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G’s Last Stand/Lukas' Final Journey, 2450 Riverside Ave, Minneapolis, MN (2026)

07/28/2026

Lukas’ Final Journey!!! Day 19-21

Every memorable road trip involves three essential ingredients: storms, rainbows, and pots of gold…

The storms may be meteorological in nature, and though the ones seen from afar—-such as rain pouring from the clouds over the mountains like tiny wispy waterfalls, silenced only by the distance—tend to be preferable, sometimes even the downpours that force you to take shelter under the closest brick tent lead to most memorable and poignant moments, once safety is achieved, of course… (see photo for actual evidence of said “brick tent,” technically not taken from Lukas’s Final Journey, but as part of the initial road trip to see RUSH that was thwarted x 2)… And those made of dust are honestly kind of mesmerizing to us folks from the Midwest, who don’t experience those sorts of things every day…

Sometimes the storms are the unexpected cancellations (see above), road closures, traffic delays of unknown origin, inaccurate hotel descriptions, and stolen credit cards that lead to a cloud of traveler’s angst, forcing one to make the arduous decision to bag the trip or keep going…(Note: We ALWAYS choose the latter, given my motto, “This is terrible. Keep going.“)

Because…After the storm…Comes the rainbow….

Again, sometimes it is that wonderful prismatic beauty in the sky as a result of beams of sunlight traversing through water droplets in the atmosphere… If one is fortunate enough, you get the rainbow without the rain, having skirted the storm, but even if you get both, atmospheric conditions count on precipitation falling somewhere for that light-refraction hue delight to occur…And the rainbow is the reward…Or as I like to think of it, that whole adage from a song I once heard in a yoga class but have never been able to track down, “You gotta feel the lows to feel the highs.”

Sometimes the “rainbows” are things like flexible Airbnb owners who adjust reservations to accommodate plans changing to maximize family/dog time, surprise mega-Friends-fan-girl moments to sit on THE orange couch (could I BE any more thrilled?!), coupled with unexpected bonus Harry Potter experiences, finding a lone local dining establishment that’s miraculously still open after a looooong day of driving, kind restaurant owners that buy your breakfast, and finding two additional concert tickets adjacent to the originals so that the whole family can enjoy the epic musical adventure…

And then there are the “pots of gold”…

While, unfortunately, they are only metaphorical, these magical happenstance situations are truly what take an ordinary road trip and elevate it to…EXTRAORDINARY.

We were so fortunate to have many “pots of gold” on Lukas’ Final Journey—-those bits of next-level joy that we were NEVER expecting, but transformed what was already an amazing trip, to be beyond our dreams…

Top “pots” include:
— Lukas and Isadora getting their own stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
—The look on his face when Lukas got roughly eleventy billion hi-fives, fist bumps, and cheers as he held up as his sign that read “It’s my 18th birthday and my first RUSH concert”
-The out-of-absolutely-nowhere transcendent hummingbird photo bomb as Michael and I posed with our VIP coffee mugs and the red rocks of Sedona behind us
-And finally…An impromptu stop at Del’s in Tucumcari, New Mexico, which we have since discovered is known as the “Heart of the Mother Road”…So, after our bittersweet departure from Sedona, it seemed perfectly planned that we would be pulled to be there…The evening turned from a “rainbow”, of so-grateful-you’re-still-open, to a “pot of gold”, as in, thanks-for-letting-us-close-down-the-place-in-a-major-way as we chatted with the amazing staff and owner, Chase, about our family story, the journey we’ve been on, both these past years, as well as what brought us to land in their fabulous little diner on Route 66…We stayed long past the “Open” sign was no longer illuminated, and eventually left with very full bellies and hearts, plus a pile of souvenirs (including, but not limited to, “Route 66 Monopoly to add to our extensive collection of various forms of the classic game,) so grateful to have ended up there, in the presence of such a fantastic group of humans, who undoubtedly are now officially part of our misfit family and the tale of our life!

