Yesterday was a good day. Ava has now been fever free for 48 hours. She was able to visit with friends and her uncle without worrying about nausea, pain, or headaches. She was included in and made decisions about her care. This gave her ownership over her treatment plan. She received a very sweet care package from HR friends and got the Legos set she ordered. All these things are great and brought her such peace and normalcy.

The one thing that motivated her, the one that got her moving, walking her ten laps around the floor and venturing down to Balducci’s, was her puppy. At work we’re told at every PD event or conference to find our why. To figure out why we decided to take on the career we did. What motivates us. Wesley is her motivation. He is her why. He is the reason she’s working so hard to keep moving, eating when she doesn’t want to, and drinking tons of water. Seeing him is her current goal. Getting home to him as soon as possible is her bigger goal.

So to all the parents out there whose children are begging for that pet, be it a dog or a cat, just do it. Get it for them. I won’t lie and say pet ownership is easy. Yes, you’ll probably fight with your kids and SOs over who should walk him in the snow or pouring rain or change the litter box. Yes, they’ll chew up your things, shed all over, and potentially ruin your brand new hardwood floors. But they’ll also comfort your children when your unable to. They’ll listen to their worries, secrets, and complaints. That pet will bring routine and structure to their lives when it feels like everything else is falling apart.

Kevin has always claimed he wasn’t a Wesley fan. Yet more then once he’s told me how he misses him. He sees the fire he lights in Ava when he says “it will get you home to Wesley sooner”. So parents say yes, that pet fill your child with happiness, bring them peace, and keep them going. You never know when that pet you didn’t want will be your fiercest ally.