Pregnant woman filmed her growing belly in the elevator with her loyal dog — days later, the same clip shattered her heart in an unexpected way

Some moments seem ordinary at first: a quiet evening, a small routine, a simple video before heading out. For Maya, an expectant mother, it was just another day. She stepped into an elevator, phone in hand, recording her reflection to capture the growth of her baby bump before taking her dog for a walk. Her Golden Retriever, Bailey, stood patiently beside her, tail still and calm. It was an everyday moment she wanted to remember, not realizing how much that short clip would later come to mean.

As reported by Newsweek, Maya shared the video on TikTok under the handle @my.oh.maya. The clip quickly went viral, garnering over 4.1 million views since its posting on October 26, 2023. The on-screen text read, “When you’re simply taking a video of your baby bump but don’t realize you’re also documenting your last solo walk with your dog.” Bailey, who was then 11 years old, had been a part of Maya’s life for years. “She was a beautiful member of our family and my son had 2.5 wonderful years with her,” Maya told the outlet. “Sadly, the new baby coming this winter will not get to meet her.”

Earlier on October 21, Maya had also shared a longer message on Instagram, where she wrote about losing Bailey in mid-October. Under the handle @mayak7, she described her grief in heartfelt words: “I can't put into words how deeply we will miss Bailey. She was just the most incredible dog. When someone knocks at the door, I will miss hearing her bark. I'll miss the random smiles from strangers on our walks. I'll miss how she would give me her paw randomly, cuddling with her, and all of her silly ways. I'll miss my shadow.”

Her message touched many who understood the deep pain of saying goodbye to a beloved pet. "Wherever she is, I hope she is opening her eyes and can finally see again, chasing all the squirrels, eating unlimited pizza, and rolling around in the grass. Goodbye, sweet angel Bailey." 

Pet bereavement counselor Joe Nutkins told the outlet that taking time to grieve is an important part of healing. She advised owners not to rush to move a pet’s belongings and to spend time outside, remembering the joy their animals brought. The TikTok clip was also flooded with heartfelt comments from users who resonated with the video and shared their condolences. @alanna.kj penned, "The hardest part for me was knowing my child won’t know my soul dog. He would have been an amazing big brother!"

@shy_shy015 wrote, "Rest in peace, little soul, I know that little pup is going to be watching your baby grow every step of the way." @megancollinswriter shared her experience, "I’m so sorry, I just lost my Golden, really unexpectedly, a month ago—it’s the hardest thing." @user4833043712390 commented, "I lost my dog while pregnant, and the pain was worse than I could have imagined. She was supposed to be the best big sister."

For more heartwarming content, follow @my.oh.maya on TikTok.