Life Stories 01/07/2025 17:00

When Papa's Missing, Gordon Still Brings the Joy—One Yellow Hippo at a Time

A heartfelt story about family, routine, and a loyal pup named Gordon who never forgets to show off his favorite toy—even when his best friend, Papa, is away in the hospital.


Yesterday, what felt like a lifetime ago, began with a phone call no one wants to receive. Papa had taken a fall in a parking lot. The ambulance was already en route.

He was in New York. She was in Boston. That distance made the uncertainty even more difficult. Though loved ones reassured her that Papa hadn’t hit his head, the X-rays were crucial—and soon revealed a painful truth: multiple pelvic fractures. Painful, yes. Serious, definitely. But, thankfully, not life-threatening.

Without waiting for a reply, she packed up and hit the road. Seven hours later, she arrived at the hospital, taking over for friends who had kept vigil until she arrived. While Luau and Brooke returned home to care for Gordon—the family’s beloved dog—she stayed overnight, sitting beside her father, holding vigil through the long night.

The next morning, exhaustion hit hard. She called Luau to swap shifts, heading back home to rest while he took over Papa duty.

That’s where Gordon comes in.

It was groomer day—something Papa never missed. Not even broken bones could interrupt his neatly timed routines. True to form, he gave instructions from his hospital bed, ensuring that Gordon would be freshly fluffed.

But the part that no calendar could capture was the tradition that always followed: whenever Papa and Gordon returned from any outing, Gordon would rush to fetch his yellow stuffed hippo. He’d zoom around the living room, proudly parading the toy, pausing only to present it to Papa. And without fail, Papa would respond, “You got your toy! Good boy, Gordon!” before the laps continued.

Today, Gordon ran to find his hippo, as always. But Papa wasn’t there.

She tried her best to fill the space left behind—cheering, clapping, expressing excitement. But something about Gordon’s eager face made it clear: it wasn’t quite the same without Papa’s voice.

So she took a photo. Not just for memory’s sake, but to send to Papa in the hospital. It was Gordon’s way of saying: I miss you. Here’s my toy.

📸 This is Gordon. His coat may be freshly trimmed, but his heart is full of love—and it’s waiting for Papa to come home.

Credit: With love and fur-covered devotion, this story was inspired by a family moment too sweet not to share.

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