We are now home and actually have been for a few days, but been so crazy trying to re-enter life that I have not had time to sit down and finish this post (having fallen asleep from sheer exhaustion many times attempting to do so 🙃)…

I just have to say, that as anticipated and hoped, Lukas’ Final Journey was such an unforgettably fabulous time as a family, and we are all beyond grateful for the outpouring of support and kindness from family, friends and strangers alike…And in our world, ALL of you—-the amazing humans who have been following along, taking the time to learn about our story, and have made any demonstration of generosity and/or positivity—well, you’re stuck with us now! Even though this road trip is done, we hope you’ll remain along for the ride! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to everyone— I truly mean it when I say we could NOT have done it without you, and as Lukas would say, STAY MAGICAL!!! 💚💖💫🪄

https://gofund.me/bb41d0787

07/20/2026

Lukas’ Final Journey!!! Day 15-18

💫💙SEDONA💜💫💚💫🩷💫

Throughout my entire life, or at least as long as my consciousness recalls, I have never felt as though any place I’ve lived has truly been HOME. Sure, I’ve loved certain domiciles and quite enjoyed some of the people that have surrounded me, but nonetheless, I’ve always struggled with belonging and feeling rooted anywhere.

As many of you fantastic followers are aware, when we were just over a month into G’s Last Stand and closing in on what I knew were his final earthly days, we stopped in Sedona, Arizona for what was intended to be an impromptu surprise lunch at the iconic, one-in-over-44,000, teal-arched McDonald’s. However, other powerful energetic plans were in play, and ultimately we stayed for nearly a month, holding space for Giacomo’s transcendent launch out of this dimension on January 25, 2025, and then for our grief during the necessary post-physical life stage.

A couple of months later, I returned Sedona on a solo trip to complete the color portion of my ink masterpiece of a memorial tattoo for him, starring the red-tailed hawk, G’s chosen spirit animal, atop Bell Rock, one of the most powerful energy vortices in Sedona, along with a cartouche with his initials in hieroglyphics to incorporate his fascination with mummies, and a wise owl as an additional messenger and in honor of the “Owl House” Airbnb where we spent our sacred time. While I knew that I would be a flurry of emotions returning to the site of such profound heartbreak, what I did not expect as I drove up I-17 from Phoenix, tears cascading down my cheeks as I blasted the “G’s Last Stand” playlist, was that, with each passing cactus, I felt like—for the first time in my existence—I was going HOME.

That same feeling came over me when Lukas and Isadora joined me to make the long trek last fall to donate Giacomo’s remaining medical supplies to the community and hospice agency that had provided our entire family with ultimate compassion and kindness during G’s remaining time….

And it was palpable again the other evening, even as soon as we entered New Mexico and the terrain changed from the desolate plains of west Texas to the other-worldly rock formations, bathing in a concoction of the setting sun and the heat-quenching occasional downpour, sprinkled with a lightning show that went on for hours as we crossed the border into Arizona, eventually making the curvy and breathtaking trip down Oak Creek Canyon, into the lights of Sedona, calling us HOME, even in the foggy and drizzly darkness…

Our time in Sedona was definitely too short, but after two action-packed weeks, it was essential to spend some time being a little more inward, a little more relaxed, and taking in as much of the wonder, spiritual energy, and resplendence that only can be found there in the red rocks and pure MAGIC of the Coconino Forest….

I took the kids to Slide Rock State Park for a natural water park adventure that honestly puts other man-made aquatic features (and even other natural ones we love) to shame…I believe my actual quote was, “This place is like Minnehaha Falls (a family favorite spot) on red rock crack!!” I was not planning on partaking in a trip down the algae-covered rock slide, as the water was quite chilly and I was a little afraid, but given the fact that we’re on a “once-in-a-lifetime” trip to fulfill Lukas’ wishes, there was really no way for me to say anything other than “I guess I am!” when he asked if I was going to have turn after he and Isadora bravely raced down the path of slippery rocks, with little pools of unknown dunking capabilities along the way. I’ll include their videos and refrain from sharing mine, in an effort to maintain my pride, leaving you to imagine what my move that I named “beached whale turns stop-drop-and-roll” looked like, which was far from graceful, but effective to navigate the course and keep my head above water…The three of us clearly had a blast and Isadora even got her first taste of cliff-jumping (after, of course, I watched a BUNCH of other people do it to ensure the water was deep enough to do safely!)

