I’m going to be gone the entire week of Thanksgiving (returning the first week of December). The last few days I’ve had an on-going internal debate about which post to leave you with. And then it hit me; this post should be about Jasper. Obviously. If there was ever a story that epitomizes the idea of thanksgiving, it’s Jasper’s story.
Jasper was born with a very rare eye defect in his right eye that resulted in a huge red mass protruding from the socket. You can read this whole story here, but prepare yourself for some pretty graphic photos of his eye pre-surgery and during his long ordeal. (Jasper’s original name was Sullivan, so don’t be confused if you click on that link). The story is absolutely heart-wrenching. Correcting the horrible defect took many, many surgeries – and because it was something Jasper was born with, he underwent all of these surgeries as a little puppy. (Although “little” is relative when you’re talking about a Great Dane). If you have a sturdy stomach and read Jasper’s whole story, you’ll be just as amazed as I was at the courage he had as a puppy.
The story has a happy ending though, and that’s where giving thanks comes in. Kari is a local dog trainer (you can read more about her here) and adopted Jasper in the midst of his ordeal. She couldn’t have known how it would turn out, but she was willing to give it a chance. (She’d been looking for a pug, so adopting a Dane was a pretty big leap of faith to begin with). Jasper finished up his surgeries after Kari adopted him and amazingly was able not only to keep his right eye, but to retain quite a bit of functionality as well.
I knew Jasper’s story before I met him so I was prepared for his big heart, but I wasn’t prepared for his size. Jasper is only an inch or two shorter than the biggest dog in the Guinness Book of World Records. He’s got a body big enough to house his giant heart. The morning I photographed him he was tearing around the backyard like the true puppy he is. He settled down throughout the shoot but there’s a boisterous playfulness that you can’t ignore about him, and that – along with his incredibly sweet nature – are part of what’s so extraordinary about who Jasper is.
Jasper and mom, Kari:
Silly pup:
There is something about the canine spirit that anyone reading this blog already knows and appreciates, and while it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what it is, it definitely has to do with their ability to love unconditionally. As cliche as it may sound, it’s so true. They’re uniformly nonjudgmental (that’s something you certainly can’t say about any one person), and they are some of the most forgiving creatures on the planet. Jasper’s story emphasizes what we all love in our own dogs.
I’m sure you can see why I felt like Jasper epitomized the spirit of Thanksgiving. The whole point, after all, is to be thankful. And what could you possibly be more thankful for than your health and the health of those you love? I never cease to be amazed by stories like Jasper’s – be it human or canine, and I try never to be immune to them.
I try to always let them inspire me.
This holiday I’m thankful for my health and for the health of those I love. And I am so, so thankful for Roux. I truly believe she makes me a better person by loving me unconditionally and reminding me to open my own heart. It doesn’t hurt that she makes me laugh every day, either. I’m definitely thankful for that too.
