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It’s been a tough year for Meredith Grey. The mother of three and lead character on Grey’s Anatomy got fired from her job, spent time in jail, and faced the very real possibility of losing her medical license.

That’s not to mention her community service stint, her daughter’s health issues, and the end of her first stable relationship in several years. 

But it’s more than the past year, Meredith Grey has definitely had to fight through some challenges to get to where she is today. And while many fans will agree that the death of her husband was arguably the worst thing to happen to the talented doctor, there’s one tragic event that many fans seem to forget. 

It’s been a long road for Meredith Grey

Ellen Pompeo in Grey's Anatomy
ELLEN POMPEO, DEVIKA PARIKH | Kelsey McNeal/ABC via Getty Images

Meredith Grey has come a long way since she first met Derek Shepherd in Joe’s bar. That young faced intern has grown into an award-winning surgeon who’s not afraid to take chances. But it hasn’t been easy. 

Meredith grew up without a father. Her father left when she was a child and eventually started a family with another woman. Her mother wasn’t really there for her either, focusing more on her work than her young child. 

Meredith’s issues were apparent from the very beginning of Grey’s Anatomy. She struggled with her relationship with Derek and battled very dark personal demons.

At one point Meredith fell into the Puget Sound and decided to give up fighting, dying before her fellow surgeons saved her.

Even though they were able to bring her back to life, she has spent her years learning to live alongside the demons of her past.

The death of her husband changed who she is today

Meredith Grey and Derek Shepherd have always been the dream couple. Their relationship is one that you wish you had. Their love was instant and survived so many obstacles. When Derek died at the end of Season 11, fans were heartbroken. Meredith and the show would never be the same.

Meredith took her husband’s death hard and she dealt with it the only way she knew how. She disappeared with her children in the middle of the night, and only returned when she gave birth to her third child.

Though Meredith has survived and arguably became a better doctor, her relationships and family have never been the same. It took a long time for her to open up herself to be with anyone else. 

There’s one tragic event that fans always forget

It can be hard to keep track of everything that Meredith Grey has had to endure. She has lost both parents, a spouse, siblings, and friends. She has been fired, suspended, and been personally challenged in ways that most people never will.

But there’s one event that seems to be forgotten, not because it was unimportant or because it didn’t affect the doctor, but merely because it is one of many tragic events. 

During Season 12, Meredith was treating an accident victim. The victim had a seizure and suffered from post-seizure hyper-aggression. The typically mild-mannered man became suddenly and viciously aggressive. He attacked Meredith and left her helpless on the floor, as he faded back into unconsciousness. 

It was several minutes until Meredith was found. At that point, she could not hear or speak. The attack also affected Meredith psychologically and she suffered from severe anxiety in the weeks that followed. 

It’s hard to say how much the events of that day and the weeks that followed truly effected Meredith Grey. And perhaps fans have become numb to the trauma the surgeon has endured because there has just been so much

Throughout every tragedy, Dr. Grey has only come out stronger. While it may be tough to watch Meredith struggle so much, the pain and heartache have made her into the fearless doctor she is today.