After noticing her son constantly tired and restless, a mother installs a baby monitor in his room—only to be shaken by a startling discovery.
“Don’t worry, honey. Momma’s here,” Alicia murmured to her son, Edduin, gently rocking him. He’d awoken in the middle of the night, wailing and inconsolable. Alicia moved her files and laptop from the couch to make space, singing softly as she tried to calm him. Her lullaby didn’t work at first, but eventually, Edduin drifted back to sleep. Relieved, Alicia tucked him into his crib, kissed his forehead, and carefully tiptoed out of his room.
“How am I going to manage everything on my own?” she sighed, reaching for a coffee in the kitchen. “I wish you were here, John.”
It had been almost a year since John’s passing. Alicia and her husband had planned a lifetime of adventures after learning they likely wouldn’t have children. They’d traveled extensively until Alicia received surprising news: she was pregnant. Elated, they returned home to Fayetteville, North Carolina, to share the joy with friends and neighbors. Tragically, this happiness was cut short. Seven months into her pregnancy, Alicia received a call that John had been killed in a car accident. Overwhelmed with grief, she went into early labor.
With her newborn son, Edduin, Alicia faced life alone. Though she had an MBA, taking over John’s business while raising her son was no easy task. A compassionate secretary named Madison helped her transition to working from home, understanding her wish to be close to her son rather than hiring a nanny.
Months passed, and Edduin began to grow increasingly tired. Despite her efforts to comfort him, he was always yawning, disinterested in his toys, and frequently restless at night. Alicia consulted a doctor, who suggested it was a phase. But as days went by with no improvement, she couldn’t shake her worry.
One night, as she was about to wrap up work, she heard a peculiar noise from Edduin’s room—faint giggles, as though someone were playing with him. She rushed in but found nothing amiss. Convinced she was simply tired, she dismissed it. Yet, over the next few days, the mysterious giggles and sudden awakenings continued. Determined to get to the bottom of it, Alicia set up a baby monitor to keep a closer eye on him.
One night, as she watched the monitor, she noticed movement. Edduin was smiling, gazing toward the corner of his room. Panic surged through her as she rushed to the nursery, fearful that someone might be there. But what she found made her laugh with relief. A scruffy, gentle-eyed dog was quietly circling Edduin’s crib, clearly at ease in the room.
The puzzle finally clicked. Years earlier, Alicia and John had owned a dog, Doblo, and had left a small dog door in the nursery when the room used to be his play area. Somehow, this little stray had found his way through that door, bonding with Edduin during his lonely nights.
Moved by the sight of the weak, frail dog and Edduin’s instant attachment to him, Alicia decided to adopt him. She named him Casper, and since then, he’s become Edduin’s best friend. Alicia now ensures they spend structured time together, allowing both of them to get the rest they need.
This story reminds us of two valuable lessons. First, parenting often requires balancing work and family in ways that test our patience and resilience. Alicia’s dedication shows how far parents go to ensure their children’s happiness. Second, small acts of kindness—like Alicia’s choice to adopt Casper—can transform lives, teaching us the importance of empathy and compassion toward all living beings.
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