Jameka Mauldin

I started out in the healthcare field in 2010 at an assisted living facility. Caring for people has been the only job I've ever had. I helped my mom care for my great-grandmother at home, and I also cared for the grandparents who helped raise me. Losing them both to cancer in 2013 and 2015 changed my life and completely changed my outlook on healthcare.

I suffer from a condition called Lipo-lymphedema, a combination of lymphedema and lipedema in my legs. I've worked as a nurse assistant since 2017. In 2022, I became very sick from Lipo-lymphedema, and my mobility changed after reaching 717 lbs. I had gastric bypass surgery on 4-1-24, followed by bilateral mass removal and liposuction on my legs on 9-4-24. Within a few days of that surgery, I became septic. While battling the infection in the hospital for nearly a month, I unfortunately couldn't return home. I needed physical therapy to learn to walk again, along with ongoing wound care. During my recovery, I had a wonderful team supporting me. There were times when I felt discouraged about my legs and worried that my wound would never heal. More than anything, though, the experience gave me a deeper compassion for residents in long-term care facilities because I was living a reality that many of them face every day.

My wound care nurse, Stacey, was amazing. She not only explained the plan to heal my wound, but she also made me part of the process. The more we talked, the more she motivated me. One day, she asked what my plans were for the future. I told her I wasn't sure. She responded, "Have you thought about being a nurse?" I had never really thought about becoming a nurse. I just knew that I've always cared about helping others. Stacey encouraged me to look into nursing when I felt ready, and that conversation stayed with me.

My stay at the recovery facility was relatively short, but by the time I was discharged, my wound was almost healed, and I felt great about my progress. A lot of that was because of the support and guidance my wound care nurse provided. That difficult period in my life not only motivated me to pursue nursing, but it also inspired me to go into wound care. From that moment on, it became my goal.

Two years later, I've lost 388 lbs., 20 liters of fluid, and I've had 12 lbs. of fat masses removed. The struggle continues, but it's nothing like it was before. Taking a leap of faith, I enrolled in the PN Program in Summer 2026. So far, it has been a great journey. The instructors are passionate about teaching, and my classmates have been incredibly supportive. We share study tips and often meet to study together. Nursing school has also taught me the importance of time management. I've never been great at studying, so I've had to commit two to three hours each day to homework, assignments, and reading. It has meant giving up some of my social life, but I know it's worth it. I'm very proud of how far I've come, both in my health journey and in my journey toward becoming a future wound care nurse.

If you're thinking about starting nursing school, not every day will be easy. There will be challenges, but it's incredibly rewarding. Taking that first step can change your life, and you'll feel good about elevating your life.

—Jameka Mauldin is a student in the Practical Nursing program at the Bingham Farms campus.