I met Cate the day my daughter Ella came skipping home with her in 4th grade. She was smiling, wearing a big stadium jacket and looked like a fun tomboyish cutie. I took the girls down to the beach and told Cate about looking for  beach glass. I started looking around and when I turned, they had stripped to their underwear and went giggling and shrieking into the water. I was amazed and just stood there watching them splash and it was a moment of pure happiness. Two wild girls had found their matches. 

Through the years Cate and her family had become family to us and Cate was often a fixture at our house and Ella a fixture at the Edgell’s. They lived full throttle through the years, sometimes being a bit or more than a bit on the wild side. But I am so thankful now that they did. They lived life so fully together and when my niece Rosie passed, Cate was there, loving , hugging and consoling everyone with her big gigantic heart.

The last time I saw Cate was late summer. She was home for a visit and so had Ella. We spent the perfect day in the yard catching up, then at the beach and finally at Vangos, a local favorite restaurant. We laughed so much and it was the perfect day. Then we each got one of Cate beautiful, real, heartfelt hugs and parted ways. Not knowing. I am so incredibly happy for that day.

Cate, thanks for meeting Ella on the playground that first day and skipping down the street with her into our hearts. We’re absolutely crushed, but I’ll remember everything, especially your incredible laugh which came so easily.  

I pray for strength for your beautiful family and friends and I will hold your sweet memories in my heart for all time. 💔❤️

I met Dr Edgell on her first day as a hospitalist in the ICU at Meridian Park. I think a lot of us mistook her for somebody else and warmly greeted her. She warmly responded "Hi, I'm Cate!" And then she proceeded to compliment us on just how friendly we are.

Well played Cate. Well played.

I wish I could say that every new staff member is as warmly greeted as Cate was - even if accidentally. We can sometimes be very short and to the point and not very warm.

But I'll never forget how Cate responded. It was like a lesson in how to move through life, and I took notes:

1) Embrace the offer that is given you

2) Develop a response that  comes from a deep understanding of the good inside the intent of the other.

3) Laugh and say, "Here's my first name, we're friends now, let's go sort out this trainwreck patient together."

Later that day, Cate mentioned she was hungry but was too busy to get down to the cafeteria. So...I stole a sandwich for her from a catered meal in another unit.

Also that same day, there was a patient with complex social dynamics who was teetering between intubating and palliating. Suffice it to say that we (ICU nurses and RTs) - were pushy. Too pushy. Cate, however, was brilliant. She came at the situation sideways and found a path that worked for everybody.

I took notes from her on that approach too.

Since their arrival, we have spent a lot of time with both Tony and Cate. And even though they both arrived at a time when there were so many barriers to really getting to know someone (we all wear face masks, we're all over-stretched and undermanned and therefore prone to being tired and cranky) - they both brought energy, perspective, and a deep kindness and joy. They were a team, and they made us a better team. They were balm. They were Joy.

Sometimes in the hospital, love is a sandwich. My primal love language is..."Here, I stole a sandwich for you."  If Tony or Cate ever said they were hungry, I would make sure they got a sandwich. 

Cate leaves behind a giant hole in the gorgeous potential she embodied, both for herself, and for this community. 

 There are not enough sandwiches to fill the hole. 

 Writing this will not fill the hole. 

But much much like Cate came at hard situations sideways, with Joy and Brilliance, I will do my best to channel some Cate, and begin along the path she has laid:

1) Embrace the offer that is given to us. 

2) Summon her gorgeous gifts:  joy, brilliance, perspective, kindness.

3) Channel those gifts, and use them to address the next trainwreck patient...together.