IN MEMORY OF ED
Our friend and mentor Dr. Ed Thornton was one of the 3,979 people in the U.S. that transitioned from this life due to COVID on Jan 23, 2021. In college, Nate (my husband) worked as a secretary in the Emergency Department and watched carefully as Ed interacted with patients and handled traumas. Ed encouraged my husband every day, convincing him he had what it took to go to medical school. Eight years later Ed and his wife Jana drove 712 miles to watch Nate actually graduate from med school. He has been a personal and professional mentor.
Dr. Thornton felt a deep calling toward disaster medicine and was one of the first to respond to Hurricane Katrina. This is my favorite photo of him.
He came out of retirement to selflessly help with the COVID-19 pandemic which ultimately took his life. He will always be remembered in our house as a friend, encourager, epic story teller and mentor. Rest in peace Ed. We love you. Thank you.
I imagine you too are navigating personal and/ or collective grief. I see you and want to validate that there is no right way to grieve. It isn't by the book. Whatever is happening for you today, know that you are loved, you are cherished and you are worthy.