Kermie’s owner had been away for a month when he took her to the vet due to her complaints of bad breath. The prognosis was disheartening; Kermie was diagnosed with cancer and given only two to three months to live. However, Kermie had a strong determination not to pass away until her owner returned from his nine-month deployment.
Eric Ralston, a chief hospital corpsman in the United States Navy, had been deployed in March. About a month after he left, his wife brought their 11-year-old Lab-Beagle-Chow Chow mix, Kermie, to the vet after noticing her foul breath.
After a thorough examination, Kermie was diagnosed with oral melanoma, and the veterinarians believed she had a mere two to three months left. Jennifer Ralston expressed their devastation, saying, “Kermie was our first child, and we didn’t think Eric would ever get to see her again.” However, Kermie was not ready to bid farewell without reuniting with Eric.
Three months had passed since Kermie last saw Eric, and the family held onto the hope that he would see Kermie once more upon his return. As Eric’s deployment neared its end, the family’s optimism grew, hoping for a miraculous reunion. When Kermie began to struggle with eating, Jennifer went the extra mile, preparing special meals and hand-feeding her. Their determination was to help Kermie see Eric one last time.
In an unexpected twist, Eric’s deployment was extended by 12 days just before he was due to return home. With the holidays fast approaching, the Ralstons were worried that Kermie might not make it to Christmas, the long-awaited reunion. Against the odds, Kermie continued to fight. Eric finally returned home a few days before Christmas, and a heartwarming video captured the moment when Kermie, adorned with a red bow, sprinted from the house to Eric’s open arms.
Eric’s return injected new life into Kermie. She had seemed to be at the end of her journey, but his presence brought a remarkable change. Jennifer described it as a kind of magic pill for Kermie. She began eating and drinking without struggle. Kermie celebrated her 12th birthday in January, but by February, her health took a turn for the worse. When good days turned into good hours, the family knew it was time to say their final goodbyes. On February 22nd, surrounded by her loving family, Kermie lost her battle with cancer.