Help Me Go Back to Nursing School

Hello, my name is Jamie and I currently am working as a hospice LPN for a well-known company based out of Salem Oregon. For those who know me, I have had my ups an downs throughout the years. From getting out of an abusive relationship after 5 years to losing my mom just a couple of years ago to cancer just a day shy of having my son Kai. I am married to an incredible man who has really shown me unconditional love and patience and most importantly, how to love myself. But please allow me to back up and start from the beginning (well, the shortened version)

As far back as I can remember, I've always wanted to help people. I started working as a personal care giver shortly after my ex-husband and I parted ways in 2012. I had some experience prior to that as I had cared for my aunt who was living with us many years back following her strokes. I had started pursuing my dream of becoming an RN back in 2009 whenever I enrolled at Penn State University. I was awarded Dean's List for 2 semesters prior to being accepted to the Jameson School of Nursing in New Castle, PA. Sadly, after my ex-husband had beaten me so bad to the point of hospitalization, I had to withdraw to get my life together. Unfortunately due to the continued abuse and lack of support, I was never able to go back and finish.

It wasn't until 2012 that I was able to get out of the relationship and figure out how to start my life over. From being alienated as " punishment" from my two children from my previous marriage, to being homeless and not knowing when my last meal would be or if I was going to make it through another night, or the hardest of all of these: learning to love myself again and to pick up the pieces-- through God and much prayer, I made it. I picked myself up, worked my ass off and got myself into LPN school. I worked 2 jobs and did it on my own and actually passed with HIGH HONORS in 2016. What an accomplishment!

To fast forward, here I am 5 years later married and with a 2 1/2 year old son who is the light of my life. I am so grateful that I was able to get here and sometimes I actually "pinch" myself to make sure that this isn't a dream. If you would've told me 8 years ago that I would meet a man, start over and put myself through LPN school, I would've called you nuts. I catch myself wondering at times where or how I would've ended up had I not held onto my faith, hopes and dreams. I absolutely LOVE what I do and I feel as though through all of the goodness that people showed me whenever I was at my all-time low, this is a way that I can give back. Hugging a daughter that just lost her mother to a long battle of cancer, or a family who is grieving the loss of their loved one who had been battling an extended illness --I am humbled and proud to be a part of this process.

I really have a passion for what I do by helping to provide comfort to patients and families as they journey through end of life. I want to continue to learn more and to be able to provide the best quality of compassionate care that I can by furthering my education to obtain my BSN. With COVID, my husband was laid off and we have been having trouble finding day care that is reasonable and convenient. Bless Jeff, he has been taking care of our son Kai while I'm at work however it has been a struggle being able to put back money for school on a single income. This is my last resort as I have pretty much exhausted all other options. Any money raised would go directly towards the cost of school i.e. books, credit hours, etc.

I hesitated for the longest time on starting a gofundme page to help with my education costs. But as it was prior and it will be now, I promise with every fiber of my being to pay it forward by providing the highest quality of care possible to my patients. Thank you and God Bless!