Saturday, May 11, 2024
After experiencing a heartache that all pet owners know is inevitable, one local resident sought to change the narrative — a move that essentially transformed a heartbreaking situation into something beautiful.
Chyanne Brake, a former Granbury resident, adopted two of her furry friends from Second Chance Farm (SCF), a nonprofit organization that serves as a special needs animal rescue and rehab.
Axel, a blind Catahoula, was Brake’s first dog from SCF. Brake soon realized Axel needed a playmate, and thus Lizzie, a deaf albino Doberman, became a new member of the family.
As Brake, 28, realized Lizzie’s facial expressions were quite comical, she started posting videos on TikTok, where she showed clips of Lizzie overlayed with different audio recordings and music.
However, Brake was completely unaware of just how popular Lizzie would become on the social media app.
“I was just posting Tik-Toks all the time, and then one night I posted a video and didn't think anything of it. I went to bed, and I woke up the next morning to like a million something views and then it just kept growing,” Brake said. “Weeks after that, it got up to almost 20 million views, and then people just kept coming back for her; they loved her.”
The deaf albino Doberman quickly went viral on TikTok in the beginning of this year, amassing over 30 million views in total.
“It felt like a dream come true,” Brake said, in an email to HCN.
However, the excitement was short-lived after Lizzie started exhibiting concerning and serious health symptoms.
“It was about a 90-day period,” she explained. “First, she developed a condition called megaesophagus, so she had to eat upright in like a highchair for dogs type thing. She started doing really well with that. But then she developed a bleeding disorder, and then on the very last day, I think that bleeding disorder led to her having a stroke and then the stroke is, I think, what finally got her on the very last day."
On July 10, Brake’s world came crashing down when Lizzie succumbed to her medical ailments.
“The grief was overwhelming, not just for myself, but also for our other furry friend, Axel, who shared a home with her,” she said.
But although the pain in losing Lizzie was indescribable, Brake realized she could turn her heartbreaking experience into something positive.
“When she first went viral, I always wanted to do a business on the side as a hobby, so I had originally written a story of her and Axel having fun and they were going to go on all these different adventures together and I could do book tours with them,” Brake said. “But then she got sick and passed away and I was like, ‘I don't want to keep that same fun story when she can't be here for it.’”
Instead, Brake decided to write a story about the “Rainbow Bridge” and what happens to dogs when they pass away.
The book, “Lizzie and Axel: Forever Friends,” details a heartwarming journey of friendship, love and the power of memories.
“It's about Axel and Lizzie and they're playing one day then Lizzie says it's her time to go, so Axel helps her to the Rainbow Bridge,” she explained. “And then Axel comes back alone and just talks about how even though she's not there, she is still there in spirit.”
According to the book synopsis, as Lizzie embarks on her final adventure, Axel learns that even though his forever friend is no longer physically with him, their bond remains unbreakable.
Through vivid illustrations and a tender narrative, "Lizzie and Axel: Forever Friends" gently helps children understand loss, remember cherished pets, and find comfort in the everlasting connections they share.
"Losing a pet is such a traumatic thing and for some people it's just a topic that's not talked about a lot, so maybe if (children) get exposure to it before something happens, when their dog or pet actually does pass away, it’ll help them understand it a little better,” she said.
Brake’s children’s book, “Lizzie and Axel: Forever Friends,” can be purchased on Brake’s personal website at sassy-sentiments.com/collections/childrens-book.
Additionally, the book will be available for purchase at the Hood County YMCA, 1475 James Road, beginning Dec. 16.
Although Brake currently lives in Gatesville, she continues to adopt from Second Chance Farm in Granbury.
“Axel has separation anxiety, so she (owner Sandi Walker) brought us another dog the same day and we willingly adopted the dog with the same condition that Lizzie had,” Brake said. "If you go to our TikTok page, it's all over there now.”
After conducting extensive research online and learning all she could from Lizzie about megaesophagus — a condition that decreases mobility in the muscles of the esophagus — Brake is currently taking care of her new Weimaraner dog, Sterling, who has the same condition.
Brake’s TikTok videos about Lizzie, Axel, and newfound family member Sterling, can be found by searching Brake’s username: megadogs_megahearts on the website or app.
“Our story is a testament to the power of love, resilience and the importance of cherishing the memories of our beloved pets,” she added. “We hope that sharing our journey can inspire others and help children navigate the complexities of loss with grace and understanding.”
