At just five years old, Tommy Chan faced one of the scariest moments of his life—a complex, life-saving open-heart surgery. The hospital was filled with doctors, nurses, and anxious family members. Lying in bed clutching his stuffed animal, Tommy tried to be brave while his parents held each other and prayed.
Though surrounded by love, Tommy still missed someone special. “Can Archie come to me? I might never see him again,” he whispered to a nurse. Archie was his loyal Golden Retriever and best friend, always by his side for hospital visits and comfort during hard times.
Bringing a dog into a patient’s room was unusual, but the medical staff made an exception. When Archie entered, Tommy’s face lit up with a smile for the first time in weeks as he hugged his furry friend tightly.
Then something unexpected happened. Archie, normally gentle and calm, began growling at Dr. Hawthorne, the surgeon scheduled to operate. The staff was stunned, unsure what was wrong. Moments later, the reason became clear.