by Teresa Rhyne
First published 2012
Teresa Rhyne decides to start fresh with a new boyfriend, house, and dog. She adopts Seamus, an unruly beagle who refuses to behave. Then veterinarians deliver crushing news: Seamus has a malignant tumor and months to live. Teresa throws herself into researching treatments and fighting for her dog's survival. She learns to navigate the medical system and advocate fiercely for the care Seamus needs. Just as she masters these skills, life delivers another blow. Teresa receives her own cancer diagnosis. Now she must apply everything she learned while saving Seamus to save herself. She battles the disease while managing a complicated relationship and demanding career as a lawyer. Seamus becomes her guide through the hardest period of her life. The beagle's stubborn refusal to give up teaches Teresa how to fight, how to love without reservation, and how to find joy even in dark moments. This memoir shows how animals can become our greatest teachers when we face impossible circumstances.
Genres: animals, medical, dogs, memoir, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, second-chance
287 pages · Kindle Edition · Sourcebooks
Content warnings: terminal-illness