Inspired by Care, Committed to Serve
From the moment she was diagnosed with vasculitis at just nine years old, a life-threatening
disease that attacked her kidneys, Aide Medina’s life changed forever. What followed
was a journey marked by extraordinary challenges: chemotherapy, seizures, a stroke,
a coma, and eventually the need for two kidney transplants. She spent three years
on dialysis before receiving her first kidney transplant at age 12. Ten years later,
shortly after getting married, she faced another setback when that kidney failed,
requiring a second transplant at age 22.
Yet through every hardship, Aide held tightly to something powerful: gratitude.
“I don’t remember any of the bad stuff, only the good stuff—because of the nurses
who took care of me,” she says. Their compassion, strength, and unwavering support
inspired her to follow the same path they walked so faithfully beside her.
Aide began college after high school with plans to complete an LVN program at a nearby
community college. But her illness created unavoidable barriers: doctor appointments,
treatments, and medical procedures forced her to miss crucial class time. Reluctantly,
she stepped away, holding onto hope that she would return someday.
After her second transplant, that day finally came. This time, she discovered Odessa
College’s Registered Nursing program—and everything clicked.
“It’s amazing how OC helps us, how the instructors support us and share their own
stories of their experiences in the profession,” Aide says. “They care about you and
your story. They understand, encourage, listen, and support their students to help
them succeed.”
For the past four years, Aide has worked at a local dialysis center while completing
her coursework at OC. She finds purpose in caring for patients who share the same
struggles she once endured.
“My purpose in life is to help others,” she says. “When I graduate, I’m going to stay
with the dialysis center and my patients. They know my story, and they know I understand
what they are going through.”
Aide’s goals don’t end there. She plans to pursue her Bachelor of Science in Nursing
and hopes to become an educator specializing in kidney disease and dialysis—and maybe
one day, a nursing instructor.
Aide Medina’s resilience and heart for others shine through every step of her journey.
Her story is a testament to courage, hope, and the profound impact compassionate caregivers
can have on a life.