It was a bit of a bummer that Micheal had to work a good portion of our time in Sedona, but we still packed in as much of the magic as we could. This included sipping coffee from our new RUSH mugs, admiring the view from our front porch, during which time we had the BEST photo bomb of a hummingbird that flew in just as I was snapping a pic!! This was only my second hummingbird sighting of the ENTIRE summer, despite having a pollinator garden in very full bloom and five other feeders back in Minnesota. The other one stopped by in a similar fashion when he and I were having coffee in Grand Junction earlier in the trip, and this particular one came back for a much longer feeding time, which was super entertaining and a lovely Gianna-like reminder that all things happen in their own time, and often the best ones are the most unexpected…

We also made the time to take a little off-road vortex tour that fortuitously was extended by a whole extra hour, adding on a completely different adventure to the experience, after realizing that some of the other planned spots had been washed out in the deluge of rain the night before (a most-welcome gift after the recent fires had shut down the town pretty much right up until we arrived!) Though I had been on part of the Schnebly Hill rock formations on my solo trip, our incredible guide, Raven, ultimately brought us to a place none of us had been to before, one of the most sacred ceremonial places in the area, where we had the rare opportunity of being the only ones there, with ample time to just soak in the energy of it all…

That unexpected bit of peace atop the flat rock gave me some moments to reflect on all that Sedona has become for me and for my family, as the makeup of it has evolved so much over these last few years…There has been so much pain, but also so much love, and through it all, we have created and carved out the most sacred time together…

The rocks in the particular place we were—Schnebly Hill—are known to be the most erosion-resistant in the area. The red hue of the rocks of Sedona is iron oxide, brought about by leftover mineral deposits from the sea that covered that landscape millions of years ago. And while most people associate rust (AKA iron oxide) with the breakdown of materials, in the case of these magical rocks, the fine layer of dark red dust actually makes them stronger and less susceptible to erosion…

And there as we sat (and some of us cried), I thought about how all of this tragedy and trauma has dusted us with a layer that, just like that rusty powder, might seem detrimental to others or in other circumstances, but is actually a protective layer for us. It makes us not only more resilient, but also far more aware of the fragility of life, more in tune with our greater consciousness, and more grateful for what we have, as we know how much it matters, and how abruptly it can be taken away….

https://gofund.me/bb41d0787h

07/16/2026

Lukas’ Final Journey!!! Day 13-14!

The (Birthday Surprise/Bonus) Texas Leg:

Music has always been a deeply meaningful part of the way our family navigates the ever-evolving weather patterns of our life journey…It’s been just as (if not more) important and profound during the stormy times as it has been a part of the sunny days, with a multitude of playlists for all occasions, ranging from “Gianna Rocks Her Birthday,” to “Surgery Survival Songs,” to “Our Beautiful Mess.”

So it’s not shocking that Lukas has created a playlist for this “Final Journey” trip, but it is, perhaps, of note that he actually started this collection of tunes during “G’s Last Stand,” as part of his unwavering determination to live and die with intention, and as much on his own terms as possible, which includes gathering music to accompany this sacred process…

Prior to starting this trip the “Lukas’ Final Journey” playlist included the cross-decade, cross-genre hits of “Only the Good Die Young,” “Drift Away,” and “I Lived.” We’ve been adding more along the way, and after finishing up Neil Peart’s “Far and Away,” I had his poignant and magical writing, and the music of RUSH, very much on my mind. (And if you aren’t sure who/what I’m talking about, revisit my earlier Day 2 post ☺️❤️‍🩹,) and as we were packing up to leave South Dakota for Colorado, I played the song, “Bravado” for the kids. Lukas read the lyrics along with the music, and within the first chorus, declared, “I need this on my playlist!”

