12-year-old battling cancer gets surprise visit from furry star of 'A Dog's Purpose'

A 12-year-old girl battling brain cancer was treated to a special surprise recently when one of the screenwriters behind “A Dog’s Purpose” arranged for a private screening of the film, and a visit from one of the hit movie’s main stars.

Brooke Mulford, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in 2009, had a special wish to see the movie, but has been hospitalized at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, ABC News reported.

“She was admitted for the pain,” Amy Mulford, Brooke’s mother, told ABC News. “It was just getting worse and worse. It’s just about trying to get her comfortable. She’s not been able to walk for three weeks now. She can’t stand anymore.”

The New Jersey girl’s health troubles started when she had trouble straightening her legs following a long car ride, ABC News reported. Mulford rushed her to the hospital and on Jan. 5, 2009, Brooke was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma.

Over the following years she would undergo six rounds of chemotherapy, surgery, two stem cell transplants and radiation, but the cancer spread to her spine, ABC News reported. On Jan. 30, she had brain surgery to remove a tumor.

On March 11, Brooke took a break from dealing with cancer to enjoy a special wish that was granted after an online campaign connected her with Amblin Entertainment, the production company behind “A Dog’s Purpose.” The campaign reached one of the film’s screenwriters, Catheryn Michon, and her husband, the author of the original novel behind the blockbuster hit, ABC News reported.

The two sent Brooke T-shirts, a personalized copy of the book and arranged for a special screening at the hospital, complete with movie theater popcorn. They arrived at the hospital with one more surprise in store for Brooke, which was a visit from the one of film’s stars, a golden retriever named Tripp.

“The fact that so many people came together to make this happen for her was just incredible to me,” Mulford told ABC News. “She’s gone through so much in the last eight years, but really in the last couple months.”

Mulford posted photos from the star-studded visit on Facebook, which have been shared more than 350 times.