WATCH: Incredible surfing dog makes terminally ill disabled sisters’ dreams come true

Disabled sisters Savannah and Bellamy Arterburn lost their mobility after being diagnosed with a rare degenerative neuro-muscular disorder that has no cure. But with the help of seven-year-old Golden Retriever Ricochet, the girls fulfilled their dream to surf for the first time...

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by Miranda Knox |
Published on

Over the last few years, the devastating terminal illness, known as Friedreich's Ataxia, has tragically robbed the sisters of their mobility and left them both unable to walk.

Since being diagnosed aged six, the debilitating disease means both Savannah, 17, and Bellamy, 19, are unable to walk or sit up unassisted, has affected their speech, twisted their spines and damaged their hearts.

DOG CRIES WITH HAPPINESS AFTER HER PUPPIES ARE RESCUED

Image courtesy of racheljones-photography.com
Image courtesy of racheljones-photography.com

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According to their dad, Donovan, the girls are unlikely to live beyond the age of 25- but they're determined to live for the moment.

With every day possibly their last, the sisters' have been crossing off items on their bucket list, and with seven-year-old Golden Retriever Ricochet- a trained dog who specialises in surfing with people with disabilities or special needs- at their side, their dream holiday in San Diego and the opportunity to surf in the Pacific Ocean finally came true.

Image courtesy of Gilda Adler photography

On the day of their surf session, Savannah and Bellamy struggled to contain their excitement, and each were helped from their chair into the ocean with a team of experienced volunteers on hand to ensure they were safely helped onto the board.

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Because the sisters have no body strength or muscle control, their safety was main priority. Ricochet positioned herself carefully behind them to counter-balance the board and keep it afloat, giving the girls the opportunity to enjoy the moment and leave their troubles behind.

"I've always wanted to surf... It just felt so good, like I was free," Bellamy said afterwards.

Image courtesy of Gilda Alder Photography

While giving an interview to a news station, their father Donovan said: "When Savannah fell off the board, I asked her if she needed to sit and rest, or did she want to go again. She wanted to go again!"

**MEET THE INCREDIBLE DOG WHO PICKS UP THE PHONE, HELPS WITH THE WASHING AND ASSISTS WITH THE WEEKLY SHOP! **

Ricochet helps people with disabilities through surfing and community outreach, and she first rose to fame after a a video of her surfing with a boy who is quadriplegic went viral. She now has over 246K fans on Facebook, over 11k on Twitter and 1500 on Instagram.

When Ricochet was just 8 weeks old, she climbed on a boogie board in a kiddie pool and was able to balance on her own, and has been surfing ever since.

**WATCH THE VIDEO HERE: **

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