Oh my Duke, my sweet handsome boy. He is and will forever be my soul doggie. I got Duke as my high school graduation gift, I remember telling my mom that I wanted a little cream frenchie, and boy did I get just that and more. I got a best friend, a ray of sunshine of the gloomy days, and a boy that loved me for just who I am, and he always made sure I knew it too. From a very young age Duke has had medical issues, and as I am his mommy I knew my ultimate role was to caretake and be his voice, and help when it was needed. Duke had very very good days, but also a handful of not so good, as each year of life Duke almost acquired a different problem, and as a young girl just stepping out into the great big world I was trying to understand why my Duke? Just in the past few years Duke was diagnosed with epilepsy, I had every amount of testing done for my guy and there was nothing that showed where the seizures were coming from nothing detrimental, so that is why they just diagnose it as epilepsy, as I understood there isn’t really a cause but just might be a disconnect of signals to the brain. For years I altered my life to Mr duke, things like making my bed low enough for him to safely get up and down, have special doggie foods/ treats that wouldn’t interfere with this disease, and had many many sleepless nights, honestly really slept with one eye open just so I could comfort my baby if he were to have an episode and I would do it all again in a heart beat for my boy. Just the start of this year Duke was miraculously seizure free, we were so happy that our little guy wasn’t suffering from having these episodes anymore, and knew the medicine must be helping, and as for any dog parent that has dealt epilepsy knows just how heartbreaking it is to see them go through this. As we were just able to celebrate this disease being under control, what arose was something I never even imagined. In April 2025 my handsome guy was now diagnosed with CHF. My heart was so torn, but I had hope that we can too get this under control, even if I knew time was cut shorter. Duke fought so hard day in and day out, even on days when he didn’t feel like showing up he still did, and he did it for me. I cant ever thank my guy enough. His love was just so pure and kind. Months had passed and duke was managing, but did acquire pneumonia just a few months into the year. Once again my heart was broke, I couldn’t understand why, he is already going through so much, but again Duke pulled through and bounced back like never before almost as if he were his puppy self again. Now here in September Duke and I share a very close birthday as he is one day before mine and I never thought he wouldn’t be here for his 8th birthday. The day came that I had to make the most difficult and painful decision, a decision that I dreaded the single moment I brought him home, but I knew it was time and my duty to help my Duke, and how could I not? I owe it all to him not to hurt. Even in the last moments Duke still found ways to show me how much he loved me. Duke will have a piece of my heart for all my days. I thank Jesus for him and the life he was granted to me. I pray to see him in a better place one day soon. May my handsome Duke rest ever so peacefully in the beautiful clouds. Till me meet again boof 🤍
Brooke Brown, Las Vegas
2017-09-26 - 2025-09-22