screen was a tiny, eight-week-old shelter puppy who had recently been through a nightmare of his own.
There was something about the puppy, named Bear, that most people looking to adopt a dog would avoid — but Maria's boyfriend knew the two of them just had to meet.
Maria's boyfriend sent the animal shelter an email.
What happened next is absolutely incredible…
In June of 2015, 26-year-old Maria was sitting at a red light in Alabama. Suddenly, an armed stranger shot her in the face while trying to rob her.
As a result of the attempted carjacking, Maria lost her right eye. Adjusting to life with only one eye seemed impossible.
Two months later, the Animal Rescue Foundation in Mobile, AL received a note from Maria's boyfriend. He had seen a picture of one of their rescue puppies — an eight-week-old, mixed-bred puppy named Bear.
Bear and Maria had something in common. Bear, too, lost one of his eyes in an attack by another dog.
Maria's boyfriend knew she and Bear already had a kinship, and would help each other heal from their terrifying experiences.
Maria's boyfriend told the local animal rescue that caring for Bear would help both the puppy and herself recover from their tragic attacks. The shelter immediately set up a meeting between the two.
Within 24 hours of seeing his photo online, Maria adopted Bear.
Maria and Bear are a match made in heaven. She says that adopting Bear has helped her appreciate the value of life again. She is so thankful to be alive, and to be Bear's new mom.
"Like me, he is a survivor," she told Buzzfeed. "We are not victims, we are survivors who get to share our story."
Maria and Bear are both incredible survivors — and thank God they've found each other! If you agree, please SHARE this story with your friends on Facebook!
