Children’s life threatening experiences lead mom to new nursing career

Originally Naomi Schafer went to Michigan State University where she started her career in business, but two life threatening experiences with her children would inspire her to switch career paths. 

Now, Schafer is a nurse in the medical oncology unit at University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Lansing, providing comfort and hope to those battling cancer. 

Life changing experiences 

Schafer doesn’t have any nurses in her family, so becoming one herself never crossed her mind. 

That was until her third daughter, Sophie, was diagnosed with cancer as a baby. 

“So, we did all our chemo treatments at UM Health-Sparrow, and I was amazed by the nurses,” Schafer said. 

“They keep your ship afloat, and just what they do to stabilize you and help you through the whole process was amazing.”

Thankfully, her daughter, now 10 years old, is cancer free.

The experience gave Schafer the bug for nursing, though she continued to stay home to raise three small children and work parttime.

“I liked to work, but it was always hard to find the right balance. Then it made sense to go back to nursing school after my fourth one was born.”

Her fourth child and her only boy, Andrew, was born two months early and spent weeks in the Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at UM Health-Sparrow Children's Center. 

At that point, Schafer said “I definitely knew I wanted to be a nurse.”

Journey to nursing

Andrew was only a few months old when Schafer returned to school for her prerequisites. 

And when he was two, she finally began attending Lansing Community College for nursing.

“Nurses are the force that stabilizes and carries patients through all the ups and downs of uncertainty with treatments. I wanted to help others in that spot, to hold their hand and hold them steady during a tumultuous spot in their life,” Schafer said.

Despite the challenges of being a mom to four children and studying during the COVID pandemic, her persistence paid off. 

She graduated nursing school and started at Sparrow on the medical oncology unit.

“I worked on this floor for a year during the pandemic. Then I went to an outpatient facility for a year before I realized that I missed bedside nursing,” she said.

Schafer was given the chance to move back to medical oncology where she has worked for the past three years. 

“It’s close to my heart. My husband's father had a brain tumor, and we've had family members with cancer. I feel like my experiences give me a different perspective on what patients and their families are going through,” she said.

A work-life balance, and helping patients

Balancing her new calling as a nurse and a busy family life with four children involved in several sports and activities is challenging. 

Yet, Schafer finds her roles equally fulfilling.

“It's tricky, but I’m glad for a flexible job. I really like to work, and I like to come in and take care of somebody else, and I like to go home and take care of my people,” she said.

Schafer says she says a prayer every day before coming in and asks for compassion, wisdom and skill for whatever comes her way.

“There are pivotal moments in people's lives that help them heal and move forward, or that can be emotionally burdensome. I feel called to help and heal as much as I can, making sure families feel peace and know their loved one was cared for.”

University of Michigan Health-Sparrow is always looking for nurses committed to providing quality, compassionate care. Learn more about jobs at UM Health-Sparrow.

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