Ruby
Michael and Ruby had such a special bond. Ruby lived until February of 2020, just two days before her 10th birthday. It’s tough to say exactly if and how Michael understands death, but I am sure that he feels loss and misses her dearly.
He will sometimes say ‘dog’ over and over again. We’re not 100% sure, but we think he might be asking about her. When I look back at this journal entry, it wouldn’t be any surprise if he were. You can see the love they had for each other.
Having dogs in our family has been one of the best choices we’ve made, but saying goodbye to them is heartbreaking.
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About the Author
Erica Mauro is a mom to two teenage boys, Will who is neurotypical and Michael with Autism and cognitive delays. She holds a BA in Psychology from Colgate University and a Masters of Psychology in Education from Columbia Teacher’s College. Before staying home with her children, she worked as an elementary school teacher. For five years, she served on the Board of Directors of the Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation, a charity dedicated to enriching the lives of children with special needs. In partnership with her husband Dave, she aspires to parent by using daily life as an opportunity for therapeutic intervention, seizing on real experiences as opportunities to build skills and strategies for Michael in a joyful, loving home environment. On the tougher early days, she just tried to get everyone safely to bedtime and start fresh in the morning. *wink* 
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