Kate Ott, MD

Northwestern General Surgery Resident | Former Fetal Fellow and current Pediatric Surgery Fellow at Lurie Children’s | UPenn and WUSTL Med alum | Mom 🏳️‍🌈

[Reads with Ravi @readswithravi]

THIS:

[Mr PitBull Stories @MrPitbull07]

"I’m 79. My name’s Agnes. I walk to Oakwood Elementary every Tuesday and Thursday at 2:45 p.m. Not for my grandkids, I don’t have any. I go for them. The kids waiting for parents who are late. Again.

It started three years ago. I saw Miguel sitting alone on the school’s concrete steps, tracing math problems in the dirt with a stick. His mom worked double shifts at the canning factory. His homework was smudged with tears.

I didn’t say much. Just pulled a folding chair from my tote bag (I carry it everywhere, bad knees) and sat beside him. "Show me where you’re stuck, mijo," I said. He flinched like I’d startled a bird. But he showed me.

I was a teacher for 42 years. Fractions, state capitals, how to hold a pencil, I know them like my own heartbeat. That day, we solved 3 problems in the dirt. When his mom finally rushed up, breathless and apologizing, I just nodded. "He’s got a good mind," I told her. Her eyes got wet. Not from sadness. From being seen.

Next week, I brought my old teacher’s stool and a clipboard. Set up under the oak tree across from the school gates. No sign. No fanfare. Just me, my red pen, and a jar of butterscotch candies.

Kids started coming. Not all at once. First Miguel. Then Aisha, whose dad’s truck broke down again. Jamal, who whispered, "My grandma’s sick." I never asked why parents were late. I just opened my clipboard.

Some days, I only helped one child. Other days, five crowded around my stool. I taught multiplication tables while braiding Maya’s hair. Showed Leo how to write his name in cursive on a foggy window. Never took money. Never called the school. This wasn’t their job. It was ours.

Then came Mrs. Chen. She stood at the edge of the sidewalk for weeks, watching her daughter Linh hover near my bench but never approach. One rainy Thursday, Mrs. Chen finally walked over. Her hands shook. "I failed school," she admitted in broken English. "I can’t help her." I slid my stool aside. "Sit," I said. "Today, you do the math. I’ll hold the umbrella."

Last month, the principal found me packing up in the rain. "We’ve had complaints," he said gently. "About ‘unauthorized tutoring.’" I braced for the end. But then Linh ran over, dragging her mother. Aisha brought her little brother. Miguel stood tall beside his mom, the one who once cried on the steps. Twelve parents and kids formed a circle around my soggy stool. "This bench stays," Miguel told the principal. "Or we all leave."

Today, the PTA provides the folding chairs. Retired nurses check kids’ ears for infections. A barber gives free trims. But the homework bench? That’s still mine.

Last Tuesday, Linh placed a college acceptance letter on my clipboard. "You taught me numbers," she said. "But you taught Mama something bigger." She pointed to Mrs. Chen, now helping a boy sound out words. "You taught us we’re not broken."

I packed up my red pen that night, my hands steady for the first time in years. Here’s what nobody tells you about growing old, The world doesn’t need your savings or your spare room. It needs your stubborn, ordinary love. Show up. Sit down. Make space. The rest will grow around you like wildflowers through concrete.”

Let this story reach more hearts....

By Mary Nelson

[NW Gen Surg Residents @purplesurg]

You’re looking at some of the six happiest people in the hospital: general surgery residents who get to pass their intern pager off 😂

[Rachel Joung @RachelJoung_MD]

Finally graduated from @NMSurgery @purplesurg residency alongside my amazing co-residents. I was thankful everyday to have spent the most formative years of my life here, and thankful for the village who got me through it!

[Northwestern Surgery @NMSurgery]

We are proud to announce this year's Allen B Kanavel Surgical Scholar award winner 🏆 @JessieHo_

[Kate Ott, MD @KateOttMD]

Grateful to the wonderful team @NM_ObGyn! #preeclampsia #preeclampsiaawarenessmonth

[Preeclampsia Foundation @preeclampsia]

Today is #WorldPreeclampsiaDay

Together, we can #PreventPredictPrevail over #preeclampsia—so more moms and babies around the world can experience safe births.

#PreAM24 #Preeclampsia
#preeclampsiaawarenessmonth

[Satish Nadig, MD PhD @SatishNadig]

Double lung liver for advanced lung cancer. A medical first. Proud to be a part of this team. @NMSurgery #northwesterntransplantstrong

[Thomas Inge @drtominge]

Excited to announce Dr. Mehul Raval as our Division Head, Pediatric Surgery! After an extensive national search, his clinical and academic expertise, leadership experience, and dedication to Lurie Children’s set him apart. He will hold the Orvar Swenson Chair in Pediatric Surgery

[Leah Tatebe @LeahTatebe]

Pumpkin carving time instead of sim lab today 🎃 check out these amazing creations from future transplant, MIS, and vascular surgeons! 👻

@purplesurg @NMSurgery

[Kate Ott, MD @KateOttMD]

Steven Papastefan presenting amazing fetal lamb work from @ChicagoFetal at IFMSS in Sweden! @LurieChildrens @LuriePedSurg @Lurieneurosurg

[Kate Ott, MD @KateOttMD]

Written boards ✅! @NMSurgery

[Courtney Harris, MD @courtneyjharris]

I’m so proud to be part of @LuriePedSurg @LurieChildrens and an alum of @NMSurgery. What a great @MakeAWish!

Patient, 12, is ‘Doctor for a Day’ at Northwestern, Lurie Children’s https://t.co/HLArpKZ7pE via @YouTube

[Matt Snyder @MattSnyderMD]

Boom!! @MDAndersonNews is getting an absolute boss

[Leah Tatebe @LeahTatebe]

Touching tribute from @MattSnyderMD to those who have tremendous impact on our patients and on us #ServantLeader #BeLikeMillie 🥹

[Kate Ott, MD @KateOttMD]

Bittersweet saying goodbye today to my former co-interns. It’s been an honor to call you colleagues, friends and family. You have each become amazing surgeons and I can’t wait to see you lead our field forward. @BBrajcich @chia_md @MattSnyderMD @AvaGC_MD @aaronkearney

[Leah Tatebe @LeahTatebe]

Happy EB / Graduation day!! Celebrating our chief residents, @NMSurgery research, and creating a vision for the future. #PurplePride

[Rodrigo Gerardo, M.D. 🟧 @RodGerardo]

Dr Seth Goldstein talks about robotic J pouch … in a 10kg patient!! #APSA23

[LurieChildrenSurgery @LuriePedSurg]

@SZeineddinMD with a great TeenLabs follow-up study with @drtominge very well received @APSASurgeons #APSA2023

[Dr. Chethan Sathya, MD MSCE @drchethansathya]

So fortunate to have @meganranney deliver our keynote address on firearm injury prevention at @APSASurgeons #APSA2023 @mcwhmd

[LurieChildrenSurgery @LuriePedSurg]

Dr McElhinney presenting her fertility preservation work with @ErinERowell to a full house @APSASurgeons #APSA2023