About Sunny’s Cause

Sunny came into my life at three months old on December 23, 2001, as a Christmas gift for my great-niece. She wanted a Maltese, and Sunny was the only one I found in Miami. In 2002, he came to live with me in New York because she was too busy with school to take care of him, though she often visited.

Sunny became my constant companion. As a physician scientist, I spent countless nights working, and he was always at my feet. He traveled with me, accompanied me around the city, and even went to church with me on Sundays.

I was diagnosed with chronic leukemia in 1997 and, during my relapse, Sunny never left my side. After an eye surgery that kept me home for months, he was there with me too. He was my loyal friend and filled my life with joy, greeting me with his happy bark every time I came home.

In May 2015, Sunny was diagnosed with large cell lymphoma. Although the first round of chemotherapy was successful, he relapsed in July 2016. Despite further treatment, he passed away in November of that year, receiving hospice care at home.

Sunny’s impact on my life inspired me to create SunnyBoo, LLC, and Sunny’s Cause, to raise awareness and funds for research on dog lymphomas and leukemias, and to help pet owners afford chemotherapy treatments. His legacy lives on through this mission.