Sometimes you see something that grabs your heart so hard that it almost hurts. This is such a video. It’s simultaneously sad and beautiful—and it’s already touched millions of people on Facebook.
It all started when 33-year-old Ryan Jessen got a severe headache. He thought it was a particularly nasty migraine, but it turned out to be a brain hemorrhage.
As Ryan lay dying in the hospital, his loved ones stopped by to bid him farewell. But Ryan’s sister Michelle realized that if his dog, Mollie, didn’t also say goodbye, she wouldn’t understand why Ryan stopped coming home. So Michelle asked the hospital staff if Mollie could see Ryan one more time.
Michelle, who posted a video of the moment on Facebook, wrote:
“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. If you knew my brother, he really loved his sweet dog. (So many people have asked—he thought he had a migraine, but it was a ventricular brain hemorrhage.”
“They think it was brought on by high blood pressure, and there’s speculation that his frequent consumption of energy drinks may have contributed. THANK YOU to everybody for the outpouring of support, but I won’t be responding anymore. 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.)”
Ryan’s death is extremely sad. But his family can take comfort in knowing that his heart now lives on in another body. In an update on Facebook, Michelle writes that a 17-year-old boy in California who desperately needed a heart transplant would get Ryan’s.
“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. I wish Ryan could know what a difference his heart will make for that young man.”
The video from Mollie’s goodbye has already been seen by more than 16 million people. Watch it here:
If this video also moved you, please share it with your friends!
Rest in peace, Ryan.
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