Loss

I found out last week that one of my orthopaedic residents from Saskatoon was killed in a highway accident. Judy, the academic administrator at the University, called me before the long weekend to let me know. In my tenure at the Association we’ve lost so many members over the years but none as young as Brad Ardell. Brad was only 29. He was in the accident with his youngest brother Mark who was also killed in the crash. Mark was only 16.

I’ve always adored the Saskatoon residents. They are a very tiny, tight-knit program that turns out top notch residents. The Saskatoon kids are often seen at my conventions traveling as a small herd – attending every session together, every break together – you can’t split them up if you tried. I could only imagine how this tragedy has shaken their program to its core.

I didn’t know Brad very well – I met him at last summer’s conference very briefly – but I can’t get this accident out of my head. The thought of his parents having to bury two of their boys on the same day…it’s incomprehensible why anyone should have to go through this. Judy told me that the family is holding up strong, deeply rooted in their faith and pulling together. As reassuring as she sounded, I can’t stop imagining the sleepless nights their poor mother must live through and that incredible loss that will never ever go away. To have raised those boys into their manhood, to have lived through all of that life with them – it all feels so unjust.

My thoughts are with the Ardell family.