If you were reading Stroll earlier this year, you may remember meeting goldendoodle brothers, Beau and Bailey. These two boys are more than just pets to their family. They are part of the pack, and when something went terribly wrong with Beau this summer, the Stahl’s were reminded just how much he means to them.

It all started when Beau just didn’t seem like himself. His mom, Amy Stahl, knew something was wrong and trusted her gut. Beau was taken to the vet, where doctors discovered that he was having a spontaneous pneumothorax. A bulla, essentially a blister on his lung, had ruptured and caused air to escape into his chest cavity. He was struggling to breathe and needed immediate attention. 

Their first stop and neighborly helping hand came from FM 1488 Animal Medical Center, owned and operated by their Lake Windcrest neighbor, Dr. Jess Jeffrey. Dr. Jeffrey and his staff immediately recognized the urgency of Beau’s condition and instructed them to take him to the nearest emergency veterinarian without delay so he could be stabilized.

The Stahls were frantic and turned to their neighbors for help as Beau’s life hung in the balance. Keri Dobos and Debbie D’Ericco helped keep Amy calm as she worked to make arrangements for Beau’s transport. Once stabilized, Beau was transported to the nearest animal hospital for further treatment and surgery.

That trip to the hospital is something his family will never forget. Their neighbor across the street, Darla Vernon, stepped in to drive Amy and Beau to the hospital, giving Beau the best chance of making it there safely. Beau had a tube in his chest to help remove the trapped air, and during the drive, his mom had to manually draw the air out with a syringe to keep him stable.

For about 20 minutes of the drive, his mom continued drawing air from Beau’s chest while Darla drove. Once they arrived, Beau was immediately taken back by the veterinary team. They performed a CT scan and took him into surgery as soon as possible. The doctors found the ruptured bulla and removed the entire cranial lobe of his lung. Thankfully, Beau still has six lobes remaining

Now came the waiting. His family spent the next several days praying, visiting him at the hospital, and anxiously anticipating any updates. Finally, after several days in the hospital, it was time for Operation Bring Beau Home. Beau was reunited with his family and his brother Bailey, although he wasn't exactly thrilled about all the rules that came with coming home. He had to stay quiet, avoid running and jumping, and spend plenty of time resting while his lung and sternum healed.

But every day brought a little more progress. His scar continued to heal and his breathing was good. The doctors had sent the tissue for biopsy and additional testing in an effort to determine what had caused the frightening episode. Then came the phone call they had been waiting for. The results were negative. No cancer. The Stahls finally had some good news. There was no clear explanation for why Beau had developed the bulla, and they may never know exactly what caused it. After everything they had been through, they were simply grateful to have their boy home.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Beau’s family received an outpouring of love and support from friends, family, and neighbors. When things were at their scariest, neighbors showed up, literally got behind the wheel, and helped get Beau where he needed to go. It was a reminder of something we see so often in Lake Windcrest: when someone needs help, people show up.

“He wants to do way more than he should,” Amy shared. “But I am so happy he is here with us, alive and healing every day.” After all the worry, long days, and countless prayers, Beau is exactly where his family wants him to be: at home with his pack. “We are eternally grateful for our neighbors who helped us save our Beau. Our neighbors are what makes living here meaningful.”