Little boy’s Christmas wish was just ‘3 more minutes’ with his late dog. Santa didn’t disappoint him.
A young boy who recently lost his beloved pup yearned for just a little more time with his furry friend following his passing. On the occasion of Christmas, when most wishes come true, the grieving boy penned down his endearing wish on his Christmas list, hoping Santa would read it. Their mom, Misha Griffis (@misha.griffis), filmed the moment her sons got the best surprise that moved them to tears.
In the viral clip with 5.3 million views, the two boys impatiently opened a letter from Santa and started to read it. The mom revealed that their family dog, Spade, had passed away in November, and her sons were still recovering from the loss. On his Christmas list, the elder son had asked for “3 more minutes with Spade,” and the mom was determined to fulfill his wish. As the elder son began reading, his voice trembled. “I [sic] wish dearly that I could give you more time with Spade…” he read aloud, before tearing up. Watching his brother get emotional, the younger son asked, “Wait, Mom, could you read it?”
The Christmas lights lit up their faces as the boys grew hopeful of Spade returning. “He was truly an amazing dog. But I don’t have that power to do that,” the mom continued, reading the letter. “Spade wanted me to give you each something to remind you of him and how much he loves you. I hope these help. Santa.” The boys then hastily unwrapped their presents from a shopping bag. The younger sibling broke down in tears as he pulled out a plush toy that looked exactly like Spade. “It’s just like him,” the elder brother said in amazement. Then, the kids quickly exchanged the two soft toys as per the label that mentioned their initials.
Simultaneously, their other dog, a Rottweiler, stepped in to investigate what was happening. The delicate moment was shared on Griffis’ TikTok, bringing in about 800,000 likes and an outpouring of love and support for the young boys. The mom admitted that she did not expect her sons to get so emotional, but noted how meaningful and special it was. “Spade was a very special dog and will stay in our hearts forever,” she wrote. @eowin120 pointed out, “The fact that they only asked for three minutes is making me sob. What loving boys you raised, Momma.” Another emotional viewer (@corndog414) noted, “The most heartbreaking Christmas wish to read as a parent.”
@misha.griffis I didn’t expect for them to get this emotional. 🥺 This moment was so sad yet so special and meaningful. Dogs truly are family. Spade was a very special dog and will stay in our hearts forever. 🌈🖤 ##dogowner##petloss##grief##remember##santa##christmaswishlist##boymomlife##singlemom##dogsarefamily##kevintherescuerott##specialmoments ♬ original sound - Misha Griffis
Children are often the most affected individuals when it comes to pet grief, given that they form strong and special bonds with them. Therefore, families must support their grieving children following the loss of their pet through subtle and impactful measures. Parents should not underestimate their feelings but instead encourage kids to express them openly. This may be in the form of a story or poem, as per a Blue Cross report. It is recommended that adults use safe words when discussing the pet loss, such as “put to sleep” instead of “dead.”
You can follow @misha.griffis on TikTok for more videos.