We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sarah Ingledue. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sarah below.

Sarah, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the story behind how you got your first job in field that you currently practice in.

I knew I always wanted to be a nurse since the minute my youngest sister was born. She was born with a rare syndrome called Corneila de Lange. They didn’t expect her to live past day one but she made it. Her prognosis was given her only ten years after that. The girl has survived the odds in so many ways. At the age of fifteen she was selected as a Make A Wish candidate. Watching the care and nurses in and out of our home led me to become a certified nursing assistant when I was in highschool. I had to the ability to help with the care of my sister and other special needs families. I always told my parents that someday I wanted to take on the full time care of my sister. I went to school and got my RN license and started my career in a Children’s Emergency Room, where I ended up a charge nurse after awhile. I have traveled as a nurse, I worked the covid crisis in the Bronx of New York. We were stationed at the time at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, I worked as a federal employee nurse in the ER on base. The time was finally right during my service at Fort Bragg that my parents were ready to hand Rachael over to my care. This was a dream come true for me. She came to live with us in North Carolina for a year until we made the decision to move to Texas to be closer to family. Rachael has lived with us for five years now and fits into our family and routine like a glove. Her care is complex, demanding, and full time but I truly love every moment with her. I still work an occasional shift in a ER to maintain and keep up with my skills and nursing certifications. I took a leap of faith last year to start a nonprofit because of the inspiration my sister has on me. I opened up a tax deductible nonprofit called Rays Respite Care with the hopes to build a home and buy the medical equipment necessary to allow respite care for families of medically fragile children and adults.

Sarah, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I founded Ray’s Respite Care in 2024 as a Non-profit to help sustain the needs and medical expenses and equipment Rachael requires. The end goal is to raise enough money to open a residence that provides respite care to families with medically fragile children and/or adults free of charge. Respite care is something that is generally not covered by insurance or federal programs. There is limited services available and can be potentially expensive for families to obtain. The level of care for certain disabilities is another hindering factor in finding appropriate respite assistance. Through Ray’s Respite Care I want to be able to provide personal time and backup support for caregivers which is essential to their emotional health and overall well being. Having a special needs sister in my family changed our lives for the better. We didn’t live a “normal” life. Our home was consumed with medical equipment, emergency situations, and continuous nursing care. Rachael taught us the power of humility, compassion, patience, sacrifice, and we saw the love of Jesus. My parents lead by example and exemplified the importance of caring for their own well-being in order to sustain the caregiving of Rachael. I knew I wanted to be a nurse and care for my sister since the day she was born. I obtained my CNA license in high school and worked with family friends who had disabled children. I have experience in working with children and adults of various disabilities and chronic health complications. I started my nursing career in a Children’s Emergency Room where I ended up a charge nurse. I traveled to New York and worked in the Bronx during the covid crisis. I have experience as a Federal employee and worked at Fort Bragg in the Emergency Room on base. I currently work for Christus Mother Francis in Tyler TX as a PRN RN in the Emergency Room to maintain my certifications and skills. I am ACLS, PALS, TNCC, BLS, NIHSS, and NRP certified.

Can you talk to us about your experience with buying businesses?

Opening a non-profit was not an easy task, the process is hurry up and wait to get things reviewed and approved. I worked with an attorney to help direct me in the right direction so I was doing the process correct. The mission of Ray’s Respite Care is to sustain the medical care, services, and equipment needed for Rachael. Caregiving for a special needs individual is complex, expensive, and difficult to obtain in order to provide the best quality of life. Some of the equipment Rachael requires is a feeding pump, oxygen concentrator, nebulizer, suction, and CPT (chest physiotherapy) vest. Insurance is always quick to deny services and most items are through a rented service. Being able to obtain these pieces of equipment and medical supplies more efficiently is something that would enhance her quality of care. The goal is to be able to expand Ray’s Respite Care so these same services can be offered to families with medically fragile children and/or adults. The purpose of the organization shall be to serve the needs of medically fragile populations in which services, care, or equipment are limited or cannot be met. These include but are not limited; to medical equipment, expenses for medical care, respite assistance, and downtime to caregivers free of charge. We want to bring awareness through various social medias, fundraising events, walks and runs, and other similar promotions within the community.
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Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

Looking back I would still choose to be a nurse because it is the one thing that truly makes me happy. I enjoy the ability to service, care, and advocate for those that are sick. I think love is medicine and I truly believe that if I can show someone love it will make more of an impact that the medicine I give a patient. I think I learned this lesson from having a special needs sister because the reason she thrives is due to her environment and the love she is given. I want to continue giving it those around me because it is a gift.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.raysrespitecare.org
• Instagram: @rays.respite.care