Nursing School, Here we go!

I am single mom of 5 beautiful children. On August 21, 2014, at Rady's Children's Hospital in San Diego, CA, the doctor pronounced my fifth baby dead, one month after his 1st birthday. I had to be brave. I could not give in to the waves of grief and physical pain I felt by losing our precious Jimmy Jon. I had four little faces looking to me for guidance. During the next few days I sewed a little camo suit to bury my son in, wrote a heartfelt obituary, spoke at his funeral, and yes, I was definitely in shock. Jimmy's father, unfortunately, turned to drugs to escape the harsh reality of losing his little buddy. During the next six months he became more and more secluded. He started threatening suicide which soon turned into threatening me. He promised that he wouldn't be here much longer and I was going with him. How could this be happening? After all our family had been through?

I did what I had to. I informed the kids in my most convincing, adventurous tone we were going on a road trip! We left that night. After staying with friends and hotel hopping for about 2 weeks, one night I laid with my eyes wide open praying for a few hours of solace that hardly ever comes since the accident, I ran across an add for a nursing school in the area. By the next day I had taken my initial assessment and nursing entrance exam. As they printed up the scores I caught a glance, 56, 74, etc. “Well those don't look like passing scores. I guess this nursing school thing is never going to happen,” I thought to myself. Karma, whose name seemed like a perfect fit in my journey, gave me a glance. I replied, “ I didn't do well, right?” She smiled and said, “I knew you would do well when I met you, but not like this! You scored very well, probably the 3rd highest scores in this program!” Now maybe she says that to everyone, but I sure felt good after hearing that!

So here I am, a single mom of four earthly children and one precious angel baby who is taking care of us from above. I will be a Registered Nurse with the goal of becoming a trauma nurse and eventually a flight nurse. I will be that calmness people need during the most tragic times in their life. Quietly knowing in my heart exactly how they feel in those moments of hopelessness and be the hands that offer help to those who feel so helpless. I have wanted to go to nursing school since high school, but it has not ever felt like the right time. Now, because of the events I have endured, I truly know life is too short to wait to do what we love. I cannot wait any longer to fulfill life long dreams. Today is the day.

As I sat in nursing school orientation on August 21, 2015, one year to the day after losing my precious baby boy, I knew Jimmy Jon had guided our family to safety and a new start. I had no idea what that first year without him would bring. Now, looking back, I cannot imagine getting through that event again. It still hurts my heart every day that I live without my baby, but thankfully I have four beautiful reasons to get up every morning and better our lives. I am so very excited for the journey I am about to begin. We have set up this Go Fund Me account in hopes of raising money for living expenses so that I may focus on my studies as well as spend any free time not working, but loving and enjoying my children. We learned all too well life does not stop for anyone. Spend all your hours wisely. Thank you for your time and consideration. Any contribution is truly appreciated.