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North Carolina boy battling cancer reunited with dog after man makes2,300-mile cross-country trip

An 8-year-old North Carolina boy, who is receiving cancer treatment in Utah,was reunited with his beloved dog thanks to the kindness of a completestranger. (Becky Perry Patrick)

An 8-year-old North Carolina boy who received a devastating and unexpected diagnosis of glioblastoma whilevisiting family in Utah over the holidays has now been reunited with hisbeloved dog thanks to the kindness of a complete stranger.

Perryn Miller and his family are from North Carolina butwere in Utah for Christmas. During their trip, the boy was informed he wassuffering from Stage 4 glioblastoma multiforme — an aggressive, cancerous tumoroften found in the brain or spine — after a severe headache landed him ina local hospital. At the time, Perryn was told the tumor found in his brain required immediate surgery. He is now recovering, andthe Miller family, whose home was destroyed during Hurricane Florence and hasnot yet been repaired, plans to stay in the Beehive State while Perrynundergoes additional treatment.

to make the trip from North Carolina to Utah: Frank, an 8-month-old Germanshepherd.

Perryn’s grandmother, Donna Javaras, took to Facebook inquiring if anyoneknew of a way to transport the dog to the family without paying the more thanthe $3,000 it would reportedly cost to do so.The post made the rounds onsocial media and caught the eye of Jennifer Reynolds, who then showed thepost to her husband and former truck driver, Rob.

Though neither Jennifer Reynolds nor Rob, 59, had met the Miller family,Rob offered to drive the pup to his family — a 2,300-mile cross-countrytrek that reportedly took 52 hours.

“He would sleep or play with his toys,” Rob told Fredricksburg.com. “We’d stop and go for walks. If hewanted to use the bathroom, he’d bump my right arm. He was perfect.”

When the pair finally arrived, Frank “went crazy” when he saw Perrynand his family.

“It was a good feeling to be able to ease their minds a little bit,” Robsaid, adding he’s willing to drive Frank back to North Carolina if needed.

"I felt really excited to see Frank. I just really like Frank and he'sa good dog," Perryn told CBS News of their reunion.

Jacob Miller, Perryn’s father and a former Marine Raider, previously toldKUTV his son “has a long journey ahead of him.”

The boy's parents "will be on extended leave from their jobs while theytake care of Perryn,” a GoFundMe for the 8-year-old states.

“Perryn is fighting for his life. He is a smart boy with an amazingpersonality. He is loved by everyone,” the GoFundMe adds. “He is also a warriorand is putting up the good fight. Even during all of this time in the hospital,he has been more worried about his family than himself.”

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