Chicago lost three healers Monday, Nov. 19.
Samuel Jimenez. A police officer, 28. Married with three young children. On the police force for less than two years.
Tamara O'Neal. An emergency room doctor, 38. Graduated from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago in 2016 and worked at Mercy for two years.
Dayna Less. A first-year pharmacy resident, 24. Getting off the elevator at Mercy when she was struck by a bullet.
All three were killed by a gunman who, authorities say, came to confront O'Neal, possibly over a broken wedding engagement.
All three chose professions that save. Professions that protect.
All three died while practicing them.
"I knew her, trained with her, saved lives with her and tonight, tried to save her life," University of Chicago emergency doctor John Purakal tweeted Monday, about O'Neal. "Tonight, I broke down in front of my coworkers when we lost her, and tonight I held hands with her mother in prayer. Tonight, we lost a beautiful, resilient, passionate doc. Keep singing, TO."
Now it's time for Chicago to help heal their families. We owe them that.
I watched this city wrap its arms around my friend Erin, when her husband, Cmdr. Paul Bauer, was killed in February.
I watched this city wrap its arms around their daughter, Grace.
I watched thousands of people line the blocks around Nativity of Our Lord Church in Bridgeport on a frigid Friday night, waiting to pay their respects.
I watched thousands show up the next morning for his funeral, so much so that the church's overflow rooms had to be set up with folding chairs and screens, broadcasting the priest's message.
Erin Bauer wrote a beautiful note to this city, the one she's lived in all her life.
"I saw people of every color taking time out of their day, not only to pay respects to Paul, but to the entire Chicago Police Department," she wrote. "They are the men and women who selflessly put their lives on the line each day to protect people they don't even know. They are my new family.
"I saw each and every one of you from the darkened window of my car. The good people in this world far outnumber the bad. Grace and I are humbled, as Paul would be.
"One man almost stole my faith in humanity, but the city of Chicago and the rest of the nation restored it, and I want to thank you for that."
I've watched that support continue in the months following his death. Last week was Paul's birthday. There was a ceremony outside Guaranteed Rate Field, where one of the city's Horses of Honor, the painted, life-size police horse statues, was dedicated in his honor.
None of it lessens the grief. Nothing can. But it reminds them they're not alone in it.
Jimenez's family, O'Neal's family, Less' family _ they're going through hell. Two days before Thanksgiving, and their loved ones were just stolen from their lives. Forever. For what?
I know this city's heart. It breaks, over and over. Especially today. But its capacity for loving and lifting its people is infinite.
Let's get to work.
