Ryan Jessen, 33, thought he had a migraine last month but it turned out to be a ventricular brain hemorrhage, which he did not recover from.
The 33-year-old’s family gathered in his hospital room to say their final goodbyes to him on November 30 after doctors said there was nothing they could do to save him.
And even his beloved dog Mollie was allowed in to say goodbye.
The emotional moment was captured on video and has since been shared on Facebook by sister Michelle Jessen, where it’s been viewed more than 9 million times.
She wrote: ‘The hospital did the sweetest thing for us and allowed us to bring my brother’s dog in to ‘say goodbye’ so she’d know why her human never came home.
‘If you knew my brother, he really loved his sweet dog. He thought he had a migraine, but it was a ventricular brain haemorrhage.
‘They think it was brought on by high blood pressure, and there’s speculation that his frequent consumption of energy drinks may have contributed.
‘THANK YOU to everybody for the outpouring of support, but I won’t be responding anymore.
‘We are sincerely touched and humbled by others’ stories, their sharing in our sadness and the kindness of so many people.
‘Don’t worry about the dog! We’re keeping her!!! She’s part of the family.’
Ryan’s mother, Laurie Ann Hickenlooper Jessen, later shared a picture of Molly showing the dog lying on a couch.
She wrote: ‘Mollie will miss her doggy daddy.’
Ryan’s organs have since been donated to a 17-year-old boy whose birthday is on Christmas day.
