In 2022, I had reached the highest point of stress in my life. My husband was the CEO of a company that took him two decades to build, and I was functioning as his head of HR and Corporate Attorney at the time. We were drowning in keeping our heads above water after the devastating effects of COVID-19 for two grueling years. Despite this, I managed to squeeze in appointments to manage his persistent complaints of night sweats and intense itching. He was misdiagnosed for a couple of years, getting told it was the effects of the COVID-19 vaccine, eczema, and pneumonia.
In the fall of 2022, when we were really stretched thin on resources and time, I managed to orchestrate another quick look at my husband’s illness after watching him cough incessantly for months. We were devasted to then learn that my husband had Stage 3 Hodgkins Lymphoma. This came as a complete shock to me. Our three children and I had always leaned on my husband as our rock and pillar of mental strength. I knew I had to find an inner strength to be a foundation for my husband and children moving forward. In functioning at a high coping level with very little time for self-care and self-reflection, I developed symptoms of C-PTSD, depression, and anxiety, which are natural effects in dealing with the unforeseen stress of potentially losing a loved one.
There were several stressors out of my control that I had to deal with over the year-long journey since adopting Enzo. The cancer left and came back with a vengeance, and my husband had to undergo a bone marrow transplant very quickly to stop this aggressive disease. I began training him as my Service Dog six months ago, and our bond has become the foundation I have needed to keep me centered throughout the roller coaster of emotions I have been experiencing.
Enzo has been the light of our family’s life, keeping us centered and mindful to enjoy the present moments. Enzo is trained to apply deep-pressure therapy in times of high anxiety, intense emotions, and debilitating illness. He is the rock we need and brings us together by keeping intense emotions and suffering in check and loving us unconditionally with his sweet personality. We are now enjoying my husband’s time in remission, and we thank Enzo for being there for us no matter what we are facing.
