Grace may not be able to see anymore, but nothing dims the way she loves.
The 12-year-old pup once suffered from a painful eye condition that eventually stole her vision. To keep her comfortable, her family made the difficult decision to have both of her eyes removed.
“It was the best way to make sure she could live pain-free,” Grace’s mom, Shelby Salmela, told The Dodo.
Losing sight, however, never stopped Grace from finding joy — especially when it comes to her favorite person.
While Grace is deeply bonded to Salmela, she’s always had a unique connection with Salmela’s mother — lovingly known as Grandma or GG.
Before surgery, Grace would sprint straight into Grandma’s arms whenever she visited. Now, even without her eyes to guide her, the excitement is exactly the same.
“It’s so cute to see how happy Grace gets when she realizes the person at the door is her GG,” Salmela said.
The moment she senses Grandma’s presence, Grace’s whole body wiggles with joy. For her, sight was never the way she measured love.
Although Grandma now lives out of state and visits only a handful of times each year, the bond between her and Grace hasn’t faded one bit.
In fact, it may have grown even stronger.
“Grace is very attached to her,” Salmela said. “We FaceTime daily, and even when she hears my mom’s voice through the phone, she gets excited.”
Grace’s story is a sweet reminder that true love isn’t limited by what we can see. Even in darkness, her world is filled with the light of familiar voices, warm hugs, and the people she holds closest to her heart.
