As we spend our first weekend at home with Eddie after his first (half) week of radiation treatment for a brain tumor, I’ve been reflecting on our little family’s lives the past 10+ years, and how impactful and important Eddie has been to all of us.

I grew up in a pet-free home (minus the occasional goldfish here and there), but I always envisioned having a dog, even from a young age. There were many failed attempts as a young child to convince my parents that we needed a dog. The response I would consistently get…”Can’t happen, both your dad and brother are severely allergic. Hats off to both of them for picking a solid excuse and sticking to it…though I must note that both my dad and brother seem to have miraculously cured themselves of this “severe” allergy, both having had no problems spending lots of time with our dogs…

While I knew there was no way I was going to get my parents to break and get a dog, I always looked forward to the future, when I would have my own home and no “allergy” restrictions holding me back from finally getting a dog. As time flew by and life carried on, I finally got to the point in life where it made the most sense to get a dog. In the search to find the perfect dog, it took me a while to get to Eddie, but when I finally did, I knew right away he was perfect.

At the time that I got Eddie (at just 8 weeks old), I was temporarily living at my parents’ house. While I knew I’d be in my own place in the near future, the phone to my mom (who was away for business) to inform her that a dog now lived in her home (something she NEVER anticipated)…needless to say, it didn’t go over all that well. Though the reception from afar may not have gone smoothly, I knew that once she met little Eddie, she’d fall in love. Sure enough, within no time Eddie became a much loved member of the family.

Fast forward to marrying my wife, Anna, and living in our home with Eddie, we could not imagine our family without him. This really speaks to not only Eddie’s importance, but I think the importance of family dogs in general. They so quickly become the heart of a family. They provide support and love in so many ways, and in some of the most vulnerable times. They are there for you, ready at any moment to carry out their “family duty”, making you laugh, comforting you when you cry, teaching you valuable lessons in being an adult, and providing unconditional love from the very first moment they join your family.

As humans, we often get caught up in our daily routines, going to work, coming home, and getting up and doing it all over again. As our family works through this challenge, it has me reflecting on how quickly time has gone by, and how grateful I am for every moment we get to spend with Eddie. Thankfully, with the radiation treatment he is going through, we will have 2 more years to try to take a moment, stop the rush of everyday routine, and enjoy every moment we have left with Eddie. We are so thankful for Eddie and the joy he continues to bring our lives, and we cannot express enough gratitude for the wonderful care he is receiving at UW Veterinary Care, and the new lease on life they have given him, but more importantly, the support they are providing for our family by helping to keep our heart beating.

-Michael