Tucker Budzyn’s owner has shared more details about his final days.
Tucker Budzyn’s owner, Courtney Budzyn, has chosen to share how the beloved golden retriever internet star spent his last days, and despite the heartbreak of his cancer diagnosis, his last days were filler with all of his favorite activities.
“We went to the park several times, and he peed on every single tree he could,” she said. “He went swimming a couple times, and his first jump in the pool both times were so powerful and strong.”
Tucker also had some wrestles with his adopted “son,” Todd, in their backyard, rolled around in the grass, felt the breeze on his fur, and ate chicken morning and night.
What led to Tucker’s sudden decline
Just under a week before his death, Courtney had shared that Tucker was diagnosed with cancer.
At first it seemed Tucker was responding well to treatment. But things took a quick turn when the treatment left a hole where the cancer had been, and an infection set in almost overnight.
“I want you to know I tried to do everything I could,” she said. “I did everything.”
“His temperature kept rising, and there was nothing, nothing was changing it,” Courtney said. “We had to let him go.”
Courtney says Tucker saved her life
Courtney described just how deep her connection with Tucker ran, saying there was nothing in the world she wouldn’t have done for him.
“He was literally part of me,” she said. “He was part of my soul. It feels like I lost a body part.”
She also shared how Tucker had helped her personally over the years, saying he had quite literally saved her life. “I don’t expect you to understand,” she said, “because I never showed how bad things got on my end. But he saw every part of it, and he attached himself to me.”
Why Courtney chose to share the devastating news despite not ready to appear on camera
Courtney also said she wasn’t really ready to appear on camera while still so broken, but also felt she couldn’t keep fans waiting any longer – especially as messages kept pouring in asking about Tucker’s recovery.
“I knew that I couldn’t come on here and not be broken, but I couldn’t wait to tell you any longer because I keep getting messages, saying, ‘Please, Tucker, get well soon,'” she said.
She closed with a reflection on what comes next. “I don’t know how to live, but I have to,” she said. “He didn’t lie by my side for all those years just for me to give up.”
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