11 exhausting hours… one life saved… and I got to do it beside my mom. 

My name is Sadie and this is my mom Jan. Most people see two surgeons in scrubs, but when I look at this picture, I see the woman who inspired me my entire life.

Growing up, I watched my mom come home exhausted from surgeries, yet she still found time to care for everyone around her. She was so smart, so caring and so courageous. She taught me that medicine isn’t just about skill, it’s about compassion, sacrifice, and drive.

Today, after an intense 11-hour surgery, we stood side by side knowing someone was still alive because we put our heart into every patient, striving for the very best outcome, just as if it were one of our very own loved ones on that table.

There were moments during the procedure when exhaustion hit us hard. Our feet hurt, our hands ached, and the pressure felt overwhelming. But neither of us stopped fighting for that patient.

Sharing an operating room with my mother is something I will never take for granted. She’s not only my hero, she’s my best friend.

Tonight we’re tired, emotional, and unbelievably grateful.