HUDSONVILLE, Mich. — Indy Kavaluskis is 12 weeks old. His best friend, 13-year-old Logan Kavaluskis says getting a puppy was the best birthday gift he's ever gotten.

“I think it’s probably the best gift, I’ve ever gotten, from my dad,” Logan Kavaluskis said.

Logan got his dog Indie as a total surprise on his 13th birthday. His golden birthday, in fact: Jan. 13.

He thought they were going to pick up a dog for his cousin. But the dog was a gift from Logan's dad, Joe, who passed away from cancer just five days earlier.

His dad Joe was severely allergic to dogs, so having one up until then wasn't an option. But this dad knew how to give his son a gift from beyond the grave.

“So much love, and comfort, and distraction, because we can’t sit still,” Logan's mom Melanie Kavaluskis said.

Logan's father knew how to help heal his family, even after his passing.

“We’re raising our boys to be that too. It’s really important to us. To pay it forward,” Melanie said.

