Aplastic Anemia & Myelodysplasia Association of Canada Award

My passion for a career in health care was first sparked on my sixth birthday. I remember the day vividly, it was the day my dad suffered a stroke. Our lives were impacted greatly by the care my dad received and the supports he was provided.  I witnessed first hand how instrumental each member of the health care team was and how essential family involvement can be during crisis.  From this experience, I knew I wanted a career that would enable me to connect with people and families during vulnerable times and assist them through difficult health care journeys.  For me, nursing was that career.  I was fortunate during my nursing program to be placed on an inpatient oncology ward.  It was there that my passion for nursing grew stronger.  I was able to connect with patients and families during troubling times and feel like I was truly making a difference.

Today, my drive for knowledge advancement and continued patient and family connection has led me to pursue a Masters in Nursing – Nurse Practitioner. I hope to use my further knowledge to continue my focus in oncology care and enhance my ability to advocate for patient and family needs.  My future goal is to contribute to research in oncology and strive towards my PhD.  I would like to thank the Canadian Nurses Foundation and the Aplastic Anemia & Myelodysplasia Association of Canada for their support towards further education and assistance in relieving some of the financial burdens.