On March 26, 2026, I almost lost my life.

What I thought was just another workday—the same routine I had followed for nearly 40 years as a nurse—became the day everything changed.

I was on my way into Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, where I had been working as a travel nurse and case manager for almost two years. I felt pain in my chest… then in my jaw. It was subtle at first, but something deep inside told me this wasn’t normal.

I called my boss to say I’d be late—and instead of going to work, I walked into the Emergency Department.

The same hospital where I had spent my days caring for others… is where I would fight for my own life.

By the grace of God, everything that happened next lined up in a way I can only describe as a miracle. A last-minute cancellation opened a spot for an urgent cardiac catheterization—something that normally would have taken much longer.

That timing saved my life.

Doctors discovered that three of my arteries were critically blocked—80%, 90%, and 100%.

I had no idea how close I was to dying.

At any moment—while working a shift, driving home, or even in my sleep—my heart could have simply stopped. I wasn’t just sick… I was living on borrowed time.

But God had other plans.

Within hours, I was rushed into emergency triple bypass surgery.

After nearly 40 years of nursing—working alongside neurosurgeons, serving in rehabilitation hospitals, and caring for children and families in their most vulnerable moments—I never imagined my story would end with me in a hospital bed instead of beside it.

My last day in the hospital as a nurse… became my first as a patient.

It’s a reality that is both heartbreaking and humbling.

The team at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital was nothing short of a gift from God. Their hands, their skill, their compassion—He worked through every single one of them to save my life. I will never be able to fully express my gratitude.

But surviving came at a cost I wasn’t prepared for.

This unexpected, life-saving surgery has forced me into early retirement, leaving me without an income. While insurance will cover most of the nearly $2 million in medical expenses, I am now facing over $50,000 in out-of-pocket bills.

After a lifetime of caring for others, I now find myself in the difficult position of asking for help.

If you feel led, I humbly ask for your support—whether through a donation or simply by sharing my story.

I truly believe I am still here because God is not finished with me yet.

And I am trusting Him now more than ever… to carry me through what comes next.

Any funds raised beyond my $50,000 goal will be donated to the Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital Foundation, as a way to give back to the place—and the people—who saved my life.

With love and gratitude,

Troi Elliott-Hockett