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A Special Thank
Reflections of a Nursing Graduate
You to the
on Candlelight Ceremony Day
May 2017
You could say nursing has always been
a part of my life; my mother was a nurse Host of the South
in Jamaica. Now, after overcoming so
many obstacles, I finally get to follow in Florida Healthcare
her footsteps. I recently received my
Associate of Science in Nursing from Networking Group
Broward College. Yet, it didn’t hit me
how much I’ve overcome until our recent
candlelight ceremony.
As a teenager, I worked with my father
on cigarette boats dispensing and dispos-
ing of chemicals, which is where I devel-
oped leukemia. No matter how weak or
sick I felt, the nurses gave me the encour- HIALEAH
agement and motivation to stay strong. BY PATRICK MYTON
It was while sitting in the hospital bed, HOSPITAL
as I waited to receive a life-saving bone
marrow transplant from my sister, where I made a promise to myself. I thought, “if I survive the procedure,
I will pay it forward and become a nurse so that I can help others and make my mother proud.”
When I was in remission, I dedicated myself fully to my studies. More than 20 years after making that For information about
promise I have reached the culmination of all my hard work at age 46. our next meeting of
Holding the candle in my hand, I felt as though the torch of Florence Nightingale had been personally
passed on to me. The candlelight tradition may be old, but its deep meaning remains strong for us new SFHNG,
nurses. I do not take the responsibility to care for another lightly because I know the importance of a please email
nurse’s role firsthand.
I’m thankful to my family, friends, professors and everyone who supported me along the way, but I am charles@
especially thankful to my inspiration – the nurses from the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa for saving my southfloridahospitalnews.com
life back in 1995. This moment could not have been possible without those nurses who inspired me to
pursue what would become a dream fulfilled.
Patrick Myton is an Associate of Science in Nursing Graduate, Broward College.
For more information on the nursing program at Broward College, visit broward.edu/nursing.
THE REGION’S MONTHLY NEWSPAPER FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS & PHYSICIANS
VAAILABLE ONLLINEE
AV
OR OON-CAMPUSS!
Ý - - Õ V V
F OL
F RI D A AA T L AN ITN C UN V I E R T I S T Y
OP E N HO U S J : E un e 1 7 , 1 a01 m @ B o c a R o t a n C a m p s u
n
561.297.60 EMHA.FAU.EDUAU.EDU
A A
EMHA.F
297.60000000
South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com June 2017 29
