A Woodford Green teenager left unable to walk by a rare condition was granted his wish to make a special visit to a guide dogs training centre.
Jacob Bagnall, 15, got the chance to go behind the scenes at his nearby Guide Dogs South East Regional Centre thanks to charity Make-A-Wish UK.
Jacob was diagnosed with ataxia telangiectasia, a rare degenerative neurological condition, in 2020.
This left him unable to stand or walk, and he now requires a wheelchair.
His dog, Izzy, has been a great support to him during this time, according to Jacob's dad Mark.
He said: "When he had difficulty walking down the stairs, she would stand on each step below him so that he didn't fall - with no training.
"She’s not a registered therapy dog, but she’s essentially a therapy dog for Jacob."
Jacob's wish was to visit a Guide Dogs centre and meet the dogs in training.
His wish was granted, and he and his family spent the day cuddling puppies, attending training classes, and touring the kennels.
To donate to Make-A-Wish UK, visit donate.make-a-wish.org.uk/make-a-wish.
Mark said: "A wish is one of those moments that make them feel special, something done for them individually and that’s precious.
"There was a moment when we took Jacob out of his chair and each of the dogs came over to us.
"They came for a cuddle as we sat on the floor.
"That was particularly lovely."
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