20 Heartbreaking Scenes From Grey's Anatomy We Still Don't Forgive Shonda Rhimes For

ABC's Grey's Anatomy has been running strong since 2005. Throughout all 15 seasons, there is one thing you can always count on with Grey's Anatomy - heartbreak and tears.

The constant twists, turns, and tragedies have pushed this series through 15 years and into 3 different spinoffs. There is a reason so many people joke around saying they will be sending the show's creator, Shonda Rhimes, their therapist bills. Grey's Anatomy is a show that can make you laugh, cry, scream, and smile all in one episode.

No matter how much we hate when our emotions are taken on a rollercoaster, we just can't leave Shondaland and frankly, we do not want to. But that does not mean we have forgiven her for taking away some of our most favorite characters in some of the most horrible ways.

If you are new to Grey's Anatomy, welcome. And also, this article contains several spoilers from seasons 1 to 14.

If you are a Grey's Anatomy veteran, settle down with a big box of tissues. We're about to take you back to 20 of Grey's Anatomy's most heartbreaking scenes that we will never get over and are guaranteed to still make you cry.

20 McDreamy Gets Dropped

Let's just cut to the chase and get to one of the most painful moment in Grey's Anatomy history. The moment Derek Shepherd died was everything from surprising to unforgivable. Our hearts collectively shattered during season 11, episode 21.

McDreamy and Meredith were finally in a good spot in their marriage again; he was just trying to do his doctorly duty and help people in need.

He succeeded and was leaving scratch free. And then, well, you know what happens next. One of the worst parts of the whole thing is Derek knew he wasn't going to make it; he knew the doctors weren't prepared.

19 Cristina Leaves Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital

Cristina leaving Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital for a job in Switzerland, in season 10, episode 24, was devastating. It was an amazing opportunity for her that she absolutely could not pass up - girl power and all that. But how could she leave Meredith behind?Cristina's final goodbye message to Meredith after they have their last “dance it out” moment was moving, to say the least. She looks at Mer and tells her,

“You are a gifted surgeon with an extraordinary mind. Don't let what he wants eclipse what you need. He's very dreamy, but he's not the sun. You are.”

That was the ultimate best-friend moment in the history of television.

18 Little Grey Gets Dropped

Lexie Grey was everyone's favorite little sister and one of the most unexpected drops of Grey's Anatomy. The season 8 plane crash episode (episode 24) still gives us nightmares.

Seeing Mark finally confess his undying love to Lexie is an image forever burned into our minds.

If there is one thing we can take away from this moment, don't wait to tell someone you love them. You never know when it might be too late. How any of us have survived past this moment without our Lexipedia is beyond me.

17 We Think Mark Is Going To Live…

Shonda Rhimes had a pretty decent reason for why she had to drop Mark, so we'll give her that. But it doesn't hurt any less. Rhimes explained on her WhoSay page,

“Mark would never abandon willingly Sofia and he would never willingly abandon Callie [… ] And he and Lexie get to be together in a way. Their love remains true.”

We ended season 8 not knowing Mark was going to leave, though. The first time we saw Mark in season 9, he was lying unconscious in the hospital. Catching up to everything that happened to the plane crash survivors after being found was rough.

16 The Hospital Was In Danger

We felt all the emotions during Grey's Anatomy season 6, episodes 23 and 24. The former hospital patient's husband Gary Clark, went on a vengeful spree looking for Derek Shepherd and Richard Webber.

No one was safe during these episodes. We literally held our breath from start to finish, hoping and praying all would survive.

However, we soon came to realize that was not the case. We lost both Dr. Reed Adamson and Dr. Charles Percy. Alex Karev, Derek Shepherd, and Owen Hunt were all shot. Meredith had a miscarriage and Cristina was forced to perform one of the most stressful surgeries in her entire career.

15 Bailey Breaking Down

The moment Gary Clark entered the room where Miranda Bailey, Charles Percy, and patient Mary Portman (played by Mandy Moore), we stopped breathing. After discovering Percy was a surgeon, Gary took it out on him. He then pulled Bailey out from under the bed and questioned her. In this moment, she insisted she was a nurse, so he let her go.

While Bailey and Mary were tending to Percy's injuries with little to no supplies, Bailey looks up confused as to why the bandages are getting wet. Mary points out that it was because Bailey was crying. Bailey has more heartbreaking meltdowns later in the episode before finally holding on to Percy as he passes away.