Because I’m such a geek about the written word and the deeper meaning and story of just about everything, but especially music, I did a little deeper dive with him to collectively learn more about why this song is one of the favorites of all three bandmates. And to give it proper justice, here is what Neil had to say about the tune, starting with its resounding line and theme…

“‘We will pay the price, but we will not count the cost’ To me, it just means go for it. There are no failures of talent, only failures of character…The important thing is: if you fail once, or if your luck is bad this time, the dream is still there. A dream is only over if you give it up - or if it comes true.”

Truly, I don’t think there are any better words to sum up the way we live our lives in this family—Throughout all of these less than ideal circumstances, we just go for it. All of it. Even despite the bad luck that seems to color our world….All of the dreams persist until we’ve done everything possible to make them come true, because as a deeply rooted perfectionist (just as Mr. Peart was,) failure isn’t a long-term option for me.

This also brings us back to my Day 1 post, which involved a certain delayed x 2 epic RUSH concert, the second of which was supposed to become an early birthday surprise for Lukas, in that he and Isadora were now going to be able to join us, and the uncertainty of how exactly we were going to pull off making all of the dreams of this adventure come true…

Buuuuut…See above, and note that there was no way that we were NOT going to see that show, and make it happen for the kids to experience the sheer MAGNITUDE of musical and performance MAGIC that RUSH entails, so….Yeah, we scored two additional seats in the same row as our original, now rescheduled tickets, and yeah, we drove all the way from LA to Fort Worth on Lukas’ 18th birthday, and the kids got to bear witness to irrefutably the GREATEST band of all time (now with a top-notch fill-in for the late Neil Peart, who is never-to-be-replaced, but truly honored and held in the lyrical legacy he left in the most talented and capable hands possible…)

So yeah, if you’re tracking all this, that means that in order to see this show, we went from Minnesota to Texas and then to Wisconsin to get the kids, who were with my parents in order for Michael and I to go to the show, back to Minnesota, to South Dakota, to Colorado, to California, and then BACK to Texas…

And it was SOOOO worth it! The pictures and the smiles speak for themselves, but also do not even begin to depict the joy and wonder that Lukas and Isadora emanated, along with about 14,000 RUSH fans, many of whom gave Lukas a birthday wish, high five, fist bump, and/or other sign of their shared delight in him and his sister getting to experience the wonder and genuine genius of RUSH in this lifetime…

Oh and we threw a little extra surprise of a night at Great Wolf Lodge in there, just for a some extra special magic, because no one deserves it more than Lukas (and Isadora, who, of course, along for this amazing ride!)

I know I sound like a scratched vinyl, but thank you again to all who have supported, shared, and donated along the way—your kindness, love, and generosity is what is making it possible to add on these extra experiences and magic for Lukas, and we’re so grateful 🥹 🙏💫💚🩷💖

This is especially important and meaningful, as we are now on to the final leg of the adventure —-Sedona, Arizona—which many of you know is where Giacomo’s earthwalk ended, and is the place of so much love, poignancy, and bittersweet memories, but true sacredness for us…We are very much looking forward to a few days together as a family, taking in all the amazing energy and peace the land there has for us, and we will continue to hold you all in the magic of the journey!

https://gofund.me/bb41d0787

07/13/2026

Lukas’ Final Journey!!! Day 12!

The Los Angeles Leg, Day 3:

You know how I always try to say “yes” to my kids as much as possible? Well, when Lukas asked if he could get his name on a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, it was quite a personal bummer to have to say, “Sorry, buddy, but no.”….And just had him and Isadora pose by a blank Star as we were on our quest to find the RUSH one…

Buuuuut….as luck would have it, or a little happy twist of street vendor fate, if you will…

This happened, thus proving me wrong, turning my “no” into a resounding “YES!!, and completely sealing the deal for the MAGIC of the Los Angeles/Hollywood leg of the journey…🤩🤩🤩

(And we did find the RUSH Star, which was perfect preparation for the next leg, which we are presently on, so stay tuned!!!) 🎵🎸🤘🤩

https://gofund.me/bb41d0787h

07/13/2026

Lukas’ Final Journey!!! Day 11!

