Thanksgiving CORONA BUDDIES Feed A Family Drive

My wife Angela and I met when when we were 17 years old. We went to college and very early on we got pregnant and got married. Anybody who had a child early in life understands the challenges that that brings. It may not have always been the easiest road but together we've created a great life together with fantastic children and had tremendous success along the way. I feel I have been so blessed in my life and always look for ways to give back. That's why on my 50th birthday I have decided rather than receiving gifts, I’d like to raise money to support someone else. There’s nothing that could make me happier on my birthday than to help someone who’s starting out in the same situation Angela and I were in.  There’s been many people that helped Angela and I along the way and I hope this event will be able to provide a little comfort and support to a future nurse. I know the recipient will go on to help many others in the future. 

Nurses are special people; they were there when you were born, there in some of your worst times, and most likely they'll be there when you die. There’s no one that hasn’t been impacted by a nurse in some way. Now let’s have a great night and do something good.

Jonathan Hoy

Founder Corona Buddies

Ever since I was a little girl, I have always wanted to strive to help people and bring them back to good health. It is a different type of satisfaction that you receive knowing that you can provide such a level of professional health care for that person. That is the mindset that geared me towards nursing school. Fast forward to April of 2023 my whole life changed. I found out I was pregnant. Coming from someone who has polycystic ovarian syndrome, I have always been told I would struggle getting pregnant due to the production of ovarian cysts and my hormone levels which gave my body the inability to ovulate. Doctors have continuously told me I would need to seek out a fertility specialist whenever I decide to have children. When I found out I was pregnant at first, unsurprisingly, I was shocked, but it almost seemed like a miracle at the time considering my related health issues. That week I was already on edge and anxious as I was also waiting to hear back from Watts School of Nursing. Fortunately, a week after I found out about my pregnancy, I found out I got into nursing school as well. Initially, I was extremely overwhelmed as I did not know how the pregnancy would affect my body while also maintaining a good standing in nursing school. Of course, that was not it, I also had to keep in mind the adult responsibilities I had. This included but was not limited to rent, utilities, groceries, and gas. Not only that, but I had to start saving up for a new baby as children are expensive. This is related to childcare, clothing, medical visits, and an excess amount in groceries regarding baby food, formula, diapers, etc. So not only do I have to manage a new pregnancy with nursing school but also working enough to have a roof over my head and my child. I also must work at least 30 hours a week, so I qualify for paid maternity leave as well along with tuition reimbursement for nursing school. Given the circumstances, I have been struggling these past couple of months just trying to juggle all these new occupations with being a full-time employee, nursing student, and a new mom. For some people they might choose to withdraw from school and focus on their children. That is not the case for me. Becoming pregnant did not change the love I have for the nursing profession. My end goal is to be a pediatric ICU or stepdown nurse. It is a different type of satisfaction you receive with children when you are bringing them back to good health. They are already in such a vulnerable state and in a critically ill state and not only do you work with the children, but you work with the parents too. When you become a parent, you form this obligation towards your child to do absolutely everything you can to protect them and when life happens, and situations fall out of their control it can almost break them. That is where nurses come in. People truly underestimate how much of an impact nurses have on parents. Nurses are their child's biggest advocate. They are the individuals that parents look up to when it comes to bringing their child back to good health again. Pediatric nursing requires such a higher knowledge and education that cannot simply be taught but in combination with experience in the field. These nurses also develop such a deeper interpersonal connection with their patients and family members compared to other specialties. As the eldest and first to go to college in my family, I have always been held to such grand expectations. This is why I simply cannot just take a semester off or put off school because my dedication to becoming a pediatric nurse is stronger than anything and has been built over the course of 10-15 years and it is not something that can easily be put aside.