06/25/2026
In 2018, my life took an unexpected turn, leaving me feeling isolated and uncertain. The thought of bringing a dog into my hectic nursing schedule and apartment felt overwhelming. Yet, during my search, I stumbled upon a face that captivated my heart: Bacardi, who was then known as Wendy.
Wendy had wandered into a cantina alley in Puerto Rico, clutching her baby after the devastation of Hurricane Maria. She lay beneath a checker table, as if pleading for help. A stray after the storm, Wendy endured the loss of her home and family, not knowing where to seek refuge for months. After treatment for heartworm and a journey to regain her strength with an amazing foster, she made her way to the states, destined to find her forever home.
From the moment I met her, I sensed our connection. She was my soul dog, a survivor through and through. A gem of a dog who still would show off all her commands in both English and Spanish. Despite her past, she radiated love for every person and creature she encountered.
During the height of COVID, Bacardi faced yet another challenge of her life: acute kidney failure. After three harrowing nights in an emergency vet, where I couldn’t be by her side, the doctors told me she was shutting down. But just as she had never given up on me, I refused to give up on her. Through countless hours of meal prepping and a mix of medications and holistic vitamin regimen, she defied the odds and we healed, together.
We have embraced countless adventures: from the Jersey Shore to Philadelphia, swimming in streams, hiking, and enjoying overnights with her grandma and pop-pop. Each experience was a treasure, and I promised her we’d live out her golden years on the sunny West Coast. Together, we made that dream a reality moving to Los Angeles in September.
In February, after a joyful trip to Malibu where she delighted in the crashing of waves… one of her favorite activities, something changed when we returned home. A sudden rush to the vet revealed that she was bleeding from her spleen, likely due to hemangiosarcoma. Just as I was prepared to say my goodbyes, she stood up, looked at me, then at the door, and began to walk toward it, as if to say, “Not yet, Mom. Let’s go home.” And so we did.
From that moment, she began to fight back yet again. She found joy in playing, relished her favorite cookies, and savored steak dinners. However, the recent news of a new mass on her heart has now cast a shadow over our time together. I know I can’t change this reality, and it breaks my heart.
Facing this heartbreaking cancer diagnosis, I reflect on the incredible light Bacardi has brought into my life. She deserves to be celebrated every single day she has left. The thought of a future without her terrifies me, but I hold on to the love we’ve shared, knowing it will always remain in my heart.
Bacardi, you are forever my joy, a true warrior with an unyielding will to live life to the fullest. You are my companion, my soul dog. Thank you for every countless moment we’ve shared. I will carry you in my heart forever my angel girl.