At China’s first ultrasound appointment, she discovered that she was having a baby boy. She immediately began preparing the nursery in anticipation of his arrival.
China looked forward to Heather’s visits. When China felt stressed, Heather helped her to stay focused on becoming a mom. She was always there for her to monitor her blood pressure and look out for her health. China also decided that she wanted to breastfeed her son – even though breastfeeding wasn’t something many women around her chose to do. Heather taught her what to expect and showed her breastfeeding techniques.
China continued to work the same two jobs to pay the bills, while also saving up for her state board of nursing licensure exam. During one of their visits, Heather mentioned to China a nursing job opening at a local hospital. China expressed interest to the hiring supervisor and awaited a response.
In October, China delivered a healthy baby boy, Ian. During her stay at the hospital, China received a call to interview for the nursing job. She was determined and interviewed for the position just 11 days after giving birth. In December, she passed her nursing licensure exam, and was excited to be a registered nurse. China’s hard work had paid off! The nursing job she wanted was hers and she began working as a medical-surgical nurse (just after receiving clearance to work at her six-week postpartum checkup).
Heather continued to visit China and baby Ian with every transition in their lives. China was learning how to take care of a newborn. When breastfeeding became challenging, Heather showed China better ways to help him latch. China was thankful to have Heather’s support to help her monitor her son’s development. He was thriving!
When asked about China, Heather shared, “When I think of China, the word self-sufficient comes to mind. While pregnant, she balanced attending nursing school, working two jobs, never missing an OB appointment, and moving out on her own. She has been the BEST mom from womb to now a precious two-and-a-half-year-old little boy. She worked hard to better her and her child’s life, independently—mission accomplished!”
China would go on to meet a wonderful man named Jonathan who worked in the emergency room as a nursing technician. They became good friends, realizing that there may be potential for something more. China was very cautious about bringing different people into Ian’s life. She wanted to spare her son the hurt of temporary, inconsistent people. She confided in Heather about the best time to introduce a potential partner to Ian, and asked for her advice on how to maintain boundaries with her son. After dating a while, China felt that she could trust Jonathan and introduced him to Ian. They fell head over heels for one another, and Jonathan has been a part of their family ever since. Both planned and hosted Ian’s first birthday party together and were married that same big year!
Jonathan has been the best dad for Ian, and it was by choice. There are plans for Jonathan to adopt him in the near future.
Just a few months later, China and Jonathan bought their first home together. The next time that Heather and China would meet would be at China’s very own house. At one of their last visits before program graduation, Heather mentioned to China that there would soon be an open position for a Nurse-Family Partnership nurse on her team.
Shortly after graduating from Nurse-Family Partnership – China applied and joyously accepted the now open position to become a Nurse-Family Partnership nurse.
“I feel that this is the job that life has prepared me for. In fact, being a nurse for Nurse-Family Partnership is not a job; it is a calling,” shared China.
China has been a Nurse-Family Partnership nurse at McLeod Health for the past four months. She is now 26-years old and works alongside her former nurse, Heather. China helps expectant moms see their potential and develop visions for their future to continue their education and foster independence and development. She understands firsthand the vulnerability felt as a young first-time mom and hopes that her journey inspires them to feel that they too can
overcome anything and make their dreams come true. She fondly remembers the wonderful times she had as a Nurse-Family Partnership mom.
Today, Ian is a well-mannered, happy toddler who enjoys preschool, playing with trucks, and being his dad’s little helper doing projects around their family’s home in Darlington, South Carolina.
China is a Nurse-Family Partnership graduate and is currently working
as a Nurse-Family Partnership
nurse at McLeod Health in Florence, South Carolina.
I love my job and I look forward to going to work each day. It is really inspiring to know that I possibly made the transition into motherhood more graceful for my clients. I love to see the increase in a mother’s confidence after our visits.
– China, Nurse-Family Partnership graduate and nurse
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