I know it appears as though we are having nothing but a total blast on this trip, and I would say that is very much true, for the children, and mostly true for me… I am beyond grateful that we’re having this time together as a family, that all of our travels have been safe and relatively wrinkle-free up to this point, and that, as of today, Lukas has officially achieved his top three life goals—graduating high school, making it to Universal Studios in Hollywood, and TURNING 18!!!

In addition, since we completely conquered all of Universal in one day, we were able to tack on a visit to Warner Brothers Studio, which I cannot believe I hadn’t discovered sooner, given that it offered even more of a chance for the kids to enjoy the Wizarding World of Harry Potter with actual props and several interactive experiences…

We also got to check out a plethora of set buildings and homes from decades of shows and movies and the current recording area for “Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage,” a spinoff of “Young Sheldon”, which provided a pretty cool peek into all the magic that goes into entertainment…

AAANNNDD….The tour also included a stop-off at the Friends stage where we got to sit on the ACTUAL couch from the show in the ACTUAL Central Park!!!!! And pose in front of the ACTUAL Friends fountain!! Could I BE any more excited about that??!?!!!?? Lukas and Isadora got to play some foos ball à la Joey and Chandler, I got to sip coffee in Monica and Rachel’s kitchen, and Michael got to move his remote office to the famous BarcaLounger for a bit!

I would be disingenuous, however, to not reflect on how bitter and utterly PAINFUL this all is, mixed in with the absolutely sweet and beautiful…As we roamed around Warner Brothers with utter delight, I fought back tears the entire time, thinking how much both Gianna and Giacomo would have absolutely LOVED being there and seeing the inner workings of some of their favorite shows and movies…Of course, that’s the sh*tty part about death—all of the experiences left un-had…And for some reason, I felt the aching void of absence HARD on this one…

The fact that we’re on this trip at all is heart wrenching, and is oh-so-reminiscent of Giacomo’s final weeks of his “Last Stand” in the battle with myotonic dystrophy, laced in with flashbacks and dreams of Gianna’s tragic test of human endurance in her last days…My fear and forced consciousness are heightened that this could easily be his last birthday, something I inadvertently took for granted twice before, despite knowing how cruel and swift this disease can be…We’re packing in as much celebration as we can, and I’m trying to do it all “right,” as I know that I must embrace their life and death with no regrets…I know that in my core, all he longs for is time spent together—which is what he’s getting—and I’m holding that wisdom close, in order to preserve my peace, even as that the grim reaper of DM lurks…

Lukas has been feeling relatively well thus far, with a little respiratory issue that has since resolved after some extra pulmonary TLC, and his “new normal” digestive woes that are probably made a little worse because I’m allowing him to eat what his sweet and pure heart desires, just as I did his big brother…Of course being mindful of keeping things going in his gut the best I can, while simultaneously trying to squeeze all the joyful juice of the lemons my beloved children have been handed, and keeping my promise to support them enjoying their lives, while they still can…

In keeping with the impromptu nature of the day, we also decided to venture a little further west to Santa Monica beach, as it felt ludicrous to be that close to the ocean and not catch dinner, some arcade games, and a sunset on the pier…We also had to do a quick pose at the official end of Route 66, which seemed quite appropriate both for our road tripping nature, and also the acute awareness that the end of the trail of life is truly unknown for all of us, but most certainly is something to honor, embrace, and unquestionably hold sacred…

https://gofund.me/bb41d0787

07/12/2026

Lukas’ Final Journey!!! Day 10!

The Los Angeles Leg, Day 1:

This was THE day Lukas had been waiting for and it could not have been any better!! We had one minor adjustment to the plans, which had originally involved being at Universal Studios on his 18th birthday (which is tomorrow,) but stay tuned as the adjustments have now paved the way for some pretty—-no, wait—-spectacularly MAGICAL additions to the adventure, plus we’ve now just been celebrating his birthday week/month instead, which is WAY better than a single 24-hour time period anyway…

Of course, the weather in Southern California was sunny, beautiful, and a bit warm, but that was not really an issue…as we navigated through EVERY. SINGLE. RIDE in the park (save for one little kiddie number,) we were pleasantly able to alternate between being jostled around in air conditioning, with the occasional spray of some theatrical mist, cooled off a rollercoaster, splashed by escapee dinosaurs, and the breeze during our fabulous backlot studio tour, led by a guy who is a huge RUSH fan and was quite tickled to see Michael’s shirt (and hear that we’re heading to see them on their legendary tour)…

