Today we’d like to introduce you to Yedidya Dear.
Hi Yedidya, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Years ago, I woke up with a dream about becoming a nurse. I remember day in & day out I would study chapters from nursing, pharmacy & medical books just to ensure when the time came, I would be enabled with the tools to be a successful nursing student & eventually nurse.
I started my journey as a 14.5-year-old high school student. I started taking prerequisites for nursing school that year. Everyone doubted my ability to take care of it all, high school, college, etc. Everyone told me to just focus in high school, get good grades & worry about college later. I worried as the negativity started to pull me down from within, but still pursued. I worked unbelievably hard to pay for these courses as my father left the picture at such a young age which was already an unbelievably heavy weight to carry; being the youngest of 8 siblings, I just couldn’t throw it on the best mother in the world.
During this time period, I was unfortunately diagnosed with two incurable, incredibly rare conditions & it’s associated co-conditions requiring intense hospital stays, malicious surgeries & medications that sucked the life out of me. I remember the days of being in the hospital bed; seeing the nurses at the nurses’ station & hoping that one day I’ll make it on the other side of the glass window.
I needed to take a pause as my condition was worsening & was requiring me to basically live more days in the hospital than at home. At this time, I was expelled from high school (school a). I was told words that were pulled from the deepest pits of hell. I was given no choice but to return back home & start everything all over again. My progress was at a halt & it hurt because I thought my opportunity was taken from me.
I resumed high school (school b) the second time & after 6 months, I was expelled… again. Like last time, with no reason but the same words of hurt & painful were repeated.
I was destroyed. My dreams of becoming a nurse turned into a nightmare because every avenue I attempted to take, every path I attempted to pave was filled with anguish & pain, obstacles & hurt. But I didn’t allow it to stop me.
I finished high school within six months on an online home school program here in Texas. I got my high school diploma, not my GED, at age 16 & was then accepted to Chamberlain University College Of Nursing as the youngest nursing student in the history of the university since it was established.
Through nursing school, I had over 20+ surgeries, 20+ admissions, and infusions &, and this time, chemotherapy was thrown into the picture. A poison circulating my body killing everything except for my living self.
But I made it. I attended every class. Never missed an exam. In a matter of fact, I attended clinicals post-op day one from surgeries. On occasion, I left AMA because missing a clinical was not going to fly. Coming to clinical with pins drains, even attended class from my hospital bed with NG tubes. I had my beautiful friends with me & ensured I had everything I needed. In a matter of fact, my best friends. Yes, we fought. Yes, we bickered. But I wouldn’t want it any other way, it changed me.
I am now, 20, and graduated as a nurse with a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) at the age of 19 years old. My dream came true, I am Nurse Diddy, the youngest nursing graduate of Chamberlain University.
As I continue to pursue the journey we call life, I am now proud to say that I have about 2 years until I go from Nurse Diddy to Doctor Nurse Diddy.
Thank you, God. Thank you to my family & friends. ❤️
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
-Bullying
-abandonment from my dad
-genetic predispositions
-chemotherapy
-age
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a trauma, surgical & transplant ICU nurse at a level-one trauma center. A pediatric home health nurse delivering care to children who have serious conditions (palliative & hospice). Soon to be board certified in cosmetic nursing. Doctoral Student.
My struggles, my history, my past, my age & my body.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Having it hard yet determined to achieve your goal. Going through the obstacles & achieving your dreams. Failure is not an appropriate word to use unless you give up or end up ceasing to exist.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @TheRealNurseDiddy
- Facebook: Diddy K. Dear
Image Credits
Crystal Forbes
Hope Grubbs
Kristin Bearden
