By Marisa Long
Becoming a nurse takes time, dedication and commitment, and for recent Ohio University graduate Julie Yeager, it also took a tragedy for her to discover her calling.
Yeager's young husband, Joe, was diagnosed with Leukemia, and after only four-and-a-half years of marriage he lost his battle at the age of 26. The death of her husband was a devastating ordeal, but Yeager decided to make a change in her life that would help others in the same situation.
"When a person finds out they have a cancer diagnosis it is a blow physically, emotionally, and often times spiritually," she says. "If I can help someone face or deal with that situation, then I am honored to do so."
Through focusing on nursing and the support of caring friends and family, Yeager has found peace and the ability to move on. She was impressed and comforted by the wonderful care her husband received from the nurses at the Cleveland Clinic, where he was treated. Yeager was a veterinary technician before her husband's death, but after the experience, she was inspired to switch professions and go back to school.
"Only by the grace of God have I been able to overcome the death of my husband," she says. "I wanted to turn the pain into something positive, and being able to give back through nursing has helped me to achieve that."
Yeager chose to attend Ohio University's Zanesville campus to earn her associate's degree in nursing two years after her husband's death. She says that nursing has helped her move on with her life. And, while sometimes difficult, going back to school was a worthwhile decision.
"Going back to college after being out of that setting for 10 years was difficult," she says. "It was hard to get back into the swing of things, but if you want it, you can do it."
Yeager, who graduated in winter 2003, is currently employed as a registered nurse at Genesis Healthcare in Zanesville, sharing with her patients the same wonderful care that her late husband received during his illness.
"I see similar aspects of my husband's struggles in the patients that I treat in the cancer unit, and hopefully, I can help them in some of their struggles," she says. "The entire experience has been a hard road to travel, but you can decide what you want to make out of a difficult situation."
Marisa Long is a student writer for University Communications and Marketing
