Perfect — The Teddi story

If so, perfection has been reduced to an illusion—a finish, not a feeling. A surface, not a soul.

But real perfection, as the school of life teaches us, lives elsewhere. In quiet courage. In tenderness. In the brave softness of being exactly who you are, even when the world doesn’t yet know how to love you for it.

Teddi was born with contracted tendons in his front legs. In the world he came from, this made him imperfect—especially as a potential stud bull. Despite early attempts to correct his legs, the deformity forced him to walk on the front of his fetlocks. And even at just five days old, the damage was already beginning.

But when we first met Teddi, we didn’t see what was wrong—we saw everything that was perfect. Right from the human kindness that reached out to help him.

The blackest of coats, the softest of moos, and eyes so pleading and pure they stopped us in our tracks. His long, curled lashes blinked up at us and said, without saying a word: I am here. I am whole. Love me as I am.

And we did.

Now, under sanctuary care, Teddi’s days are filled with regular bottle feeds (which he loves), and splinting and round-the-clock rehab (which he doesn’t love quite so much). And Tommi—whom he loves the most.

His left leg is responding well. His right is still finding its way.
But Teddi is holding on. And holding up. And we continue to carry hope.

As fate would have it, Teddi arrived at the perfect time—just as another orphaned calf, Tommi, came into our care.

Perfection, as they show us daily, isn’t about straight lines, chiselled chins, or strong limbs.

It’s this:
Connection. Compassion.
A second chance. A soft friend. A safe place to land.

Teddi is perfect. Tommi is perfect.
And the love that binds them?

Perfect, in every way.