@juliadecker__

I was born in rural China and abandoned shortly after birth. I lived in a special needs orphanage until I was nearly four. My “need” was a bilateral cleft lip and palate, which is a congenital disability that requires many surgeries, hospital stays, and doctor visits. Access to surgical care and follow-up treatment is expensive and inadequate in many parts of the world for children with this condition. My birth parents were likely unable to afford my medical care. A generous donor sponsored my first surgery in China, which enabled me to feed successfully and thrive. This surgery was a catalyst for my adoption and relocation to the United States. Growing up, nurses were my superheroes. I know what it is like to be scared and vulnerable when faced with overwhelming circumstances. Nurses wiped my tears, listened to my fears, and figured out my needs when I could not speak. I aspire to become a pediatric nurse to help children with craniofacial abnormalities. I am drawn to nursing because it is a fulfilling profession with competitive pay, flexible work hours, and many options for specialization. As a former pediatric patient, I will bring a unique perspective and understanding to my nursing career. My healthcare struggles have taught me that I can thrive during the most challenging times and, most importantly, have shown me my path in life. I will never forget the “brothers and sisters” I left behind in the orphanage. I started an active fundraiser with the non-profit organization Love Without Boundaries to pay it forward. To date, I have sponsored the cleft repair surgery of seven children living in orphanages in China and Cambodia. My dream is to continue helping children with healthcare needs in underserved communities locally and worldwide. Once I pass the NCLEX, I intend to volunteer and use my nursing skills on cleft mission trips abroad to help children receive life-changing care who would otherwise go without treatment. I am a rising sophomore pursuing a baccalaureate degree in nursing at Salve Regina University in Rhode Island. On campus, I participate in the leadership scholars program. Through service in the community, networking, mentoring, conferences, professional development, and my role as a peer mentor, I am building a foundation of leadership skills that will be transferable to my future nursing career. I recently had the opportunity to participate in a research project studying the effects of pet therapy on patients, where I could put some of my new nursing skills into action as I collected data such as blood pressure and pulse rates. This summer, I plan to obtain employment as a medical assistant and work full-time to help contribute to the cost of my education while gaining clinical experience. My long-term educational goal is to pursue a Master of Science in Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner degree. This credential will enable me to achieve my career ambition as a cleft nurse specialist. I hope to support and care for cleft-affected children and their families from diagnosis through the treatment pathway. With overwhelming tuition costs, I will need financial assistance to achieve my goals. Winning the Georgiana's Nursing Scholarship will help me on my journey to a rewarding and impactful nursing career.