02/21/2026
On Valentines Day last week, we lost our little warrior Andre, he had just turned 9 yrs old. Those of you that knew him, know how incredibly strong and resilient he was. There was no sport, game or adventure Andre passed on. He was in the lake swimming as a tiny pup, running with and chasing the big and little dogs equally, barking at the horses and minding his Auntie Immy. Andre was absolutely void of fear, indimadation or relcutance. Andre showed up each and every day he was with me and our tribe. He was always happy, energized and ready to go. Some dogs tire easily, get bored or disinterested in activities, Andre never did. Play All Day was his motto. He and his brother Remy were always playing tug of war or chasing each other around or looking for something fun to roll around in. Remy more so in the stinky stuff.
In the spring of 2020, when he was 3 yrs old, Andre suffered 2 ruptured vertebrae and needed emergency surgrey, he was given a 30% chance of ever walking again. His mom Jen and dad Dan, began physical therapy with him right after surgery, Jen slept next to him on the couch while he was sequestered to a play pin to prevent further damage. They worked with him at home using Cavaletti poles and religiously working with his body to build his strength again. That was the only time I have ever seen Andre sad. He couldn't play. By July that year he was back at the beach, swimming and playing and happy as can be. You could barely tell he had major spinal surgrey. If he ever hurt or didnt feel good, none of us knew, he was always ready for whatever adventure we were going on. We were all so careful with him, but he showed us time and again how strong he was before the surgrey and how much stronger he was after.
Last month, Andre began having sezuires out of the blue. The only thing I kept thinking was there were some sort of changes in his spine possibly causing the sezuires. The ER and Neruo consult suggested 80% chance of brain tumor. I refused to accept my little warrior had a life ending condition. Again, his mom and dad did everything they could, trying different anti convulsion medications over the last month. It was clear to me when Jen told me he was losing vision, that it was in fact, a brain tumor. The decision was made last week to spare Dre of the pain and suffering the tumor was quickly causing. Andre went up to his auntie Mia, auntie Immy, his big sister Sylvie and brother Pierre in Heaven. I told him Auntie Mia is coming to pick you up to go swimmies, and go play in the park. I also told him to always listen for my voice, like he always did.
Losing Dre is incredibly hard, even as I write this, my brain keeps having to adjust to the facts. Andre was and will always be a very, very special part of mine and the tribes' hearts. There is now an Andre size void that can't possibly be filled. And while we are all gutted from his absence, we know that boy cramed 15 yrs of life into 9 yrs. We were all blessed to have him for as long as we did. And we know it. He loved life, his mom and dad, Sylvie and Remy and Mia.
Andre is the poster boy for Live Life to the Fullest, EVERYDAY. He taught me that, and that lesson and his memory will be with us all forever. Just as he will, running alongside us on our daily adventures with Mia, Sylvie and Pierre, and all the dogs who have come and gone from our tribe.
We love you forever Andre. Tear it up in Heaven!!
