Remembering Sheryl 🌻

The first time I met Sheryl was during my in-person meeting at Swedish. She greeted me with a warm smile, a raspy voice, and an energy that immediately felt like home. Later, I’d learn she was a smoker—but that didn’t matter. What mattered was that I had found another seasoned soul to walk alongside in this work.

Sheryl helped me learn the ropes. She had already put in fifteen years at Swedish, working with Dr. Hanscom and Dr. Hart, and eventually chose to step into the role of Patient Service Specialist rather than carry the stress of a Patient Care Coordinator. She was a wealth of knowledge, but more importantly, she was a true work sister.

She made Olivia and me laugh constantly. So thin, yet always eating—her food tucked into the drawer beside her, opened and closed all day long as she snacked between calls. Breaks weren’t for food; they were for her smoke at the same time every single day. That was Sheryl—steady, dependable, uniquely herself.

We bonded over being the “senior seasoned sisters.” Both of us had adult daughters and grandchildren, and we shared stories of their triumphs and challenges. God could not have blessed me with a better companion for that season of my life.

One memory that stays with me was flu shot season. I had just injured myself with radiculopathy, and Sheryl insisted on pushing me in a wheelchair so I could get my shot with her. That was who she was—someone who looked out for the people she cared about.

On September 16, 2024, Janice called me while I was working from home to tell me that Sheryl had passed. I can still feel that crushing weight in my chest, the disbelief that someone who had been so full of life on Friday could be gone by Monday. Even today, the grief lingers.

Her presence, though, is still with us. In the office stands a focus tree with her photo beside it—the same plant she once cared for in Dr. Hart’s office. Now Erick tends to it, and every time I see it, I remember her love for the little details that made a place feel alive. Dr. O once told me he admired how I advocate for patients in the clinic, saying it reminded him of Sheryl. That was one of the greatest compliments I’ve ever received.

This week, I found myself talking about her, even before I realized the anniversary of her passing had come and gone. And this morning, as I sat down, I noticed her smiling face behind me and had to take a picture. It was as if she was reminding me—she is still here in spirit, still making me smile, still walking with me. ❤️

Sheryl was more than a coworker. She was family. She was laughter, guidance, companionship, and love. And I will always carry her with me.