I recently brought my kitty, Alley, to Thrive Hoffman Estates because she suddenly stopped eating, and my experience absolutely blew me away. From the moment we walked in, the entire team showed genuine compassion, professionalism, and an incredibly high standard of medical care.
Dr. Hoffberg was the first doctor to see Alley, and she was wonderful. She explained everything with such clarity and patience, including what diagnostics were needed to figure out the cause of Alley’s “hunger strike.” Later, Alley had an ultrasound with the radiologist, Dr. Powers, who also took the time to thoroughly explain the findings and answer all my questions.
When Dr. Hoffberg recommended hospitalizing Alley for hydration and medications, I was so anxious about leaving her - Alley means the world to me. But the kindness and reassurance from the team made such a difference. Her day technician, Gracey, was phenomenal. She was so understanding about Alley's (admittedly spoiled!) food preferences and the very specific way it needed to be served. She made me feel seen and never judged, which meant so much.
That evening, when I visited Alley, her overnight doctor, Dr. Barry, was just as compassionate and kind. And her overnight nurse, Kerry, was truly exceptional. She was gentle, caring, and clearly dedicated to making her patients feel safe. To ease my stress, Kerry even sent me a text, photos, and a video of Alley throughout the night. Alley is an extremely shy cat who doesn’t warm up to anyone - not even my husband - so watching her happily rub her face on Kerry absolutely melted my heart. It also gave me complete peace of mind that I had made the right decision leaving her in their care.
I picked Alley up the next day, and she is back to her normal self. The moment we got home, she started eating again. I cannot thank the team at Thrive Hoffman Estates enough for the compassion, skill, and genuine love they showed my girl.
I recommend this hospital to everyone. They treated Alley like family, and I will forever be grateful for the incredible care they provided. 💛🐾
As the anniversary of my dog Rocky’s passing approaches, I’ve been reflecting on the people who made one of the hardest moments of my life a little more bearable, and Dr. Lingner is at the very top of that list.
From the moment we arrived at Thrive Emergency Vet, Dr. Lingner showed a level of compassion, patience, and empathy that I will never forget. She didn’t just treat Rocky; she cared for our entire family. She took the time to explain everything clearly, gave us space to process, and supported us through an incredibly painful decision with such kindness and dignity.
What stood out most was how human she was in that moment. She understood what Rocky meant to us and treated him with such gentleness and respect during his final moments. That kind of care goes far beyond medicine, it’s something truly special.
Saying goodbye to Rocky was one of the hardest things I’ve ever experienced, but Dr. Lingner made sure he was comfortable, peaceful, and surrounded by love. I will always be grateful for that.
Thank you, Dr. Lingner, for your compassion, your professionalism, and your heart. You made an unbearable moment a little more manageable, and that is something I will never forget.