Sydney was only 3 when he was diagnosed with Lymphoma. We always say he wasn’t here for a long time, but he sure was here for a good time. Treatments bought us 9 extra months with him. Sydney loved anything outdoors. In the summer he loved diving into the lake and swimming after ducks. In the fall he loved to hike and run through all the piles of leaves. He would come out with leaves everywhere. This time, he had one stick on his tongue, so I snapped a picture. One week before he died, he took one final hike with us to Beauty Mountain in WV. He was still full of energy and adventure. He was a fierce protector but an even fiercer snuggler. We miss his energy and loyalty. We still talk about him and tell stories. My daughter, who is 3 and never knew him, knows him by name and pictures.