An Open Letter to Dr. April Kepner
When she came on screen she was bubbly, persistent, and honestly kind of annoying, but as the years went on I grew to love her character. A woman that evolved from a scared virgin resident to a fierce, strong trauma surgeon, April Kepner has shown the world what it is like to grow into the best version of yourself. The character development is arguably the most profound of the entire Grey’s Anatomy cast.
I remember the early Dr. Kepner as the doe-eyed resident who pleas for her life from Gary Clark after her best friend Reed is killed. The Dr. Kepner who feels emotion to the depth of her core, unapologetically. It is because of Dr. Kepner’s ardent nature that she becomes fearless. A fearlessness of life that took nine years to be revealed. Because when April’s character was let go in Season 8, it wasn’t a blow to the cast. I didn’t find myself mourning like with George, or Lexi, or Mark...However, when her character returned, April re-filled a gap in the show no one knew was there. Grey’s Anatomy needs an April Kepner. Television viewers need an April Kepner. Watching this character endure the excitement and pain of motherhood strengthened her character beyond maternal instincts. A once fragile girl became a fierce woman.
Not only is her character vital to represent the spiritual side of medicine, but the raw emotions that come with it. There is no other character that passionately loves everyone. There is no other character that comes to life in the heat of trauma. There is no other character that recklessly speaks of his/her beliefs. There is no other character like April Kepner.
And for that I’m thankful. I’m thankful for the portrayal of April on screen because she is a character that needed to be shown for the world. A character that, when departs, is a loss for television. Her faith in God shows that you don’t have to separate the darkness from hope, that one lends to the latter. Her passion for trauma showed that once you find your calling there’s no turning back. Her loss of Samuel showed that pain should be felt, grief is okay, and loss is ingrained in you forever. Her labor of Harriet showed that there is no greater earthly love then a mother’s to her child and no greater human strength than a determined woman. Her love with Jackson showed that there is true, epic love that never fades. Her relationships with her colleagues show that loyalty, patience, compassion, and understanding are the key to any friendship. Her breakdown shows that it’s okay to have a breaking point, and it’s okay to immerse yourself in that brokenness. Her survival of the car accident shows that life and love are worth fighting for. Her love for every human without prejudice shows that Christianity and Progressivism can coexist in one heart.
There are not enough words to do your character justice, but thank you is a good place to start. As a Christian girl who grew up watching Grey’s Anatomy through my own times of love, loss, and tragedy, I found strength in your character. So thank you, Dr. April Kepner. Thank you for being the tough warrior mom, the fervent trauma surgeon, the loving dependent friend, the strong Christian woman...one of the greatest role models on television. Thank you for showing that you can be both a swan and a soldier. Thank you for showing what it’s like to be unapologetically human. Thank you, Sarah Drew, for devoting nine years to this dynamic character. A character, that after season 14's finale, I will mourn just as much as any death on the show. Thank you for giving so much to this character that it feels like I’m saying goodbye to a friend.
