A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:

Time for StoryCorps. These days, a tale about rediscovering that means to your paintings. Angelina McCall started her nursing occupation at an emergency room in Tucson, Ariz. It used to be 2020 on the peak of COVID. She left that task a couple of yr later and doubted whether or not she used to be reduce out for nursing.

ANGELINA MCCALL: I used to be very embarrassed and ashamed. And I assumed, OK, smartly, I will be able to’t paintings within the ER, however I’m bilingual. I’ve a automobile. And I are living proper at the border. My mother is from Mexico. She’s an immigrant. So I assumed I will be able to perhaps assist those migrants which can be caught on the border at this time.

I implemented for the volunteer place at a medical institution, and after I were given there, folks have been coming in for first support. They have got an damage of their foot, wound care, blister care, and so they open up, and so they inform me tales which can be very tough. There used to be one circle of relatives that got here in and the little woman used to be most definitely round 10, and the dad of the little woman begins to cry. And he is telling me that the explanation why they left their house nation used to be as a result of there used to be any individual who used to be seeking to harm his daughter, and he could not give protection to her down there. And I inform myself, OK, I will let him know that he’s in a protected position, that he’s worthy of protection, love, compassion, after which be a nurse and assist the younger woman.

That little woman drew those footage for me, and so they specific their love for me, a stranger. And at that time, I spotted the only yr that I struggled within the ER – up to I think like I failed, I’m in fact the use of the abilities that I realized. Nursing is a gorgeous factor. It may be superb to be with any individual throughout their worst scenario. And I ask myself, why did I transform a nurse? And it is to do this sort of paintings.

MARTÍNEZ: Angelina McCall along with her husband, Matt, in Tucson, Ariz. Angelina made up our minds to not depart nursing, and he or she nonetheless volunteers on the medical institution at the border. Her interview is archived on the Library of Congress.

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