GRATITUDE ~ WHALE 🐋

A female humpback whale had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines. 🐋🐳

She was weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat. 🐳🐋

She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso, a line tugging in her mouth. 🐋🐳

This is her story of giving gratitude. 🐳🐋

A fisherman spotted her just east of the Faralon Islands (outside the Golden Gate) and radioed for help. 🐋🐳

Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was so badly off, the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her…. a very dangerous proposition. 🐳🐋

One slap of the tail could kill a rescuer. 🐋🐳

They worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her. 🐳🐋

When she was free, the divers say she swam in what seemed like joyous circles. 🐋🐳

She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, nudged them, and pushed gently, thanking them. 🐳🐋

Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives. 🐋🐳

The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth says her eye was following him the whole time, and he will never be the same. 🐳🐋

May you be so fortunate … 🐋

To be surrounded by people who will help you get untangled from the things that are binding you. 🐋🐳

And, may you always know the joy of giving and receiving gratitude. 🐳🐋