COMING soon . . . .

About BE HENRY.

Be Henry was started in honor of Henry, the beloved and joyful dog of Power to the Peaceful Collective’s founder, Dana Stachowiak, and little brother to Amos. Henry bravely fought cancer for 10 years and remained a joyful, happy, and loving pup throughout. Cancer did not stop him from living a long and full life. If Henry could talk, he would say, “Live joy. Be brave. Give love.” And that’s what Be Henry hopes to promote.

Knowing the financial and emotional toll that navigating a canine cancer diagnosis can take, Dana founded Be Henry as a way to help lessen the hardships and be able to offer some sort of avenue for dogs and their humans to hold both grief and joy as they move through their every day with canine cancer.

In the coming months, Power to the Peaceful Collective will be soliciting funds, and once able, Be Henry will officially launch. What this means is that pet parents will have a place to come to for financial assistance for treatments and mental health support. Pet parents will also have the option to receive 4 FREE mindfulness sessions with Dana, or one free session from any of the Collective’s partners for themselves or their pets (i.e., therapy, reiki, yoga, massage, or qi gong).

Until we are able to sustain Be Henry financially, Dana is offering the choice of 4 FREE mindfulness sessions, one arts-based session, or one nature-based journey with you and your beloved pup.

CHECK BACK OFTEN FOR UPDATES.

About Henry + Amos

Henry Franklin Stachowiak was the epitome of living joyfully. He was the happiest, most sunshiny boy on the planet. He was sweet and gentle, bouncy and wiggly, and he always lived in the moment.

Henry was born on December 25, 2008, and he was adopted by his loving Mama Dana, and big brother Amos, on June 5, 2009. Together, they lived a life of joy, love, adventure, and travel. Henry’s favorite things included his Mama, brother Amos, shining his face to the sun, sniffing the gentle breeze, playing and lounging in his backyard, popcorn, and long walks anywhere. He was happy wherever his family was, and his tail wagged and his butt wiggled so much that it was hard to get still pictures of him!

In June of 2014, Henry was diagnosed with Mast Cell Tumors that were cancerous. In August of 2016, after a few surgeries to remove the tumors, top oncology vets gave him “maybe a year” to live. Henry’s mama would not accept that; Dana knew her boy had so much more life to live. Dana did deep research and found Dr. Ihor Basko in Hawaii. With Dr. Basko’s guidance, Dana became a mini-expert on holistic care for dogs, especially cancer care, and together with Henry’s tenacious spirit (and an amazing local vet and vet oncologist), they fought MCTs for over 10 years. Henry endured surgeries, alternative therapies, and stinky mushrooms and bitter supplements with joy and happiness. He was a trouper. And though Henry grew tired towards the end of his life, he still met everything and every day with joy, excitement, and without pain or fear.

Sadly, Henry passed away at home on July 15, 2024. He was 15 years, 6 months, and 20 days old. He lived a long, healthy, and joyful life - and fought cancer bravely for 10 years!

Amos, Henry’s big brother, passed away unexpectedly in Dana’s arms just 17 days after Henry, on August 1, 2024. Amos was 16 years and 28 days old. It was found that Amos had hemangiosarcoma, or what their beloved vet, Dr. Julie Dudak, referred to as “every vet’s worst nightmare” cancer. It was silent, aggressive, and shocking.

Born on July 4, 2008, Amos Lee Stachowiak came to his mama in a dream, and when they met, it was love at first sight for both of them. He was gentle and sweet, mindful and wise, and lived to take care of his family. Amos’s favorite things included his Mama, baby brother Henry, squeaky balls, sunbathing on the deck, feeling the wind from an open car window or the AC on his face, and inspecting and protecting the parameter of his backyard. Like Henry, Amos was happy wherever his family was, and he loved and protected them fiercely, usually offering nose nits and face kisses, happy digs, and goofy playfulness.

Amos and Henry’s mama, Dana, knows what a financial burden caring for and losing a dog with cancer entails. And she also knows the emotional toll it can take on the mind, body, and soul of both the dog parent and dog. That’s why she started Be Henry. She wanted to lessen the hardships and be able to offer some sort of avenue for dogs and their humans to hold both grief and joy as they move through their every day with canine cancer.

POWER TO THE PEACEFUL COLLECTIVE

Mindfulness • Embodiment • Liberation

Wilmington, North Carolina
Power2PeacefulCollective@gmail.com