- J
- J
It shatters me to share that on September 17, 2025, I lost my best friend, Stewie. For nearly 14 years, he was at the center of every decision I made. He was my rider, my shadow, and though it sounds dramatic, (quite literally) the heart of my life. He was the core of my most profound moments. Through heartbreaks and triumphs, quiet mornings and wild adventures, his presence shaped the way I experienced it all.
If you knew me, you knew of him and/or had met him (& were probably obsessed with that stupid face & spunky personality). He lived a life larger than most people could only dream to experience. He was a well-traveled, heart-stealing, toy hoarding, attention hog that left a lasting impression on everyone he met. Such a giant presence in a tiny frame. From my local Trader Joe’s to my dentist, everyone knew Stew. I took him everywhere (whether he was allowed or not -- I couldn't tell you which of us was considered more mischievous).
This past week, Stewie faced an uphill medical battle that became too much for his little body to carry. It's wildly heartbreaking how quickly things escalate in their bodies. After three hospital transfers, six days of critical care, and countless testing, his extensive list of diagnoses included:
- Diabetes (diagnosed in July, caused blindness in August, it was immediately difficult to manage, but even harder when he stopped eating)
- Pulmonary hypertension (serious and progressive, making it hard for him to breathe even with oxygen support)
- Protein-losing intestinal disease (a chronic illness that drained his strength and nutrition)
- Kidney changes / early kidney disease (limiting how aggressively some treatments could be used)
- Pancreatitis (painful and recurring, affecting his ability to eat and digest)
- Anemia (leaving him weak and without reserves)
- Infection (compounding his already fragile state)
- Bladder stones (recurring and painful, requiring urgent care)
- Likely Cushing’s disease (another suspected layer complicating everything further but could not test for it given his critical state)
Each of these conditions on their own can often be managed but together, they placed enormous strain on his body and were working against him. As a diabetic at his age, his reserves were already limited, and despite hospital stays, oxygen support, specialist after specialist, and various appetite stimulants, he went 6 days without food and his body was shutting down. He was tired. He was weak.
Letting him go was the hardest decision of my life. For such a little dog, he carried the biggest presence, and the silence he leaves behind is unbearable. I exhausted all options and I would do it all over again, because giving him every chance was the only choice my heart could make. In the end, I traded his discomfort for my pain.. so he could have peace, even if I was left shattered.
This GoFundMe is to help ease the quickly mounting costs of Stewie’s final fight for recovery. Just as importantly, it’s a way to celebrate the extraordinary life he lived and the countless lives he blessed.
Stewie was more than a dog, he was my soulmate and navigating daily life without him will be the hardest battle yet. I try to remember that I'm not the only one grieving his loss, he was loved by more people than he would ever understand.
Any support: donation, share, or prayer will help carry me through this loss. Thank you for standing with me during this difficult time.
If you're ever in need of a smile, there are many years of shenanigans documented on his IG: @StewieAndCairo
Rest in Light to The Littlest Legend.
January 21, 2012 - September 17, 2025