Ty Romano by LILLIAN SMALBACH

Positive: Ty's family adopts Bella the golden retriever

lilliansmalbach — 2025-10-09 17:53:54 UTC

On June 16th, Ty was 2 when his family adopted a 2 year old golden retriever from their local ASPCA shelter. They quickly became best buddies and were inseparable.

Negative: Ty's mom runs away for drugs

lilliansmalbach — 2025-10-09 17:58:49 UTC

At the age of 5, Ty knew his mother was struggling with her mental health. She soon resulted in using drugs and eventually left her family to join her friends that also did drugs.

Negative: Ty's dad gets into a car crash

lilliansmalbach — 2025-10-09 18:05:38 UTC

While on his way home, Ty's father was exhausted. He now had to takeover their butcher shop and was desperate for another employee. Early one winter gloomy morning, he accidentally ran a red light and collided right into another car as he was crossing the intersection.

Negative: Isabelle and Tessa move away to college

lilliansmalbach — 2025-10-10 12:00:46 UTC

When Ty was 12, his older twin sisters, Isabelle and Tessa moved away to college in Florida and Delaware. He was absolutely devastated, he couldn't believe that everyone had left him besides his grandma and Bella.

Positive: Ty has to start seeing a therapist for his depression and abandonment issues.

lilliansmalbach — 2025-10-10 12:03:56 UTC

At 16, Ty's grandma made him start to see a therapist since she was concerned about his well-being. She knew that he had some type of issue from his past but she didn't know how to help. He started to attend therapy sessions twice a week with Dr. Stephanie.

Positive: Bella becomes euthanized and her pain finally goes away while Ty is finally accepting that she had to go.

lilliansmalbach — 2025-10-10 12:08:09 UTC

On June 2nd, after their road trip, Ty took Bella to the veterinarian to relieve her of her pain. He had finally come to terms that everyone eventually has to leave and the memories that you make with them matter. As Bella let out her last breath, Ty felt at peace.

Negative: Ty finds out Bella has developed hemangiosarcoma

lilliansmalbach — 2025-10-10 12:13:05 UTC

After Ty took Bella to the vet for a common checkup. The veterinarian discovers an aggressive cancer of blood cells that had spread to her heart and liver. The veterinarian told Ty that he would have to euthanize her in the next month.

Positive: Ty continues with his appointments with his therapist and moves to daily sessions

lilliansmalbach — 2025-10-10 12:25:46 UTC

Ty starts to struggle with the realization that he was yet again losing someone important to him. After a couple of weeks, Ty has made a ton of progress and starts to realize that he has to let Bella go.

Positive: Ty and Bella go out for their last day together and they go on a road trip

lilliansmalbach — 2025-10-10 12:28:55 UTC

Ty took Bella on a road trip to her favorite spots before he took her to the veterinarian. He drove to a nearby lake that she loved to jump into, the dog park where she would always make friends, and her favorite pet friendly cafe.