“Giisje was the smallest kitten of her litter- so small she could fit in the palm of my hand. A few months after I brought her home, she had her first seizure. The vet diagnosed her with epilepsy, and not long after, she began to lose her vision.

Everything changed when I brought her along on a camping trip. We walked through the forest together, and she purred so loudly—it was like she’d found her happy place. That day, I realized how much she loved being outside, and began taking her with me everywhere.

Her disabilities have brought us closer and have shaped how we communicate. When I hold her harness up to her nose and she starts wiggling, with her tail forming a tiny question mark, it means she’s ready to go out. And somehow, she always seems to know when someone around her needs comfort. She’s even done volunteer work at nursing homes, where her gentle energy has a way of calming people.

Over time, Gisje’s confidence has only grown. We’ve traveled all over the world together—Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Lebanon. Whenever I put her little sweater on, her whole body perks up and she immediately goes into travel mode. Its been amazing to see her adapt.”

Gisje and Jad, 2024