A loyal dog’s final farewell to her owner, who was dying of a brain bleed, was captured in a touching video.
Ryan Jessen, a California man, suffered a ventricular brain hemorrhage in November 2016 and never recovered. He was hospitalized with what he thought was a migraine.
On November 30, his family and friends gathered around his hospital bed to say goodbye to him. They also brought his faithful boxer dog Mollie, who was allowed by the hospital staff to see him one last time.
The emotional moment was captured on video and has since been shared on Facebook where it has so far touched the hearts of hundreds thousands of people.
‘The hospital did the sweetest thing for us and allowed us to bring my brother’s dog in to “say goodbye” so she’d know why her human never came home,’ his sister, Michelle Jessen, wrote in a Facebook post on December 1.
‘If you knew my brother, he really loved his sweet dog.’
Tail between her legs and ears pinned down an upset looking Mollie is seen desperately sniffing her dying owner when she is lifted onto his hospital bed.
The video has since been viewed more than eight million times and has been shared more than 80,000 times.
The Facebook post has been flooded with an outpouring of support from well-wishers.
‘THANK YOU to everybody for the outpouring of support, but I won’t be responding anymore,’ Michelle Jessen wrote.
‘We are sincerely touched and humbled by others’ stories, their sharing in our sadness and the kindness of so many people.
‘Don’t worry about the dog! We’re keeping her!!! She’s part of the family.’
A photo of Mollie was later shared by Ryan’s mother showing the dog lying on a couch.
‘Mollie will miss her doggy daddy,’ his mother Laurie Ann Hickenlooper Jessen wrote.
Miss Jessen added that doctors think her brother’s brain hemorrhage was brought on by high blood pressure, with speculation that his ‘frequent consumption of energy drinks’ may have contributed.
His organs were donated and his sister noted on December 1 that a 17-year-old from California, whose birthday is on Christmas day, received her brother’s heart.
‘As sad as it is to lose Ryan, we know his heart is going to bring so much joy to the family of the recipient,’ she wrote.
‘I wish Ryan could know what a difference his heart will make for that young man.’
His mother added that the family were ‘grateful’ for all the support they had received.
She said: ‘We release him, with gratitude, to give the gift of life through the organ donor program to waiting recipients.
‘We have personally, and prayerfully, received much support, for which we are gratefully indebted to each and every kindness. It happened so quickly.’
