My guardian angel: Amazing dog can predict Telford woman's blackouts

Sam can pass out up to 10 times a day as she suffers from a condition affecting the nervous system called Pots – postural orthastatic tachycardia syndrome - and hyper mobility syndrome.

This means that every day she can suffer between one and 10 episodes of spontaneous semi-conscious blackouts, severe fatigue, lack of co-ordination and muscle weakness.

The 40-year-old, who lives in St Georges, Telford, with her partner Gary and nine-year-old daughter Lydia, was forced to give up her job with Wolverhampton University in 2012 due to her medical conditions and subsequently became housebound.

• Medical Assistance Dogs are like guide dogs – but help people with medical conditions

• They are trained to warn about on coming life-threatening events

• The way they are trained to notice these events is by detecting any odours of change

• The charity also provides dogs that can detect cancer through smell

• It receives no funding from the government and rely on public donations and trust funds

• These dogs cannot predict epileptic fits

• For more information on medical assistance dogs visit www.medicaldetectiondogs.org.uk

Until her assistance dog Charlie came along, Sam was at great risk, even when she was at home, because she has no warning before suddenly passing out and crashing to the ground.

But somehow, instinctively, Charlie knows when it is going to happen and licks Sam's hand furiously to tell her, giving her enough time to get into a safe position.

With Charlie attached to a belt around her waist she has even gained sufficient confidence to go out for short periods, and she said getting Charlie has "completely changed my life".

"Charlie is the most wonderful dog," she said. "He is a gentle giant full of loyalty, strength and love.

"Even after the long wait to get him I couldn't believe that I could be so fortunate to have such an amazing dog.

"Before I got him it was dangerous for me to leave the house alone because a blackout causes me to be paralysed and semi-conscious, so I was at huge risk of danger.

"Since getting Charlie last September though, I have been able to go out for short periods.

"I walk really slowly, but Charlie just looks up at me and adjusts his pace as if to say 'it's OK, I've got this'.

"Often I get stranded and can't move, but even as I'm just starting to wobble Charlie instinctively looks up and is by my side so that he can help me to get safe.

"He truly is my guardian angel keeping me safe from harm every day.

Charlie has been trained by the charity Medical Detection Dogs. He has been specifically trained to react to Sam's condition, although it is not fully understood how he reads the signs.

Sam said: "I was very nervous back in March when we were assessed for qualifying as an accredited assistance team, but Charlie was amazing and we passed with flying colours.

"He now walks proudly in his official coat and I love it because it no longer says in training, and so people no longer assume I'm his trainer."

This Sunday members of the Ironbridge and Severn Gorge Lions are urging people to visit the Ironbridge to support the charity.

The Lions will be raising awareness and collecting coins laid on a tape across the Iron Bridge in aid of Medical Alert Assistance Dogs - and members hope to be joined for part of the day by Sam and Charlie.

The Silver over the Bridge is where the Lions lay a piece of sticky tape down on the bridge and people come along and put coins down on it.

A proportion of the money goes to a designated charity each time, with the remainder going into Ironbridge Lions' charity account which is used to supports other causes.

Elaine Bradburn, a member of Ironbridge Lions, put forward the suggestion to support the charity after meeting Sam through her next door neighbour, a former work colleague of Sam's, and being moved by her story.

Elaine Bradburn, said: "Meeting Sam and Charlie was a humbling experience and it instantly struck me how dogs like Charlie can literally change people's lives.

"I hope that as many people as possible will come along on Sunday and put enough silver and pound coins down on our tape to stretch from one side of the Iron Bridge to the other and help to provide someone else like Sam with another Charlie.

"Although I am sure Sam would say there cannot ever be another Charlie."