How Dogs Help Us Through Cancer, Loss, and Life’s Hardest Days

How Dogs Help Us Through Cancer, Loss, and Life’s Hardest Days

From INDY Foundation: Connecting through Cancer by INDY Foundation

April 28, 2026 · 13 min · Season 1 · Episode 85

About this episode

Kayla Keenan reflects on the emotional journey of losing her dog Maxx and the impact of pet loss during her husband Kyle's cancer battle.

Takeaways Pet loss grief is real, valid, and often underestimated until you experience it yourself. Maxx was a loyal companion through Kyle’s cancer diagnosis, treatment, hospice journey, and the grief that followed. Healing after losing a pet does not mean forgetting; it means carrying their love, lessons, and memories forward. Summary of the Episode In this emotional episode of INDY Foundation Connecting Through Cancer , host Kayla Keenan opens up about the recent loss of her beloved yellow lab, Maxx , after 13 years together. Kayla reflects on how Maxx became part of her family before her late husband Kyle’s cancer diagnosis and how his bond with Kyle grew into something deeply meaningful. Maxx was there through surgeries, quiet days at home, hospital visits, and hospice. His steady presence brought comfort to Kyle during his cancer journey and later became a source of companionship for Kayla as she navigated life after loss. Through memories of Maxx’s loyalty, personality, and love, Kayla explores why grieving a pet can feel so overwhelming and why that grief deserves to be honored. This episode offers comfort for anyone who has lost a dog, cat, or beloved pet. Kayla reminds…

People in this episode

Host: Kayla Keenan

Topics covered

  • pet loss
  • grief
  • cancer journey
  • companionship
  • healing
  • memories

Keywords

  • pet loss
  • grief
  • cancer
  • healing
  • companionship
  • memories
  • loss

More episodes of INDY Foundation: Connecting through Cancer

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the INDY Foundation: Connecting through Cancer podcast page.