Lewisville, TX (KTVT) -- The new year brought a big surprise for nine year-old, Zach Thibodeaux, from Lewisville, TX. He met a life changing friend when the group, "Guide Dogs for the Blind," showed up at his Lewisville home to deliver his very own K-9 companion.
Thibodeaux suffers from a condition called cone-rod dystrophy, which means that the cells in his eyes are dying, and he is going blind rapidly.
The one-and-a-half year-old yellow lab, Natura, is part of a buddy program that is designed specifically for visually impaired children. She is specially trained to help guide him as he makes the difficult transition from being able to see to loss of sight.
Thibodeaux's family applied for the program months ago, but didn't hear back until Christmas Eve.
Natura traveled from California to Texas just in time for the new year, and a new start for Thibodeaux to help him be confident as he enters the unfamiliar.
The two are already bonding.
KTVT