Angie Diehl
Board President and Constituent
- Company/Affiliation:Freelance social media and marketing consultant.
- Group:Board Of Directors
Angie Diehl
Board President and Constituent
I have been blessed to experience firsthand the life-changing impact a PawPADs assistance dog can have on a person’s life. My daughter, Ruby, was placed with Charlie in 2020 and their partnership has forever altered her life in the most positive ways. Charlie is Ruby’s faithful companion, always there to lend a helping paw or a gentle hug when she needs it the most. This partnership—and so many others—would not be possible without the amazing leadership, staff, volunteers and student interns at PawPADs. I am beyond proud to be part of an organization with such an incredible mission.”
Ruby is a 19-year-old girl with a rare genetic disorder called Stromme Syndrome, which causes vision impairment, microcephaly, intestinal problems, slowed growth and developmental delays. Doctors said Ruby would not walk, talk or do much of anything at all, but she has proven them all wrong. She can see light and colors but she is not able to navigate in the community without help. Angie is Ruby’s momma and fearless advocate.
Angie and Ruby love recording videos of silly conversations and day-to-day activities. These videos motivate Ruby to try harder and make her laugh when she hears her own voice. Angie decided to start sharing these videos on Instagram, and apparently people really like them! One of Ruby’s videos went viral in May 2017 and has been viewed more than 500k times!
Angie and Ruby were never expecting this sudden attention, but they are excited to share their lives and journey with as many people as possible. They hope that their photos, videos and stories will bring joy to others and spread awareness of all of the special gems there are in this world.
Some of Ruby’s favorite things include Frozen, Frozen Fever, any other Disney movie, Elmo, playing Miracle League baseball, horseback riding, and Charlie (who is commonly featured in her Instagram videos). She also loves learning words in new languages and enjoys listening to Frozen’s Let it Go in 50 different languages! Someday, Ruby hopes to have a job working with animals. She is a self-professed “dog person,” just like her momma!