Dog Stays By Ill Baby's Side 'Despite Being Scared' of Breathing Machine

There are many things which scare this golden retriever, including loud electronics, but there's one person who he's always willing to put his fears aside for, and that's his baby brother.

Ever since Erica Derise welcomed her son, Frankie, to the family five months ago, she has been warmed by the loving bond he has developed with their pet retriever Beau. Derise explained to Newsweek that the 2-year-old golden sees himself as "Frankie's protector," willing to follow him wherever he goes.

Admittedly, Beau hates anything that he deems too loud, especially the vacuum cleaner or the blow dryer. Normally, he stays well clear of anything noisy, but since his baby brother was diagnosed with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) three weeks ago, Beau has had to conquer his fear just for Frankie.

"Wherever Frankie goes, Beau follows. Now that Frankie is getting older and really noticing Beau, he is so mesmerized by him," Derise said.

For Derise, and her husband Frank Derise, from New Jersey, there are few things better in life than seeing the love and warmth between Frankie and Beau, and they can't resist sharing that with the world.

An adorable clip of Beau laying as close as possible to Frankie was shared on TikTok (@beaunosebones), showing how he "doesn't leave his side." In just a matter of days, the video has gained 1.1 million views and 146,400 likes already.

Derise told Newsweek: "Beau is afraid of pretty much all electronics that are loud. The nebulizer, the machine that allows us to give our son his medicine through a breathing treatment, can be very loud, but Beau doesn't care. He just wants to be right next to his baby brother despite being scared of it.

"We have the most supporting and loving community on our social media, and we are so thankful for that."

RSV is a common virus which causes mild cold-like symptoms, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that it can be quite severe in infants and the elderly. It's estimated that the virus leads to around 58,000 to 80,000 children below the age of 5 being hospitalized in the U.S. every year.

The usual symptoms for infants tend to be a cough, eating or drinking less, irritability, and decreased activity. For some children, use of a nebulizer is recommended as it can turn medication into a mist and makes it easier for them to inhale.

Alongside the video of Frankie using his nebulizer for treatment, Derise highlighted that "the best medicine" is actually the love of his four-legged companion. In the clip, Beau is seen watching over his brother, and even offering him plenty of kisses to make him smile.

The golden might hate the idea of having to get too close to the noisy machine, but if it means staying close to his best buddy, he's happy to take the risk.

While it's only been five months since welcoming Frankie into the family, his friendship with Beau is already unbreakable, and Derise can't wait to see it continue as they grow up together. "The bond they share warms my heart so much. They are always smiling and making eye contact with each other," she told Newsweek.

Many social media users lauded the warm bond between Frankie and Beau, with more than 900 comments on the viral TikTok post already.

One person commented: "Golden retrievers are the best companions."

Another TikToker responded: "He found his purpose in life, to protect your son."

While another comment reads: "Nurse doggo reporting for duty."

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