How a Township Family Gave Up Their Dog for Dying Boy
A Washington Township family helped fulfill a dying Monmouth County boy's wish by giving him their dog to comfort him in the last weeks of his life.
The Lyons family gave their Malti-Bichon-Poo Louie, who they had for five years, to grant a Marlboro boy's wish of having a Bichon.
Mark, 9, had bone cancer and really wanted a Bichon to call his own even though his older sister was afraid of dogs. Brenda Lyons and her daughters Grace and Ava had been involved in animal rescues for four years. Brenda received an e-mail from the Ashley Lauren Foundation, which grants wishes to kids with cancer, asking if she knew of any Bichons that could be given to Mark and his family with the option of returning the dog.
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But the Lyons never got to meet Mark. He died at 3:10 a.m. on the morning of the scheduled visit. He only got two short weeks with Louie, but Brenda said the bond the two shared was strong and immediate. She was told Louie ran right up to Mark when he was introduced and stayed by his side until his death.
http://westwood-washington.patch.com/articles/township-family-gave-up-dog-to-grant-dying-boy-s-wish