25 years later
It was Ellie's first day as a surgical intern at Grey Sloan Memorial. She gathered with the other interns in the foyer. She looked up and saw friendly faces smiling down at her. Her grandmother was the distinguished head of research, her mother the head of cardio, her father was now head of trauma and her grandpa was running the residency program. Auntie Meghan was presenting as chief of surgery and uncle Nathan was the intern coordinator.
Ellie smiled up at her mom, Annie gave a small wave and returned to her whispered conversation with Teddy.
"Mama, when did my baby girl become old enough to be an intern?"
Teddy smiled, "when did you become old enough to run cardio?"
"I've been head of cardio for a few years since Nathan took over the residency program with dad. So Ellie's first surgery, do you want to bring her in on the Altman procedure with the two of us and Allison on Friday, have Ellie work with Allison as the second resident," Annie suggested.
Teddy laughed, "she's not ready for that yet. She can observe but you need a stronger resident to work on your side."
Annie replied, "my side. I thought I got Allison you two argue in the OR. And I control the playlist."
Teddy smiled, " you were way more compliant than your sister. Whose lead surgeon on it?"
Annie smiled, "my name is first on the board."
"Okay you get the music and your sister," Teddy said.
Annie teased, "perk of getting more OR time or your mellowing in old age."
"Alphabetical,"Teddy said, "but I do spend more time at my desk. You still need to give me your next proposal."
"I'm out of ideas," Annie said, "I need inspiration. I'm waiting to find the idea. How do you do it mama?"
Teddy smiled, "I never thought I would be operating in my 70s that I could teach both my girls and my granddaughter. But I've only had one or two children to worry about at a time. You have Ellie, Matt , Henry and Heather."
"Heather worries me most," Annie replied, "she's in grade 12 and has no clue what she wants to do. She wants to dance but didn't get into the strong summer programs. She's directionless. Henry starts grad school for engineering this year and Matt is in med school."
"You have your hands full," Teddy said, "and you've been able to do so much here. I still don't know how you did what you did with 4 children."
"It wasn't easy. Josh is a saint," Annie said, " I took the most time off with Heather. You have no idea how much I appreciated that year with my kids."
"I still don't know how you and Josh did it," Teddy said.
"I had an amazing example," Annie said. "You said you were going to retire in another year, before you go I want you Ellie and I to operate together."
Teddy smiled, "we will. I'm taking Ellie into my pacemaker next week."
Annie sighed, "I wanted her first cardio."
Teddy suggested, "we'll do it together."
Annie agreed, "we can do that."
The interns around Ellie gasped as the department heads were introduced. They wanted to know was Elizabeth Altman-Riggs related to Grace and Teddy Altman? It was well known that Grace and Teddy were a dynamic mother daughter pair that continually broke new ground and pioneered new ways to save lives. They were close to making it so that heart transplants would no longer be necessary."
Owen took the podium and began to go over the rules for interns, "there are five rules of internship that your residents will go over. Basically happy residents, happy attendings. I've seen lots of residents come and go over the years. This is where you begin. We hope to have all of you for the next five years. While the medicine will dominate your life don't let it be the only thing. Remember that you have lives outside this hospital, people who love you and families who stand behind you. I've been honored to do most of this with my wife and to watch my oldest daughter and son in law have brilliant careers as surgeons. Now I get the privilege to teach my youngest daughter and my granddaughter." What happens here is life and death but you have to remember to live big lives beyond medicine. I'm going to turn you over to your chief resident Dr Alison Altman-Hunt. Another word of advice: get your Altman's, Hunts and Riggs straight very quickly. We talk and are really one family."
Alison took the podium from her father, "good morning and welcome to Grey Sloan Memorial. I'm going to third what both Hunts have said in getting your Altman's , Hunts and Riggs straight. We will not be making a family tree. A little hint the women do not change their last name when they get married. Same last name is a blood relative most children have hyphenated last names. My final hint I am closer in age to my nieces and nephews than my big sister, her and my mother may sound scary but are really big softees. But on to my prepared speech. One thing I've heard from residents in the years above me who have gone on to spectacular fellowships is that they miss something very special a GSMH that here we are a family. Some of us are literally family and for others it's figurative. Your senior residents and attendings are here to support you and cheer you on. Be there for one another, build each other up. If you need anything please see me."
