Behind a recovering hero is a best friend he or she can always count on.
Justin Lansford was touring in Afghanistan in 2012 when his life changed forever.
He and his team were traveling through the country when they found their truck flipping in mid-air.
“I was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division and we were in eastern Afghanistan in early 2012,” he told ABC. “We struck an IED and it flipped my truck completely.”
When Lansford was taken to the hospital, he had no choice but to accept his new reality.
The explosion left him severely wounded. While he survived, he was not “whole” when he finally got out of the hospital.
He said the explosion left him with “bilaterally severed femurs” and the only course of action was to amputate his leg.
During his recovery at Walter Reade National Military Medical Center, he got introduced to a friend.
He didn’t know it yet at that time, but this soul would become his best friend.
He got partnered with a support dog named Gabe.
Gabe came from the Warrior Canine Connection.
The organization pairs support dogs with troops recovering physically, mentally, and emotionally.
The two hit it off quite well even from the beginning. And through Gabe’s support, Lansford slowly eased into a more hopeful future.
Through Gabe, he discovered that he could be independent.
He shared that Gabe helps him get from one point to the next, provides him with a stable point to grab or lean on, and helps him get off the ground.
Sometimes, Gabe even fetches the cream he uses for his prosthetic limb.
But this time, however, Gabe found himself with bigger responsibilities.
He had been with Lansford for years and was one of those who had made Lansford feel unconditional love.
As such, Lansford reserved one of the greatest honors one could bestow on a friend.
Gabe’s responsibilities of helping Lansford recover have come to an end.
This time, he’ll be supporting Lansford in building his own family.
Gabe sat with guests as Lansford’s best man.
He married his long-time girlfriend Carol Balmes.
His now wife told The Dodo that the two were inseparable.
“You can see the dog is such a huge part of their lives,” wedding photographer Brad Hall told The Dodo.
“He was with them as they walked down the aisle, wearing formal army attire and even a little bow tie. You can’t help but love that dog.”
And the Lansfords agree to that.
Gabe and Lansford continued to go on more adventures.
He even helped Lansford finish several marathons.
Ultimately, Gabe was also there when the Lansfords welcomed their child. More than a best friend, Gabe became family.
According to a Facebook account dedicated to Gabe, he passed away last 2021.
He was ten years old when he passed.
“We will miss him every minute of every day for the rest of our lives,” the Facebook obituary post said, “but he was SO loved and he knew that without a doubt up until his very last breath.”
Watch how this adorable service dog turned into a best man!
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