A female humpback whale had become trapped in a terrifying web — a tangle of crab traps and lines weighing down her massive body. Hundreds of pounds of traps clung to her, making every breath a struggle as she fought to stay afloat. Wrapped tightly around her torso, tail, and even pulling at her mouth, hundreds of yards of line rope threatened to choke and imprison her.

This is her story — a story of survival, hope, and gratitude.

A fisherman spotted the whale just east of the Farallon Islands, near the Golden Gate, and immediately radioed for help. Within hours, a rescue team arrived, knowing that freeing her would be a dangerous task. The whale was so entangled that the only option was for divers to dive into the water and carefully untangle her — a task fraught with peril. One slap of her powerful tail could easily kill a rescuer.

Undeterred, the team worked for hours, using curved knives to cut away the deadly ropes and traps. It was slow, painstaking work, but eventually, they freed her from the deadly bindings.

Once released, the whale swam in what the divers described as joyous circles, as if celebrating her regained freedom. Then, in a remarkable show of connection and gratitude, she approached each diver one by one. She nudged and gently pushed them, thanking her rescuers in a way that touched everyone deeply. Many called it the most beautiful experience of their lives.

One rescuer who carefully cut the rope from her mouth said her eye followed him the entire time — a gaze so powerful it changed him forever.

May we all be so fortunate —

To be surrounded by those who help us get untangled from whatever binds us.

And may we always know the profound joy that comes from both giving and receiving gratitude. 🤗👋