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The instructors and faculty at PCC Southwest were instrumental in Courtney’s ability to stay in the nursing program while she was taking care of her daughter’s medical needs. She knows students from other universities who have been politely excused from programs because of family circumstances that cause them to miss classes. That was not the case with PCC Southwest. Lyn O’Brien, one of our nursing faculty, helped her examine X-rays and mentally prepare for what the surgery would entail. Michelina Paulek, our Nursing program coordinator, helped Courtney find ways she could make up for any missed clinical days. Nursing instructor Kevin Gross, upon hearing about her situation, didn’t bat an eye.

“He said, ‘You go take care of your daughter. That is the most important thing,’” said Courtney.

When she returned from post-op appointments, she was able to shadow him in the ER at San Juan Regional Medical Center in order to make up for the classes she had missed, which she describes as an incredible experience.

“Again I say let no feeling of discouragement prey upon you, and in the end you are sure to succeed,” wrote Abraham Lincoln. Courtney’s daughter is back home now after a successful 3-hour surgery and is recovering well. Despite having an abundance of metal in her body, she’s almost back to her activity level before surgery.

And Courtney? She’s thriving. With only a handful of weeks remaining until she receives her associate degree in Nursing, she hopes to work in a nursing field for a year or two and then return to PCC to pursue her bachelor’s degree. To all the current and future nursing students, she says, “Don’t give up. You’re going to feel overwhelmed and want to sit in your car and cry. You’re going to feel the stress all the way from orientation to the day you graduate. Don’t let life hurdles throw you off track.”