Highlights include: EVERYTHING! (As is evident by all of our smiling faces!) But…if we had to choose, I’d say the Mummy, both Harry Potter, and Jurassic World rides, along with the Studio Tour were universally the biggest pleasers for our crew…

The four of us were all absolutely spent by the time we made it back to our hotel, but I think it’s undeniably confirmed that the MAJOR BUCKET LIST ITEM of Universal Studios Hollywood can officially be moved to the CHECK ✅ column!!

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to all who have supported us to make this magic happen we are all beyond grateful and blessed to have you along on this journey! We truly could not do it without you!! 🙏👏💚💫🪄🥹☺️

https://gofund.me/bb41d0787

07/10/2026

Lukas’ Final Journey!!! Day 6-8!

In an effort to catch up on our updates (especially since we’re actually on the the Hollywood leg of things now,) here’s a little photo dump of our last few days in the gorgeous and peaceful canyons of Colorado…

Highlights include:
-A sleepover with Auntie Katie, complete with a movie, three HUGE bowls of my famous popcorn laced with M & Ms, Lukas prevailing (as per usual) at Garbage, and a few more tons of laughs
-An impromptu trip to the movies to cross “Go see Toy Story 5” off Lukas’ bucket list
-Taco “Monday”, joined by a new pup friend, Paxton the Dalmatian, plus more doggy love from resident canyon canines, Teddy and Arthur
-An early birthday dinner and friendly, but fierce dart competition, during which our brave little performer, Isadora, grabbed the open mic and serenaded us (and the entire crowd) with a little “Swing Low”
-Making plans to see each other again as soon as possible, as it would seem that five days is NOT enough of the dog therapy/kid therapy/Auntie Katie therapy combo

https://gofund.me/bb41d0787

07/09/2026

4th of July off-road, off-map, off-the-grid adventures are the BEST!

07/09/2026

Lukas’ Final Journey!!! Day 5 (continued)!

Our 4th of July celebration coincided with the 5th day of our adventures, and though I already posted some awesome dog pics from that day, our evening Happy-Birthday-USA party deserves a post all of its own…

There were no fireworks to be launched in the Grand Junction area, due to wildfires and burning restrictions, but even if there were, we were so far off the grid that I doubt we would’ve seen them, and none of us missed them as our alternative was far more exciting…

Michael took us on a little off-road adventure up and through nearby Dominguez Canyon that wasn’t exactly as he had planned, as it was notably longer and more rustic than anticipated, but was ultimately where he actually had hoped to go all along, demonstrating what I would call a pretty solid metaphor of our life…

It was a bit more challenging, with some extra twists and turns, but the journey was riddled with endless laughs, major adaptability, perseverance, and faith, with absolutely zero complaints from Lukas and Isadora, along with views and experiences that could only be seen and had by taking the road WAAY less traveled…

At the end of it, we were dusty. We were tired, but we were also so elated that I don’t believe any of us really noticed until the combo of fresh water and canyon dirt made a little slurry in the shower…

Our adventure was not on the agenda, but was one of what I hope will be many unexpected and spontaneous surprises on this journey…

I know that it was particularly meaningful for Lukas, as he has requested that it not be the last time that we will be in that very MAGICAL place…As we stood atop one of many beyond-scenic overlooks to snap some photos that can’t possibly do justice to the view, without hesitation and pure self-assuredness, Lukas made me promise him that I will return to that very spot after he has transitioned out of this earthly place and that I will leave a bit of his physical essence there as a reminder of this time together, of the importance of trusting that all will work out, even if it’s not as one planned, and of this absolutely unforgettable road trip of lifetime!!!

Thank you again for all that have so generously donated to help us make all of Lukas’ dreams come true, as you are all law part of his magic! Your kindness and support means the world to him and to our family!!

https://gofund.me/bb41d0787

07/07/2026

Lukas’ Final Journey!!! Day 4-6!

