Echo Bay author writes book in tribute to disabled wife's 'positive attitude'

A year after JP Duchesne married his wife Tammy, her health started to deteriorate.

A few years later, Tammy was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. The Echo Bay couple, who were once very active and traveled often, experienced a huge change in their lives as a result. Tammy hasn't walked since 2013.

Last year, JP decided to surprise Tammy for her 40th birthday.

"She had always wanted a puppy," he said. "We had cats but we never got a dog because of the extra time commitment involved."

He says he and Tammy had gotten used to her care routine, and he felt the time was right.

"Tammy has to spend chunks of her day alone waiting for a caregiver to arrive or after a caregiver has left for me to come home," he said.

"I thought it was a good time for her to have companionship."

Capturing a moment of joy

Duchesne got a miniature Australian Shepherd and got a family member to videotape Tammy's reaction when she opened the box to find a puppy inside.

"That reaction itself was just so genuinely shocked [and] thrilled," he said.

"She cried a little bit as she was looking at this dog for the first time."

Duchesne says he wanted to capture that moment of joy he saw Tammy experienced when she met her puppy. The eventually settled on the name Phoenix for the new pup.

He decided to write a book and incorporate QR codes so people can listen to or watch videos of the story -- just as Tammy does, due to her limited mobility from having MS.

"I think Tammy's story is encouraging," he said.

"I think her attitude has been very positive [and] this book is a tribute to that."

Mimi and Phoenix

Not only is the book is a tribute to his wife, but Duchesnesays writing the book has helped him to grieve and cope with all the change.

"I think it's helped me to work through my own experience with Tammy's disability," he said.

"It helped me to reflect on what it is we do have and to be grateful."

He titled it Why Mimi Got a Puppy, as Mimi is a nickname he calls his wife Tammy. Duchesne gave her an early version of the book last year as a Christmas gift.

"It also helped with our relationship," he said. "Tammy's just tickled about the book."

For more information about the book, go toDuchesne's website here.