My Cousin Kimberely Janell Gray

I had the chance to go to my cousin Kim Gray's gradution ceremony from nursing school two weekends ago. We had such a great time. I cannot write enough how proud I am of my cousin. She has worked long and hard on this achievement. She is my hero in so many ways. She and I have been raised together and are more like sisters, really. She and I have had our ups and downs together, in our personal lives and loves. She has always been so positive and strong. Something I really admire about her is her ability to see the good in people. She has is compassionate but not in a disingenuous way...you know sometimes, you meet people who think they are compassionate but they seem fake...Kim is sincerely a loving and compassionate person. Her becoming a nurse is so fitting on so many levels. She truly cares for the lives of others. She deserves an award for being mother of the year as well. While going to school she still worked full time (she is a phlebotomist) and has taken care of her almost 16 year old son. She has got up at 2:30am and 3:30am to make her 8 hour shifts at the hospital and then on to classes, home to make dinner for her son and then hit the books. I'm still amazed at how she did it all. 

Two weeks before Kim graduated she went to interview with the head of the med surge department at Sierra Vista Hospital in San Luis Obispo, CA. She told me that the interview went well and she was almost sure that they were going to hire her. However, by the day of graduation she still had not heard from the med surge department. While we getting ready that morning, Kim asked me if she should call the director and find out whether she had the job or not. I told her "do you really want to find out today if you have a job or not, and if it's a no, do you want to be bummed out on this day of days?" She said no, not really. So we left it at that. At the very end of the graduation ceremony Kim was greeted by the med surge department's head RN with flowers asking her if she would like to join their team of med surge RN's! Of course she accepted and the smile on that girl's face could have lit up all of NYC during a black out! It was the icing on the cake to a wonderful, truly joyful, serendipitous day! 

Kimberly and Steven Gray

 Congratulations Cousin! I love you more than I can ever really express. You are my inspiration and hero. Everyday I want to be more like you. I wish you all the best that life has to offer!!! xoc