No one is ever fully ready for the deep ache that arrives when we must say a final goodbye to someone who means everything to us. For dogs, their whole universe revolves around their chosen human, and sometimes the moment they dread most quietly arrives.
Gaia, a gentle nine-year-old Husky, had spent her brightest days faithfully beside Sandra, her 80-year-old companion, and she could not picture life any other way.
Everything shifted when Sandra’s health declined and she was admitted to the hospital, leaving Gaia alone in their longtime Dallas, Texas home. From that moment forward, the world felt unfamiliar and uncertain.
A Walk That Changed Everything
During her early days without Sandra, Gaia carried a deep sadness that showed in every step she took.
Just as it seemed she might never feel a warm human presence again, help arrived from someone living only a few steps away.
Sandra’s neighbor, Lisa Kanarek, walked past the house and immediately noticed Gaia’s sorrowful expression. Moved by the sight, she decided to take Gaia for a walk to bring her some relief.
That one walk quickly grew into a daily routine. For three weeks, they continued to grow closer until Lisa received a call from Sandra’s friend, Gilda Levy, that altered Gaia’s future.
“Two weeks before Sandra [passed away], [Levy] said, ‘I don’t know if you’ve thought about this, but would you like to take her?’” Lisa told CBS News.
Lisa understood what this request meant and knew she could not say no.
When the day finally came and Sandra passed away, the home became silent. Before the weight of that loss settled in, Lisa gently clipped Gaia’s leash and guided her toward a new beginning.
Finding Purpose After Loss
Those daily walks brought comfort to Gaia and helped her move through the heaviest days of grief. She especially brightened around children, which gave Lisa an idea. She believed Gaia had the ability to spread healing comfort to others.
With that hope, Lisa applied for a therapy dog program. Gaia was accepted, and on her first day at Children’s Medical Center Dallas, she made it clear she had found her calling.
Young patients gravitated toward her.
One 18-year-old named Brooklyn expressed his excitement: “Dogs are, like, the best thing that ever happened to me, like, in this hospital.”
But Gaia’s work was just beginning. While Sandra remained hospitalized, Lisa completed her own training to become an end-of-life doula. This experience inspired her to bring Gaia to hospice visits so she could comfort adults who were nearing the end of life.
Gaia adapted instantly. Her quiet presence brought peace to many who were struggling, and the effect she had on them confirmed what Lisa already believed.
Gaia’s new purpose was to bring emotional healing wherever she went.
Helping those in their most vulnerable moments has since become Gaia’s mission.
Carrying Her Owner’s Memory Forward
After losing the person she loved most, Gaia stepped into a life filled with connection, gratitude, and purpose. With every visit and every gentle moment she shares, she honors Sandra’s memory.
Deeply moved by Gaia’s transformation, Lisa wrote about their bond in an essay for the Washington Post:
“Gaia’s life changed when she became part of our family. She interacts with the kids down the street (her fan club) during our walks, and she provides laughter and levity to sick children, all with her tail wagging. She goes with us on road trips and to outdoor festivals where she knows that people will stop to run their hands down her fluffy back or ask her for a high-five.
“My life is different too. Meeting dozens of people during our visits has brought out the extrovert tendencies I lost during the pandemic. Before I knock on each patient’s door, I breathe in, then greet families with confidence, knowing the reaction my sidekick will receive. …”
“As we pass through the halls of children’s hospital, I think of Sandra and hope she’s smiling, knowing how much joy Gaia brings to everyone she meets.”
During her CBS News interview, Lisa struggled to hold back tears as she spoke about Sandra and the impact Gaia now has on so many lives.
“I don’t know. It’s just knowing the effect [Gaia] has on people. It makes me happy; it makes me sad, because I wish I had known Sandra better, but I think this is the way that I’m helping keep her memory alive,” she said.
Gaia continues to shine as the love Sandra left behind, bringing comfort to countless people and carrying her owner’s spirit with her every step of the way.
