A Thanksgiving of ER Visits, Fear, and Unexpected Gratitude.
- Kerstin Lindquist
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Hi friends,
We surprised the kids with a new puppy for Christmas this year. After nearly two years of begging, my husband and I finally felt like it was the right time. What we didn’t expect was just how hard those first days would be.
Two days after bringing little Sailor Pudge home, he started showing signs of respiratory distress. By Thanksgiving morning, his tiny 8-week-old body was struggling so much that he ended up on oxygen in the ER.
Just hours later, I found myself in a different emergency room—this time with my dad, who was in severe pain and having complications from a minor surgery. He was admitted and spent Thanksgiving night in the hospital.
Meanwhile, my kids and I took turns through the night caring for a failing puppy—nebulizing him, syringe-feeding Pedialyte, praying over him, and doing everything we could to keep him alive.
For 48 hours, it felt like crisis on top of crisis.
Honestly? I didn’t think the puppy was going to make it. The vets couldn’t pinpoint the respiratory infection, and we had no choice but to wait, watch, and pray the antibiotics would work.
By God’s mercy, both of our boys—my dad and our puppy—began to rally.And three days later, exhausted but deeply grateful, we found ourselves on the other side of a very unexpected Thanksgiving.
Even in the chaos, I felt so thankful.Thankful for excellent hospitals close by.Thankful to be able to sit with my dad.Thankful for a repair shop that fixed the flat tire I got on the way to the hospital (yes… really).Thankful that my kids stayed healthy.Thankful for leftovers and for all the messages you sent.
It wasn’t the Thanksgiving we planned—but it’s one we’ll never forget.
And as Advent begins, I find myself expectant for the goodness God is preparing for each of us.
I also know that what I walked through in a few intense days is what some of you have been living through for months or even years. Please hear me: you are not alone. Our God is bigger than disease, bigger than fear, bigger than death itself. He sees you. He loves you. And He is strong enough to carry the burdens that feel too heavy for you today.
This Advent season, let Him be King over your concerns.
Happy Advent, friends.
Xoxo,Kerstin
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Sailor recovering & my dad and step mom out with us on the bay.
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