Our sweet Jackson has gone home. Today, we made the unbearably heavy decision to let him go.
Back in February, he was diagnosed with lymphoma, and the vets gave him 8 weeks. But in true Jackson fashion, he blew right past April and took on summer with his usual spirit. These last few weeks, though, it became clear that his body was struggling to keep up. His throat had gotten too small to breathe comfortably.
Keeping him here with us any longer felt like holding on for our sake, not his. Jack is a hero to our family, and we wanted to honor him by letting him go with the dignity he deserves.
In my life, loss has always been sudden and out of my control. This is the first time that I’ve had the responsibility of making this choice and having the opportunity to prepare my heart for the break that was coming. But the truth is:
No amount of preparation makes it easier. It just means the grief trickles in slowly rather than crashing all at once.
The kids are experiencing their first heartbreak, which is tough for us in itself, but we've been open with them throughout Jackson’s illness, answering every question with honesty. As hard as those conversations were, we wanted them to understand that life is both beautiful and hard.
Yes, life is full of love, laughter, and joy. But it’s also marked by loss, change, and heartbreak. That’s what makes life so rich—you love, and you lose. The time we have is a gift, and we’ve learned to cherish it, to be fully present in the little moments that make up this big, messy, wonderful life. Jackson was a million little moments of love, and those will be treasured forever.
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