To Whom it my Concern: Good Afternoon, My name is Ashley Sacco I am 38 years old and currently enrolled in the LPN program at Erie 1 Boces. I have three boys ages Seven, Ten & Seventeen as, his father passed away just about two years after my mom of a brain tumor that was found entangled in his brain stem. This was missed for a while due to the 1 in 1 million chance of where it was located and the age of 32 years old. My boys have been my greatest supporters making me smile everyday amd push on even though school is more difficult than i imagined it would have been. Learning how to prioritize, teach myself how to study again and realizeing my mind isn't as quick to memorize things as it once was. The boys and our family also help keep my father healthy as, he almost didn't make it after a sudden septic infection 1 year ago that has left him diabetic and the knee implant that caused the infection must harder to move and use. Learning how to run his iv antibiotics at his home, change the pick line, test blood sugars and give insulin really made me say its time for me to go back to school and get the license i have always wanted to have. Being a nurse has been my dream since I was younger but, when my mom graduated from her RN just about 6 months before receiving the news and pas away from stage 4 ovarian cancer. She was an LPN since before I was born and worked third shift for over 15 plus years before pursuing her RN degree. Shortly after she died I began to help care for my great grandmother and great aunt which made me get my can to help elderly clients stay in there own homes with care. My children were younger then so I financially couldn’t afford to go back to complete an LPN. About 1 year after receiving my CNA my husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor on his brain stem and he passed away shortly after. Leaving me to pay all his hospital bills and raise our 4 yr. old alone. I continued to help elderly clients at home with daily tasks and rides to appointments until Covid-19 hit and things took a turn. tasks, wound care, rides to appointments. My boys, husband and father along my side has been the more than anything i could ask for. The boys assist me in making flash cards and testing me on the vocabulary terms. Seeing them smile, laugh and tell me i got it wrong try again has been an eye opening experience that i can do this and i will finish what i started so many years ago. The hardest thing is managing a home, laundry, sports, doctors appointments, school functions, boys homework, reading time, family time all while studying for three tests a week. But, If i am picked for this scholarship i will show myself and other that no matter your age or crazy home life if you want something nothing can stop you if your heart and mind are in the right place. This scholarship would not be wasted but would be the best gift i could ever ask for. Thank you for taking the time to consider me for this scholarship. If I was awarded any gift it would not go to waste but go to the future of helping elderly people in there homes. Ashley Sacco (716) 322-9548 Ashleysacco1960@gmail.com

Progress was being made until COVID-19 appeared. Those of us who work in the field of substance use disorders became concerned for those in recovery as the pandemic spread and social distancing was put in place. Social connection and support are key parts of recovery. Without them, relapse is more likely. When people with opioid use disorder relapse, there’s more involved than a loss of sobriety, ruinous as that is. Often there is a loss of life. My dad's ex-girlfriends son died of a drug overdose the day before entering a treatment facility because of the pandemic making places short staff and low on resources needed. The person was incarcerated and let out early due to the pandemic which led to not knowing what to do or how to stay clean. Having an online resource in situations like this i believe would save many lives. Giving people someone to talk to that knows there situation and has the knowledge and resources to give the person the help they need right then. Many people don't know where to turn or who to talk to, Giving them all resources on one platform would be a life saving tool, counseling, doctors; places to get withdrawal coping medications, sponsors, support groups all in one place at the time they are most at need.

Nursing is so incredibly unique and selfless in that what we do every single day is care for people who are at their most vulnerable moments, and we often times do it while missing something in our life that means something to us. We constantly sacrifice for our patients. We constantly give while barely taking. The most important thing to remember is that we don’t mind. That’s what makes us different. We know what we have gotten ourselves into, and we love doing it. There is a special place in a nurse’s heart that draws them to the type of work that we do. And it brings us all together, our binding character trait. I lost my mom 15 years ago about six months after she received her RN degree, she worked for over 20 years as an LPN, i would go to take your daughter to work day every chance i could. Going around with her seeing the smiles on the patients faces and how she gave them joy and a reason to fight for recovery. Even though she lost her battle with stage four ovarian cancer and my husband passed away two years after of a brain tumor i have the fight and want to become an RN to improve people's in home care situations. Showing my three boys ages seventeen, ten and seven that once you put your mind to something no matter your age or family situation go for the goal. Taking care of the boys and our animals has been difficult while trying to find out how to financially support us while going to night school has been one of the hardest struggles of my life. Even though i may sit and cry sometimes pushing on is the best decision i could even make, to put my whole heart into helping others to show my mom and myself i made it. Getting a scholarship would help make it possible to spend more time on school work or volunteering at spca, hospice and make daily life somewhat easier.

This scholarship would help me achieve my dreams and goals because being a Nurse who helps people stay in there own homes has been a dream and constant push to do better since my mom received her RN over 12 years ago ans passed away of stage four ovarian cancer shortly after, never being able to practice as an RN. I grew up volunteering for the spca, planting trees, food bank as far back as i can remember. Doing this with my three boys has been part of our activities since my seventeen year old was about two. Not being able to work and go to school has been very difficult financially, having a scholarship would allow me to help elderly and disabled clients in the way to have the resources to be able to remain in the place they are most comfortable and secure. Being able to complete my lpn then move onto RN while still volunteering with hospice would allow me to show my true love and commitment to helping others.