Mary D. Scholarship

I have overcome a lot of adversity as a young woman, when it comes to dealing with doctors and nurses and medical practice, in general. I was diagnosed with narcolepsy and cataplexy at the early age of 15 years old and was prescribed several different stimulants so I could stay awake in class and be as productive as my peers. The side effects of those medication’s and combination with hormones and just growing up as a young girl definitely forced me to deal with many issues especially the side effects that most of my peers did not have to undergo. Because narcolepsy and cataplexy is a incurable disease. I have been on medication every day since I was 15 as a result of this. But I am most passionate about the adversity that I have overcome as a young African-American woman and mother. As a mother of three young girls, each and every experience during labor and delivery definitely has had a huge influence on my decision to pursue my nursing career. I have overcome struggles every time during labor and delivery as a young woman and hope to make a difference one day in the field for other women entering motherhood. with the delivery of my first and oldest daughter Laila in 2012, I experienced Medicaid discrimination due to my race and income status. I almost lost my daughter due to the staff, not listening to me or my needs most likely because it was my first birth experience. My daughter was overdue so I had to go through an induction, which was so traumatic for me, and that was just the beginning. Unfortunately, my daughter ended up with Erbs palsy and had a stroke during delivery, she almost didn’t make it out of the hospital. but fortunately, my mother who is a registered nurse helped me and supported my child so we could get through three years of speech, occupational and physical therapy successfully. Today Laila is about to be 12 years old and thank the heavens she is here with us and healthy as ever today, with no recollection of any of the trauma that I went through during her entrance into this world. Once I graduate, it is my mission to work in labor and delivery and help women with prenatal care and thoroughly discuss thoroughly their delivery options before their transition into motherhood. It will be my passion and honor to treat every patient regardless of race, religion or income status, or age with the same respect and information that they deserve.