When I became a patient at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, I knew I’d receive excellent medical care, but I never dreamed I’d discover my life’s calling.
St. Jude was a godsend when I found out I was HIV positive. I was blessed to be able to receive my diagnosis and walk out the same day with medication. During all my appointments and follow-up care, the staff treated me as if I were the most important person in the world.
I built strong relationships with everyone in the clinic, especially with my nurse practitioner Carla London. Carla was invested in making sure I was OK and guided me in efforts to take control of my own health. When I transitioned to adult care, she and her colleagues followed me closely for a year, ensuring I got my medications and kept my appointments.
After graduating from college, I accepted a position with a Memphis organization that works to prevent the spread of HIV and empower those affected by HIV/AIDS.
I educate clients, health care providers, students, health fair participants and others about pre-exposure prophylaxis, PrEP, which is a pill that helps prevent HIV infection. I also help my clients find medical providers, assist with insurance and prescription access, and even accompany them to medical appointments.
It’s a challenging and rewarding job, but I love it when people tell me, “I appreciate you for helping me and for taking the time to get me checked out and taken care of.”
My undergraduate degree was in journalism. I’ve decided that if I pair my communication skills with a nursing degree, I can do more. That’s why I’m planning to return to school and become a family nurse practitioner like Carla. Eventually, I’ll either work in a specialty clinic or have my own — a safe place where people can get testing and holistic treatment without fear or judgment.
Rather than taking clients to the provider, I will be the provider.
Where I am now is another stepping stone — leading me toward an even greater capacity to help others.
From Promise, Summer 2019
More articles from this issue
-
Reading Skills: Windows to the World
By pinpointing cognitive skills necessary for reading, scientists work to improve quality of life for hearing-impaired brain tumor survivors.
-
One Million Dollars: Mission Possible
In an effort to give back to the hospital that saved his life, a St. Jude patient raises an army of fundraisers working toward a single goal.
-
When It Comes to Quality, Safety Matters
St. Jude sets the standard for quality, patient care and clinical improvement science for children with life-threatening diseases.
-
Integrative Medicine: Body, Mind and Spirit
An integrative medicine program offers a new level of holistic care to St. Jude patients.
-
New HIV Cases: Operation Zero
St. Jude sets a goal of having zero new HIV cases in Memphis by 2030.
-
DIPG: Focused Steps
St. Jude clinical trial tests chemotherapy that crosses the blood-brain barrier to reach a deadly brain tumor.
-
Generosity Makes an Impact
After researching St. Jude, one businessman supports the hospital’s work to find cures, save children and share knowledge worldwide.
-
Radiation and Ependymoma: The Sweet Taste of Success
With more than a decade of follow-up, results from a newly published clinical trial show that radiation after surgery triples survival for kids with ependymoma.
-
Melanoma Mutation: Hide and Seek
St. Jude researchers find a new melanoma mutation in kids and adults.
-
Glamour and Glitz
St. Jude Child Life hosts Teen Formal and other events to provide patients with a sense of normalcy during treatment.
-
News and Highlights
Read about faculty honors; p27; vaccines; ALL treatment; lupus-related kidney disease; cell-killing necroptosis; Lou Gehrig disease; bone cancer mutations; genomic analysis of acute erythroid leukemia; flu and strep; and more.