Rappaport To The Rescue

Eleven-year-old Michayla Hopkins joins Jill Rappaport to share an extraordinary story of courage, determination and the incredible healing power of dogs. While battling a rare form of cancer, Michayla fulfilled a lifelong dream by competing at the historic 150th Westminster Dog Show, becoming one of the youngest handlers to step into the ring.

Michayla shares what it was like to enter the Westminster ring with Sonny the Vizsla, compete alongside adult handlers and experience the excitement of the world's most famous dog show. Her mother, Jessica DuPont, joins the conversation to talk about Michayla's lifelong connection with animals and the remarkable determination that has helped her continue pursuing her dreams through serious health challenges.

But the heart of Michayla's story is her extraordinary bond with dogs. She introduces Jill to her beloved Rottweiler Layla and explains how being surrounded by dogs gives her happiness, comfort and a safe place during difficult times. Whether she's training, grooming or showing dogs, Michayla says they help make her fears and worries disappear.

It's an inspiring story about the Westminster Dog Show, a remarkable young handler and the unconditional love of dogs that gives one courageous 11-year-old strength, hope and happiness when she needs it most.

And later in the show, we go from dynamo dogs to fabulous felines as we go on location with our cat correspondent Deborah Cribbs.   

Listen to Episode #79 Now:

Transcript:

Hi, welcome to Rappaport to the Rescue. I'm Jill Rappaport. With Valentine's Day coming up, I have got the ultimate love story between a young, courageous girl and the irreplaceable bond she has with her beloved dogs that have truly changed her life forever.

Today, you're going to meet Michayla Hopkins, and please remember that name because this 11-year-old is one of the most inspirational young girls you will ever meet. You see, Michayla is battling a rare form of cancer that does not respond to chemotherapy, but she has gotten so much strength, hope, and happiness from the amazing dogs that surround her. And just last week, Michayla made history by competing against adults, one of three ever, in the Best of Breed rounds for Vizslas at the 150th Westminster Dog Show, which was truly a once-in-a-lifetime dream come true for her.

So, when we come back, you are not going to want to miss this interview with this extraordinary child, Michayla Hopkins. Welcome back to Rappaport to the Rescue. I'm Jill Rappaport, and I couldn't be happier to introduce you to our next guest, who is truly remarkable and so incredibly courageous.

This is not only a beautiful love story, just in time for Valentine's Day, between a young girl and her amazing dogs, but it is also the ultimate Who Rescued Who celebration. This young lady with us today is Michayla Hopkins, who's only 11 years old and made history last week at the 150th Westminster Dog Show as one of the youngest handlers they've ever had. And this experience was something Michayla has dreamt about since she could walk and talk.

She has loved dogs since the day she was born, and participating in the most famous dog show in the world really does prove that miracles can come true. She has gone for her dream and pursued it with guts and gusto, despite the fact that she has debilitating health challenges. And I am so honored to meet you, Michayla.

And you're with your mother, Jessica DuPont. And who is that cute fur angel sitting in your lap? This is Layla. Layla, oh, so beautiful.

How many dogs do you have at home? I have two. Tell me about Layla and your other dog. Layla's a six-year-old Rottweiler and her brother Roscoe.

He's about five. About five? Between four and five. Well, I can see, by the way, Layla is just hanging out and melting in your lap and your hands.

Boy, does this dog love you. And I want to talk about your love of dogs. And you're only 11 years old, but I know this started from the minute you could walk and talk.

Right, Michayla? Yeah. Tell me about the love of dogs. Where did it begin? How did you know that you were meant to be surrounded by dogs, Michayla? Everything came so easily.

The dogs, they fight great to her, no matter which dog, any place she is, they come right to her. They just know when they look in Michayla's eyes, they're in a safe place. Correct.

Michayla, talk about what do these dogs do for you? They make me happy. That's your happy place, right? To be surrounded with them? Yeah. And this has been such an incredible month for you.

Just last week, you were at the biggest dog show in the world. And at 11 years old, you were strutting your stuff at the Westminster Dog Show as a handler. You were one of the three youngest handlers of all time, and the first to be paired with adults.

Can you put into words, Michayla, what that experience was like for you? It was really cool, rewarding, exciting. Were you nervous? Yeah. The audience was like really big, and I'm not used to a big audience like that.

Tell us, so what was that like? How did that affect you? Here you're a handler, and you were walking out Sonny the Vizsla, and you have to like stay in pace with this dog. I was trying to keep up with Sonny. And how did you do? Good.

Did you love it? Tell me what it felt like to be in that ring. It was really exciting. So as a little girl, and you're still only 11 years old, we have to remind our audience, when did you realize at what age that this is what you wanted to do? Go to these incredible shows and be a handler.

Seven years old. At seven, that's when you knew? Yeah. So how did you set your sights out to do it? My grandmother.

Your grandmother was the one that prompted you to get into this? Yeah. Unbelievable. And who was the first doggie that you actually got to show, and what show was it? I mean nothing compares with the Westminster Dog Show, but what was your first experience in front of a live audience being a handler? The Brooklyn Fairground with a miniature American Shepherd named Frankie.

How did you do? I took best of opposite. Wow, that's pretty good. Now here you're setting your sights out on the biggest show in the world.

