Rachel Esch, Lansing, MI was a Miracle Network Child, born in 1989 with a bone disorder called Hemihypertrophy. Her medical costs were covered and the nurses inspired her own desire to be a nurse. She is a certified nursing assistant, nearing graduation from nursing school and works as a PCA for income and experience working with people. She is an artist, dog-lover and avid reader.
Half Mexican, her current client is Mexican, U.S. born, and Rachel says “That little bridge helps. You know—he’s got the tamale stories, and we’ve got the tamale stories, and he asks about my grandma and then I tell him [her name] Casteo and he’s like, ‘Oh, Casteo, yeah.’”
Rachel believes PCAs need to have good observation skills. “You can prevent so much terrible big things if you can notice some of the little things early. It’s a preventative…like noticing the little red spot on their tailbone, it could turn into a pressure ulcer, and those can go deep as your bone, and they’re terrible and take a long time to heal and can lead to all sorts of other problems.
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Not all caregivers are cut from the same cloth. Some of them just show up, stick somebody in a chair, and call it good but the ones that are doing a good job are watching out for that little snowflake before it becomes an avalanche. Those things matter. I mean, ultimately, it’s a life you’ve got resting on your shoulders when you’re taking care of someone.”