Bold Joy, Radical Empathy: In Memory of Sophie
By Beth Marks, PhD, RN, FAAN
Marinating in the emptiness, finding "the place where lost things go."
Sophie was a companion in the truest sense of the word—a furry co-navigator through the complex terrains of adaptation, community, and living. Her story is not just one of loyalty or affection but of radical presence. Sophie's life reflected the rich intersectionality that defines many human-animal bonds, particularly for those living with and advocating for disability justice and accessible communities for all, regardless of ability.
Sophie's life with me began with serendipity—a chance meeting at Fit and Frisky on December 6, 2008, when she was six months old. After five challenging days, Sophie was being rehomed. That brief encounter sparked a remarkable connection that lasted more than 16 years, weaving Sophie into a vibrant community of friends, neighbors, and fellow travelers—filled with unforgettable moments, countless adventures, and the gift of meeting incredible people and pups. Sophie lived a life of pure joy—but more than that, she took part in something profoundly human: caregiving, connection, and the slow, daily work of building a meaningful and purposeful life.
After Sophie's death on March 7, 2025, the words "marinating in the emptiness" came to mind – uninvited but fitting. The feeling became more pronounced six days later when I was handed a beautiful wooden box containing Sophie's cremation remains. As the days slowly unfolded, "marinating in the emptiness" became my way of moving through the profound, painstaking grief – the sorrow and absence of Sophie. My immediate sorrow has softened into a quieter, enduring ache. Marinating the empty spaces allows me to stay present and find joy in the countless memories of Sophie's companionship: the now broken routines, the silence where I once enjoyed her soft breathing, the click of her paws, her familiar barks, and her uncompromising expectations. Patience was one of Sophie's most extraordinary and life-changing gifts.
“In her quiet companionship with exuberant tail wags and play bows, in the way she sat in shared stillness or nudged with gentle yet unwavering persistence, Sophie modeled radical empathy. In disability culture, where interdependence is honored over independence, Sophie was a natural ally.”
In the day-to-day rhythms of life, Sophie offered the agency more than comfort. Rather than merely soothing, she created space to live more fully – supporting action, choice, and dignity. I learned to move alongside her, just as she moved with me. Sophie’s rhythm was graceful, distinctive, and ready for fun.
Sophie forever reminded me that care need not be hierarchical. Love and being loved isn't about fixing or saving; it's about showing up and being present. In her quiet companionship with exuberant tail wags and play bows, in the way she sat in shared stillness or nudged with gentle yet unwavering persistence, Sophie modeled radical empathy. In disability culture, where interdependence is honored over independence, Sophie was a natural ally. She redefined the notion of "help." Her care was unobtrusive, rooted in quirkiness and humor rather than pity. She didn't solve problems; she made space to sparkle amid them. She was a witness, an unspoken archivist of both hard days and celebratory ones.
Sophie’s care went even further. Without being named or trained as a "hearing assistance dog," Sophie provided flawlessly accurate alerts to unheard sounds and moments of potential danger. Intuitively, she knew how to co-create a safe environment. Her vigilance was seamless. Her loyalty, unwavering. Her presence, healing. Sophie demonstrated that interdependence is not a weakness—it is wisdom. Her life is a legacy of bold joy, everyday mutual care, radical empathy, and love that reshapes how we understand helping, healing, and being whole.
About the Author
Beth Marks, PhD, RN, FAAN, is a Research Associate Professor and co-director of the HealthMattersTM Program and the CDC-funded National Healthy Brain Initiative for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disability in the Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), and Past President of the National Organization of Nurses with Disabilities (NOND.org). She directs research programs related to the empowerment and advancement of people with disabilities through evidence-based health promotion programs, health equity initiatives, and primary health care. Beth has several publications related to barriers and facilitators for education and employment of nurses with disability, including the Nurses with Disability: Transforming Healthcare for All and the White Paper on Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in Nursing Educational Programs. She has also published numerous articles, books, and virtual trainings related to health promotion, health advocacy, and primary health care: Health Matters: The Exercise and Nutrition Health Education Curriculum for People with Developmental Disabilities and the Health Matters for People with Developmental Disabilities: Creating a Sustainable Health Promotion Program. She co-produced a documentary film entitled Open the Door, Get 'Em a Locker: Educating Nursing Students with Disabilities to address ableism in nursing education and practice. Beth’s PhD is from UIC. She received her MSN and BSN from University of Cincinnati.