A toddler diagnosed with a rare liver cancer has melted hearts across the internet after meeting a hospital therapy dog for the first time.
Ambra Frank, Asher’s mother, shared a touching clip on TikTok (@ambrafrank) showing little Asher sitting on his father Nicholas’s lap. Asher gently guides his father’s hand to pet the therapy dog, and the moment their hands make contact, his face lights up with pure joy. He even kicks his legs excitedly, capturing a beautiful first interaction.
Asher was diagnosed in November 2024 with hepatoblastoma, a rare form of liver cancer that affects very few children each year. His symptoms had included a swollen belly, nausea, and fatigue.
“Hearing his diagnosis brought heartache I couldn’t ever fully explain,” Ambra told Newsweek. “The world around me felt at a standstill, and every day felt like just trying to stay above the waves crashing down on me. Every day felt like an endless replay of what I could’ve done sooner as his mom, as if I could’ve rewritten the future myself.”
In the months following the diagnosis, Asher endured multiple rounds of chemotherapy, scans, and procedures. “He was so sad and in pain,” Ambra shared.
Then, a furry friend arrived.
Ambra was curious to see how her son would react to the therapy dog — but nothing could have prepared her for the look on his face. “The day the therapy dog came in, Asher immediately lit up with joy and excitement,” she recalled. “I cried seeing his joy because for days he was so sad. It broke my heart. I’ll never forget that moment and the joy it brought to our family.”
The hospital therapy dogs quickly became cherished companions during Asher’s hospital stays, providing comfort during a challenging time. “The hospital therapy dogs will forever hold a special place in our hearts,” Ambra wrote in her TikTok caption. “He looked forward to collecting all of their cards with their pictures.”
The heartfelt clip has been viewed over 604,000 times, with hundreds of users leaving messages of support and well-wishes for Asher, who is about to turn 2 years old.
“Thank you for sharing all the beautiful and incredibly heartwarming moments,” one user commented. Another added, “The way he lit up.” Many others expressed eagerness for updates on Asher’s cancer journey.
This powerful story highlights the profound impact therapy animals can have on children facing serious illnesses — bringing moments of joy and comfort when they are needed most.
https://www.newsweek.com/baby-cancer-meets-hospital-therapy-dog-reaction-10950487
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