Already getting behind on updates because we have been having so much fun, staying pretty unplugged, and just enjoying the relaxation of canyon life in Grand Junction, Colorado…But the catching up must commence, as we are fast approaching our next leg!!

As I have mentioned in other posts and our GoFundMe story, (again, HUGE thanks to all who have so generously donated and shared the link!) one of the big highlights for this leg is that Lukas and Isadora get to spend a ton of time having “dog therapy”— both with the ones owned by Michael’s fabulous sister, Katie, and also the ones that she takes care of as part of her doggy daycare/boarding business, Canyon Canines…

The kids’ first experience with therapy dogs was when Isadora had her heart surgery at age 19 months, back in 2012. She absolutely fell in love with all of the furry friends that came to visit her, and it was insanely difficult not to allow her to take one of them home with us, after seeing the calm and healing those pups brought to the table, in what was the MOST stressful and traumatic medical experience, up to that point…

When Giacomo spent the entire summer of 2019 in the ICU, he had therapy dogs that came to visit him every single day of the week, and some dogs that actually only came to the hospital just to visit HIM…After he survived that nightmare and grew up, he, Lukas, and Isadora LOVED the idea of having a dog they could train to become a therapy dog someday, in order to pay it forward for all they had received from the four-legged hospital visitors…Gianna?? Not so much, due to her lifelong and immeasurably intense e e fear of dogs…

Fast forward to November of 2022, and we somehow ended up with a dog she fell in love with, Tilly, and her overwhelming canine-fear spell was broken…Very tragically, she was not fully able to enjoy all that Tilly had to offer, as Gianna lived less than four months after we adopted the gorgeous and charismatic Australian shepherd, BUT I firmly believe that Tilly broke that spell so that she could embrace all the love and peace that Fern, the resident therapy dog at the hospital where she took her final breath, could provide. Even more tragically, the rest of us only got Tilly in our lives for another six months, during which time she was the BEST therapy pup and grieving mama could ask for (a MUCH longer tale that is likely to be an entire chapter in the book…)

When Giacomo departed from this earthly place, he passed the therapy-dog-training torch to Lukas, and the quirky three-legged rescue wonder, Lagniappe, was adopted into the Naylor family. Ultimately, we had to make the heartbreaking decision to pass him on to another family, as he was showing clear signs that he longed to have more freedom than we could offer him, especially with the unpredictable, one-moment-away-from-a-medical-disaster existence of the kids’ medical situation. This left us with a giant dog-sized hole in our hearts and lives, albeit with the unanimous understanding that, given all of our life circumstances, it was the right call…

Though it’s been quite a dog journey that has most certainly NOT turned out how we envisioned, in our family, we’re all about making adjustments as needed and finding ways to squeeze those proverbial lemons, often figuring out a way to make some semblance of lemonade, which is precisely what we’ve done on this final journey for Lukas.

We have been so fortunate to spend close to a week with Auntie Katie, just outside of Grand Junction, nestled between Bangs Canyon, Unaweep Canyon, and Gibblers Gulch, with incredible views and a unique peacefulness that can only be found when one ventures outside of the range of city-provided sewer systems and reliable cell phone coverage. Lukas and Isadora fell in love instantly with Teddy and Arthur, Katie’s resident pups, along with visitors Winston and Heidi, and I’d say the feelings were pretty mutual, which is not shocking in the least, as those two living kids of mine (plus the two in spirit form) are undeniably PURE LOVE.

As a huge bonus on this leg of the trip, Lukas and Isadora were able to provide a little bit of “kid therapy” in return for Katie, who is recovering from a major knee surgery, in the form of Candyland, coloring, Uno Flip, and the ever-popular card game (at least in our family), Garbage. Anyone who has ever spent even a few minutes with either of them would most certainly vouch that their positivity and warm energy are far beyond what any doctor could have ordered for healing and recovery, and it has truly been such a gift for all of us to be together as the beautiful blended family we have become…And that’s a very special kind of magic, all of its own, that will persist long after this journey has become merely a memory…

https://gofund.me/bb41d0787

G’s Last Stand/Lukas' Final Journey

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