Growing up I knew that I wanted to be a nurse someday. My two aunts were in the medical field as a nurse and a phlebotomist.. They always had nice crispy lab coats. I would wash dry and iron them. I am, 2nd oldest child of 5 girls. My nurturing spirit came naturally to me. My mom passed away when I was 11 years old so I took on the responsibility of helping raise my 3 younger sisters. Not realizing that I was not supposed to do it but it had to be done. My love for family and God was always at the forefront. My religious beliefs allowed me to Spend the 1st 25 years of my life at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church. Raised my children there and was an active member. The second oldest of my 4 children that I gave birth to was handicapped at birth and had a mild form of Cerebral Palsy. He was a 7 month gestation child, premature and his lungs were not fully developed. I brought him home and took care of him everyday. He had a tracheostomy and a G-tube. We spent a lot of time at Riley hospital for children. He Had pneumonia 23 times before he passed away. The doctors only gave him 7 years to live but he lived until he was 19 years old. Everyday I would take care of him and give him 3 postural drainage treatments a day along with his G- tube feedings.It was not the pneumonia it was a bad seizure that caused his death. While raising my 2 children I decided to become a CNA. So for the next 17 years that's what I did. Enjoyed every moment taking care of our elderly population here in Indiana and found it very satisfying. Knowing that I could provide for others who could not do it themselves. Even today they are drawn to me when I'm out in the community. They ask me questions and tell me their good old stories. I listen because I know I can still learn from them.

 

That 17 year career as a CNA led me to many other open doors working in several different nursing homes. And as a student nurse at Wishard hospital which is now Eskenazi. I was determined to graduate from High School and then was pregnant with my first child. So I got my GED and attended Ivy Tech State College. Went there for 4 years with lots of obstacles in my way.  Worked 2 jobs one full time at Bank One  and one part time job in the mall as a receptionist to provide for me and my family. The death of my grandmother and great grandmother and the kidnapping of my fourth child. My Pastor also passed away. All these things happened while I was enrolled in school seeking and pursuing my nursing career. Needless to say I graduated from Ivy Tech with my LPN license in 1999 and have stayed in the nursing field for a total of over 35 years. In the last 3 years I have been a CNA Instructor and have been given the opportunity to continue to sacrifice and Work for myself as a CNA Instructor and CEO of TAVI CNA school. The need is great and the workers are few. My teaching skills will include showing others how to take care of our growing population in a professional manner. When the students Leave TAVI they will know how to correctly and properly take care of others. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER !!!

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