NICHOLASVILLE, Ky.    – In 2015, Antonio Reese was a normal, playful 9-year old, who loved soccer and his friends.

Then on a normal day, riding in the back of his parents SUV with his younger brothers on the way to a family dinner, a man fired 3-5 bullets into their car. Antonio got hit it in the back of the head.

Since then, Antonio has been fighting the battle of a lifetime. He spent 18 days in a coma, and has endured 5 brain surgeries.

“He suffers from seizures, migraines, and balance issues,” his mother, Tara Murillo said. “The whole right side of his head is an artificial flap. If Antonio hits the ground because of a seizure, it can be fatal immediately.”

Murillo knew her son needed help. She then made it her mission to find a service dog to pair Antonio with.

In October of 2016, he was paired with his service dog, Alice from Guardian Angels medical Service Dogs in Florida.

“She immediately took to loving him. It was just the right fit,” Murillo said.

Alice is a trained chemical imbalance alert dog. She has never once failed to alert to an oncoming seizure. Alice also helps him with balance issues. She’s saved Antonio’s life many times.

“Alice has got my boy a 100 percent. I trust with everything in me,” Murillo said. “She’s his second mom.”

Alice won the 2019 Service Dog Hero of the Year. She beat out 55 other service dogs in the running.

The honor was awarded to her by more than 900 thousand nationwide voters and the American Humane Societies’ panel of judges.

“When you see how much support and love people have for my son and Alice, it brings a light out of a dark situation,” said Murillo. “It shows you that there is still good in this world again.

Alice is a finalist for the 2019 American Humane Hero Dog Award. Voting is open every day until 12pm Pacific Time on September 9^th, 2019.