How did that come to be? One of my friends, Sarah, the professional handler, she needed help. The owner of the dog really wanted me to show Sunny, so I showed her. Could you believe that they came to you and said, we want you to take the reins and bring this dog to the biggest show in the world? No, I didn't really believe it at first, but then I got there.

Wow, and I saw so many beautiful pictures of you. I know that you went into hair and makeup, and you had a beautiful outfit on. How did it feel to be all glammed up for the big event, Michayla? That felt really good.

Well, you looked absolutely beautiful. And how did you and Sunny do? What was the final outcome? We did great, but we didn't get anything. Hey, as far as I'm concerned in the rest of the world, I think you won just by getting to the Westminster Dog Show.

Don't you feel that way, Michayla? Yeah. It's a real honor, and I'd like to talk to your incredible mom about what your daughter was like and how you knew and at what age that this was where she was meant to be and what she was meant to be doing. She's always been great with animals, all animals.

She's been great with, loved them, always wanted to be around them. It was my mother and her started doing the dog showing and the agility and the grooming, and that was it. She took off.

She took off, and now it's something that they really, really enjoy to do together. So when you find out that your 11-year-old daughter is going to be in the Westminster Dog Show on the 150th anniversary, no doubt, what did you say? What did you feel? I was shocked. Not something shocking for her.

I mean, she just excels in anything and everything she does, but it was just amazing that she would be able to be given the chance. She's met such amazing people that have really given her such an incredible support group throughout this whole process with the dog. Yes, this has been a very difficult time for you health-wise, Michaela, and you are such an inspiration to people of all ages.

Your determination and your love of life. Tell me about that and how you get through the hard times. What helps you do that? Dogs.

Dogs. Yeah, it's her safe place and what she looks forward to. And during these times when you're dealing with your health, do you think about that? Do the dogs take those woes and fears away from you? It's like it disappears.

So they're the ultimate therapy for you. Yeah. That is amazing.

Tell me how you're doing now and what you're going through and how you're feeling. I'm doing good. She's been feeling very well.

She does the immunotherapy infusions every three weeks. She does amazing through those. I've never met anybody more brave and more courageous than she is.

She just goes through it. I mean, she just tackles everything head on. Doesn't let it hinder anything that she does.

And as her mother, that must be so incredible for you to see the type of child she is and the type of young lady you've raised. Yeah, I'm so proud of her and so incredibly proud. And during the tough times, can you put into words, Michaela, what these dogs do for you? They make me really comfortable.

They make me feel like forget about everything. Tell me about the training process, what goes into it and why you possess that special talent. There's a lot of training, like grooming and knowing what other dogs need.

There's a lot of training you have to put into it. And you don't look at it as work. It's pure joy for you.

Yeah. And when you're not in school or going through therapy for your health, this is what you're doing every waking hour, every minute is working with these dogs. Pretty much.

Most bars. She does take time for friends too. Well, you have to do that.

And you've become a little celebrity in the last week. You are everywhere on every network and People Magazine. It was amazing the coverage that you got.

Jessica, what does it mean to you to see where she's at now and what she accomplished? Well, it means everything. We just want her to keep going and keep thinking about what she wants to do in the future so that she can get through every obstacle that comes her way. And is that what you taught her, especially during these challenging times with her health? What we're trying to work on, along with my mother and her father and everybody trying to just make sure that she doesn't dwell on what's going on and focus on the good, the positive.

And it seems to me, Michaela, you're doing a wonderful job at that. You must be so proud and happy. Look at what you've accomplished, right? Yeah.

Thank you. Well, I also want to tell our listeners that there has been a GoFundMe campaign set up. Is that still in place? And can we tell people where they can go to donate to Michaela's health and to her treatments? Because that is of utmost importance.

Of course. We did set one up. There was difficulties in the beginning with work and just any things going forward.

It's just a regular GoFundMe account for Michaela Hopkins, and it's done very well. Our support system has been absolutely incredible. People are absolutely amazing.

And you're encouraging people to please go there. They can read Michaela's story. This is so important because this is an expensive ordeal, not to mention emotionally draining, and it will certainly help for people to know about this campaign to help donate towards her health and well-being.

No, of course. Of course. Anything helps in prayers.

We really ask for prayers if possible. How do you hold up during these times? What gives you the strength to go on? Seeing her happy does a lot of it, but it's not easy because there's no fix. As a mother, you just want to fix it, and there's no right answer.

I mean, there's no wrong answer. There's no answer, and that's tough when you can't just fix it. But we're doing the best we can.

And listen, with the power of prayer and love and hope, miracles do happen. Correct. Yes, exactly.

That's what we are hoping for. And Michaela, you got a miracle last week just by getting into the Westminster Dog Show, so you have to believe in everything going forward, right? Yeah, definitely. I can't thank you enough for being on this show.

I want to wish you all the most beautiful Valentine's Day. You as well. Thank you.

Oh, you're so welcome. So much for having us. Thank you for being here.

Michaela, you're going to love this next segment because when we come back, we're going to go from dogs to cats because I have a special cat correspondent, Deborah Cribs, who brings us all the latest feline news from all over the country, so stay tuned.

"Rappaport to the Rescue" Theme Song Written & Produced by Mark Winter
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