14 When Cristina Is Forced To Operate Under Intense Pressure

Derek was one of Gary's victims and Cristina and Meredith had to run to his aid. Cristina knows she has to do anything in her power to save his life. After finally making it to an operating room, Cristina instructs April Kepner to keep Meredith from watching the surgery.

Later, when Owen appears, it is revealed that Gart has made his way into the operating room and threatened Cristina to stop operating on Derek and let him go. The whole moment erupts into complete chaos leading to Owen being hit and Meredith screaming at Gary to take her instead.

13 Thatcher Lets It Out On Meredith

It was just hiccups. Just hiccups. After Meredith Grey's mother, Ellis, passes, she started bonding more with her birth father, Thatcher and his new wife Susan. Susan and Thatcher came to the hospital, in season 3 episode, 23, for help after Susan developed a serious case of the hiccups.

After her initial procedure, Susan returned to the hospital with a fever, and then again with cramping pains. It was discovered she had become septic, and despite everyone's best efforts, she didn't make it. When Meredith went to deliver the news to Thatcher, you could visibly see his entire world crumble. After learning the news, he ends up slapping Meredith and basically blamed her for the whole thing.

12 Denny Gets A New Heart…

How could you not love a character like Denny Duquette? When we first met Denny, he was a charming cardio patient. Soon, Izzie Stevens developed a strong, emotional connection with him. His medical condition was up and down until finally, it became clear he would need a new heart if he was to live.

With help from the other interns, Izzie arranged a completely nutty plan that involved cutting Denny's LVAD wire and basically hijacking a heart transplant. It all worked out in the end, though. Denny proposed to Izzie and they were going to live happily ever after. Until he had a stroke, in season 2, episode 27 and passed.

11 Everything To Do With April And Jackson's First Baby

April Kepner and Jackson Avery were a special couple; they grew together as people and were truly happy together at one point. During season 11, April and Jackson got pregnant unexpectedly and they couldn't be happier to learn their news.

However, it is all completely shadowed when they learn their baby boy has Osteogenesis Imperfecta type 2, meaning his bones are very fragile and will almost immediately start breaking. After some heart-wrenching thought, April makes the decision to induce her labor at 24 weeks. Samuel Norbert Avery was born season 11, episode 11, and lived just a few short hours.

10 Jackson Praying For April

Through all the ups and downs Jackson and April experienced together, they never really stopped caring for each other. After having their daughter, Harriet, their bond was even stronger than ever.

During season 14, episode 23, April is found extremely hypothermic after getting into a car accident with her boyfriend, Matthew. It wasn't clear if April was going to live, and we were all their crying right alongside Jackson. April finally got her life back on the right track after seriously losing her way, and then this happens. Jackson, totally heartbroken, sits next to an unconscious April and starts emotionally praying for April's life.

9 John Doe Is George O'Malley

George O'Malley was everyone's favorite intern. The way George went out proved no one would be safe from the Grim Reaper a.k.a. Shonda Rhimes. George made the decision to join the army to work on frontline traumas. He found his place in the world.

During this time, in season 5, episode 24, a man came in completely unrecognizable after pushing a woman out from in front of a bus and then being dragged down the street by the bus. He was referred to as John Doe, until he desperately tries to write in Meredith's hand. Finally, she makes out he is drawing out “007.” Double O, Seven was George's nickname. John Doe was George. Callie then confirmed it with a birthmark on his hand and that was the end of George.

8 Teddy's Husband

Teddy Altman initially only married Henry Burton so that he could have health insurance for his expensive medical procedures. Overtime though, they fell in love and really started living the life of a married couple.

In season 8, Henry's health really starts to decline quickly. While Teddy is performing surgery, Henry is in need of emergency surgery. She instructs Owen to have Cristina perform the surgery with Henry's face covered so that it wouldn't influence her performance. Henry, unfortunately, doesn't make it. Only then does Cristina find out who it was, but she isn't allowed to tell Teddy until after Teddy's surgery is complete. Once Teddy eventually finds out, her world is completely shattered.

7 Meredith Cuts Cristina Out Of Her Wedding Dress After Burke Leaves Her

Cristina Yang and Preston Burke were always an odd couple, but they just seemed so happy together during the good times. Cristina never wanted the big fancy wedding, but she was going to go through with it for Burke because she loved him.

