Hi, I’m Roux.

I’m a six-year-old goldendoodle with excellent taste in naps, homemade meals, and sunny spots in the yard. Around here, my main responsibilities include supervising the family, riding shotgun whenever possible, and making sure no one forgets to give me the attention I deserve.

I came from Fluff N Stuff Doodles, but my story really began before I was even born.

My mom had been going through infertility treatments and wanted something to love and care for so deeply that she decided it was finally time to get a puppy. Then something incredible happened. The very same month I was born, she found out she was pregnant with my human sister. I like to think I arrived right when my family needed a little extra hope.

My name carries a lot of meaning, too. My grandfather loved cooking for family, friends, and the community, and one of his signature specialties was making homemade roux for gumbo. After he passed away from brain cancer, my family wanted a way to carry a piece of him with them, so they named me Roux in honor of something that reminded them so much of him. It’s a name filled with warmth, tradition, and love.

Now, I should probably mention that I’ve been through some things.

About a year ago, everyone thought I just had a virus. Turns out, it was stage V lymphoma. The doctors told my family the prognosis was not good, and suddenly life became weekly trips back and forth to LSU for chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

I lost all my hair during treatment, which honestly was a little rude, but I never complained. My family says they never once heard me cry, even on the hardest days. I just kept going.

And guess what? I’m still here.

Not only did my hair grow back, but apparently it came back even prettier than before. My family calls me their miracle, but really, I just wanted more time with them. More car rides. More cuddles. More home-cooked meals. More chances to drag my dog bed into the backyard and sunbathe like it’s my full-time occupation.

Speaking of that, moving into our new house changed my life. We never really had a proper yard before, and now I fully embrace outdoor living. Every morning, I haul my bed outside, settle into the sunshine, and soak up vitamin D like a retired woman vacationing in Florida.

I also have a few special talents. I smile at certain people when I get especially excited, and if I feel ignored for more than approximately seven seconds, I become extremely vocal about it. After cancer remission, my personality really came alive. Turns out surviving something hard gives you a whole new appreciation for attention.

What my family loves most about me is my sweetness and resilience. What I love most about them is that they never gave up on me.

I sleep with them, travel with them, eat healthy meals with them, and honestly just do life with them. I’m not treated like a pet around here. I’m family.

And after everything we’ve been through together, I think we all know one thing for certain: miracles absolutely happen.