The interns were called in groups of three to meet their resident.
Harriet Kepner - Avery called, "Altman-Riggs, Jones, Grewal."
Annie stepped forward to follow Harriet.
Harriet opened, "were in general this week with Dr Bailey. She doesn't accept anything less than perfection."
"When will we get to cardio," Jones asked, "I want to work with the Altman's."
"You'll meet them soon enough mom and grandma like interns," Ellie said, "they're really close and work together all the time. They like to finish each other's sentences and can do a whole Altman procedure or transplant without talking. Just to bug residents they'll turn on horrible old music that they both sing to instead. They do it at home when they're cooking together."
"Mom and grandma," asked Jones.
"I'm Elizabeth Altman- Riggs. Grace is my mom and Teddy is my grandma. I usually go by Ellie," Ellie said
"I've been in the OR with both Altman's when they get in one of their surgical sing along moods. It's fun," Harriet said, "they take requests ahead of time once they get to know you."
"You're an Altman," Grewal asked.
"I am," Ellie said.
"Then your dad is which Riggs," asked Grewal
"Josh the head of trauma," Ellie replied, "and Owen Hunt is my grandpa."
Bailey called, "Altman-Riggs with me for an appy now."
Annie messaged Teddy to meet her in the gallery, "Ellie got the intern appy let's go cheer her on. I hate this tradition but we have to support Ellie."
Annie met Teddy in the same gallery Annie had watched her first transplant in.
"Remember the first time you came in," Teddy asked.
"Yep, Christina abandoned me with April and Jackson stripped in the locker room right in front of me while Meredith and Alex freaked out that you had a kid. I was 19," Annie said.
"I remember that," Jackson said, "you were so embarrassed."
Annie laughed, "first time a guy had stripped in front of me. Not a bad memory. You also used to get me to help you with scut when I was still premed. "
"You would do my scut for peanut butter cups," Jackson laughed.
"I copied half your charts because you write like a six year old," Annie teased.
"I almost took you off my service for poor penmanship," Teddy laughed.
Annie turned back to Teddy,"I can't believe it's your last year mama."
"Annie I've had an amazing career, I'll have trained both of my daughters and will get my granddaughter started. I've done more than I ever thought I would do when I started. I want one more big surgery with you and your sister," Teddy said.
"We'll get something good," Annie said, "I did my first solo cardio and transplant with you. I'm scrubbing in on your last and bringing my daughter."
Teddy smiled, "my last one I want all of my girls there with me. Make it a family affair invite Owen and Meghan."
"Then we need Josh and Nathan," Annie replied, "have we ever all operated on the same patient at the same time."
"Not since you were a resident," Teddy said, "we should though. "
"Too many cooks in the kitchen," April said, "your all control freaks in the OR."
After the Appy which Ellie did make a few mistakes in but Bailey was able to get her though she met the rest of her group in the locker room.
Jones asked, "Ellie why did the older dr Altman call the younger one Annie? I thought her name was Grace."
Ellie replied, "mom's name is Grace but her middle name is Annabeth. There's a long story but my mom wasn't always Grace Altman. Grandma was only 20 or 21 when she had mom. So my mom grew up with family in Vancouver B.C. one of the medi vac helicopter pilots the one who doubles as a trauma nurse is mom's half brother uncle Chris is awesome. Former military pilot and a trauma nurse. Mom went by Annie until she was 22. You'll know if it's my family because they still call her Annie."
"How does your family work I've heard a few combinations of Altman, Hunt and Riggs today," Jones said.
"So grandma and grandpa have my mom then Allison Altman-Hunt the chief resident is my aunt, there's also Leo Atman hunt but he's a trauma surgeon with the army he followed his parents into the army both grandma and grandpa are veterans. I have two younger brothers In college school and a sister in her senior year of high school. Then Faroke Hunt-Riggs in plastics is my cousin he's the oldest his parents are Meghan Hunt the chief and Nathan Riggs the intern coordinator. My cousin Catrina Hunt Riggs is an ER intern," Ellie said.
"Enough pressure," Jones said.
"Mom had her mother as chief when she was a resident I can do this," Ellie declared, "it'll be fine mom isn't as demanding as grandma."
THE END