During season 3, episode 25, on the big day, Cristina hesitated momentarily before walking down the aisle. She was trying to remember her vows. Apparently, she took too long because Burke exited and told her he wasn't going to marry her anymore. He then left. Back at their apartment, Cristina realized it was really over and completely overcome with unmitigated sadness, she panics, and Meredith ends up cutting her out of her wedding dress so she can breathe. Another heartfelt bestie moment.

6 Separating Those Train Commuters

In addition to the heartbreaking storylines involving the main characters of Grey's Anatomy, Shonda also gives us a lot of torturous sorrow with the side storylines involving patients. During each episode, we grow bonds with patients as they go on their own little journeys.

Season 2, episode 6 is titled, “Into You Like A Train,” and it involved survivors from a very bad train wreck. One pair of survivors were held together with a single pole through their abdomens. It became a question of who to try to save first and who gets to live. In the end, it was determined the man had a better chance of survival. Upon realizing she wasn't going to make it, the girl goes through some heavy and heartbreaking emotions, especially when she has to say goodbye to her fiance.

5 "She Needs Her Daddy For This Part"

Grey's Anatomy's young patients really hit us where it hurts. They're so little and so innocent. No child deserves to feel that kind of pain. In season 5, episode 20, Bailey, who is momentarily giving pediatric surgery a try, deeply connects with a very sick little girl and her broken father.

Her dad is trying everything in his power to get his daughter a surgery that might give her a chance at living. He even wants to fly her out to Mexico but can't afford the plane ticket. Bailey, holding the sick girl, tells him that the final moment is coming and this little girl just needs her daddy to hold her. Watching that little girl was too much for anyone to handle.

4 Meredith Performs Heartbreaking "Pick Me" Speech For Derek

When Meredith and Derek became a couple, we had no idea there was an Addison in the picture, too. Derek had a wife and she was coming to town to get her husband back. Derek soon starts bouncing emotionally back and forth between Meredith and Addison. Finally, during season 2, episode 5, Meredith gives him an ultimatum and begs him to just pick her. It's a low point for Mer, but we've all been there before.

“Okay here it is. Your choice. It' s simple. Her or me.

And I'm sure she's really great. But Derek, I love you, in a really, really big, pretend to like your taste in music, let you eat the last piece of cheesecake, hold a radio over my head outside your window, unfortunate way that makes me hate you, love you. So pick me. Choose me. Love me.” We don't usually see Meredith this vulnerable.

3 Meredith Visits With Her Mom On The Other Side

The second half of season 3 was a particularly depressing point in Meredith's life. In episode 15, she ends up drowning and no one thinks she's going to survive. However, in episode 16, after coding on the table, Meredith visits people who have passed, including Denny Duquette and her mom, Ellis. During this time, it becomes clear that maybe Meredith actually let herself go. She now has to choose to fight and live or just give up.

In an emotional meeting with her mother, Ellis tells her things she never got to say when she was alive.

“Just keep going. You are… you are anything but ordinary, Meredith. Now run, run.”

2 Stephanie Does Everything To Survive

Stephanie Edwards was a very promising surgeon. That is until a criminal got loose in the hospital. Stephanie ended up getting grabbed by the guy and he forced her to lead him out. As the hospital goes on lockdown, Stephanie, the man, and a young girl are trapped in a hall together.

The man tries to get the doors to open by starting a fire. However, he ends up getting caught in the flames and runs toward flammables tanks and blows up the whole hospital floor. Stephanie then does everything she can to get herself and the young girl out alive. The moment she reaches a dead end on the top floor is the worst. You can vividly see her heart hit the floor as she realizes they might be stuck and not make it.

1 Callie And Arizona Get Hit

The season 7 Arizona and Callie car crash episode was very emotional to watch. A pregnant Callie is thrown through the car's front windshield. It is not clear if she is going to survive. In an outer-body experience, Callie visits everyone as they desperately try to save her and her unborn baby's life.

This is a Grey's Anatomy's musical episode. While some found humor in the singing, if you listened to the words and feel the emotions in the faces, it made this event even more heartbreaking. Sara Ramirez, who plays Callie, has an amazing voice that called for nonstop tears.

References: Alloy, Bustle, BuzzFeed, Sweety High