As she gently inspected the condition of his skin, she explained that he needed a thorough cleaning and a special ointment and offered to wash his feet and patch them up.It's after-hours at a bar in San Francisco, and Kelly, a straight 19-year-old college student, is making out with a gay guy. Nurse Santizo approached, and he asked if she wouldn’t mind examining his feet. She encountered a middle-aged man who had lost his job during the pandemic and was forced to live on the streets. Every workday she has meaningful interactions, but one experience in particular had a lasting impression on her. When the opportunity to practice street nursing arose, Santizo knew instinctively that it was the right fit. She credits her lack of access to healthcare as a child for empowering her to keep pushing for change. It should be a right for someone to seek healthcare when it is needed and important, especially for children and adolescents who will be the future of our generation,” said Nurse Santizo. “ medicine should not be determined based on your socioeconomic status. That upbringing is what drove her to pursue a career in medicine, with the goal of giving back to underserved communities. The Santizo family Courtesy of Michelle Santizo “ taught me to never judge someone’s struggle … my mother’s inspiring upbringing taught me if you have the time to help the broken or disadvantaged, then take a moment to acknowledge or help in some positive way.” She said her mother instilled in her that there are many reasons why people are homeless and that each individual has their own story. “My mother told me that the only people that acknowledged her while sleeping outside on a bench the church that was across the street,” said Nurse Santizo.
Her mother fled from El Salvador as a young woman, arriving in the United States alone and without shelter. As the child of immigrant parents, she experienced firsthand a lack of healthcare and basic necessities. known as “skid row” to care for her clients, who are typically people experiencing homelessness and living on the fringes of society without regular access to healthcare. Michelle | Heroes Behind the Masks presented by CeraVe Santizo prepares for the workday by loading her backpack with supplies before heading to a section of downtown L.A. “It can be in a pristine, abandoned, trashed, or graffiti-filled neighborhood.” “Every corner of Los Angeles needs our services,” said Nurse Santizo.
“We know when people are coming to the hospital they are not at their best but the most important thing we can do is just be kind. Looking at what I get to do for people each and every day and how I get to impact their lives in a positive way makes it all worth it,” said Nurse Recker. When you love what you do and get to see the positive impact you have on people, it’s hard to be negative. “I am fortunate enough to work at a job I love and am passionate about. Nurse Recker says that while sometimes there are situations where there isn’t a good solution and there’s no way to predict the future, she feels good knowing that there are people who have her back. “To express our sincerest gratitude, we’re honored-to provide a platform for these incredible stories to be told, inspiring both the nursing community and beyond.” “Nurses share in some of the most joyful moments of a patient’s life but are also witness to some of the toughest moments, which can be a taxing part of their jobs that often goes unrecognized,” said Jaclyn Marrone, vice president of marketing for CeraVe.