We recently connected with Sheila J. Brooks and have shared our conversation below.

Sheila J., looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

Born on Friday, June 13, 1958, I was the only child born to ‘older’ first-time parents. My mother worked at the hospital on the corner, and we lived in housing that was only accessible to staff. At the age of sixteen, I volunteered as a candy striper at the hospital, which was both exciting and satisfying. My desire to become a registered nurse who provides care to patients in need, was strengthened by this experience.
In the course of this year and the next two years, I developed health problems which required hospitalization and surgery. Although these were frightening experiences, it was also enlightening to be on the receiving end of healthcare. The nursing care I received was outstanding, and it had a significant impact on me. Now, becoming a registered nurse was my aspiration and goal!
As a child, my home life was very dysfunctional. During my elementary school years, I became aware of my father’s verbal and physical abuse towards my mother. Throughout my junior and high school years, and even into college, there was no change. This caused my grades to suffer, and had a significant impact on my mental, emotional, physical, and personal development.
After witnessing an aggressive attack on my mother, I was close to inflicting severe bodily harm on my father. This validated my need to depart from my childhood home, to ensure that my aspirations in life were fulfilled. Prior to starting my senior year in college, I got married, leaving my mother in God’s care. Despite suffering a brain concussion during a hit-and-run accident, I successfully completed the required credits to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. Upon passing the state board examination, I attained my license to professionally practice nursing.
Within one month after graduating, I was beyond excited to secure employment at the hospital where my mother still worked. This was my initial employment experience. Like most people, my aim was to remain employed until the expected retirement age. Despite having different illnesses that caused me to take numerous medical leaves of absence during my career, I was always able to recover and return to work.
The defining moment in my career occurred in 1996. At 38, I became totally and permanently disabled, preventing me from engaging in future gainful employment. As a registered nurse, I worked at the providing end of healthcare, before transitioning to the receiving end as a patient. My life changed dramatically and traumatically, after undergoing a total abdominal hysterectomy with ovary removal (TAH/BSO). During surgery, a rectovaginal fistula (an abnormal connection between the rectum and vagina) was accidentally created. The fistula was repaired six months later, but it resulted in many complications, hospitalizations, surgeries, and serious afflictions over the next three years.
I encountered, confronted, and ultimately triumphed over obstacle after obstacle, emerging as a resilient survivor. Although the road has not been easy, I am grateful not to look like what I have been through. I’m blessed to not only have survived but thrived in the midst of illness and adversity. I liken myself to a rose that grew from concrete – I met, tackled, and overcame insurmountable obstacles, and bloomed where I was planted. Now this is redefining success!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

“When one door closes, another opens, but all too often there is a long hallway between” – Rick Jarow
Act 1 of my life entailed the foundation of choosing a career and graduating from college with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.
In 1979, Act 2 of my life commenced upon becoming employed as a licensed registered nurse. Following moving into our home, after three years of marriage, I gave birth to a son in 1982, and a daughter in 1983. I was living my American dream, and did not anticipate being abruptly awakened from it.
The nursing profession was something I loved so much that I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. In fact, I expected to continue this very job until the age of retirement. I also didn’t think I would become divorced, but I did. The misfortune of experiencing prolonged illness, eventually forced me to pursue Act 2: Season Two.
Due to an overextended medical leave of absence, I was terminated by my employer. Although saddened by this, I fully understood why. Working as a nurse on the giving end of healthcare, was a profession I would sorely miss. The experience of transitioning to a patient on the receiving end of healthcare, was unexpected and challenging. I was genuinely happy to learn that nurses were finally being financially compensated for their hard work. At the same time, I was upset over being declared totally and permanently disabled, thus financially dependent on disability income.
Following the advice of a friend, I enrolled in an online voice-over training program with demo production, to pursue a career as a voice actor. My vocal training was honed during my time attending a Performing Arts high school, where I majored in voice. For many years I served as the announcer at my church, and my son had expressed an affection for my voice. This all led me to believe that I would perform well in this program and successfully complete it.
Each training session with my coach was an exhilarating experience. In preparation for my demo tape, I rehearsed the scripts that were to be recorded in the studio. The recording session went excellently well, and my coach complimented me on my performance. While awaiting the processing of my demo tape, assorted audio recording equipment was delivered to my home. Upon hearing my refined demo tape, I was filled with pride and excitement. Promoting this demo tape, mastering the skills of home recording, and obtaining work as a voice actor, were foremost priorities of mine.
And just like that, the path that I was on was abruptly interrupted. I was devastated when my vehicle was rear-ended in a collision, which resulted in a back injury, leading to the abandonment of these plans. Sadly, conservative treatments were not effective in healing this painful injury. Instead of continuing to suffer, I elected to undergo surgery to repair the damage.
In the past, when I experienced various illnesses and hospitalizations, I considered writing a book about my life. It was a given that the opening of Chapter 1 would announce my grand entrance, on the infamous Friday the 13th! Despite not having any formal writing experience, I began writing whenever the mood struck me. While reminiscing and documenting about the yesteryears, no title for this book had emerged.
Promptly after becoming permanently disabled, the title naturally came to me. “On the Receiving End: A Memoir of a Nurse Who Met, Tackled, and Overcame Insurmountable Obstacles”. Until this point, I had encountered innumerable illnesses, hospitalizations, and surgeries. However, those did not measure up to the astonishing and traumatizing three-year ordeal that I went through. My resilient survival was not luck, but rather a blessing.
After 27 years of being disabled, in June of 2023, I reached the retirement age of 65. The publication of my memoir on September 29th of that year, brought me great joy and honor. Having been awarded the 2024 Silver Book Award from the Nonfiction Authors Association, motivated me to continue to actively promote my memoir. Across various social and media platforms, I have shared the inspiration behind writing my book and have detailed some of the personal experiences that I encountered within the pages. My book has also received numerous 5-star reviews from the reviewers of Online Book Club. ‘On the Receiving End’ is carried by major retailers, the book publisher, and is also available on my website: sherichlyspeaks.com. Whenever I am approached by aspiring authors seeking to gain insight into the writing and publishing process, it fills me with a sense of pride & purpose.
Additional voice-over training is on my list for the future, with a particular focus on medical and corporate narration, as well as E-learning. I am receptive to trying something new, which could be advantageous for me in the end.
I am most proud of becoming a published author at 65 years old. I believed that I had the ability to achieve what was my dream, and I succeeded! Your dream can also become a reality, if you have the courage to pursue it.

The long hallways of life can often feel daunting, endless, hopeless, and downright confusing. But it can also be an opportunity where growth, victories, joy, and redirection reside. There is a quote from J.R.R. Tolkien that says, “Not all who wander are lost.” It is often while roaming these said hallways of life, in our meantime season of waiting for a new door to open, that we find ourselves and our purpose. And perhaps your purpose is not to wait for a door to open. Maybe, just maybe, you have been created to design the master key that unlocks the path to your own destiny. Naturally, we often wish to rush the process of walking through the next open door, but I implore you to cherish “the hallway” – stay a little while and get to know what you are really made of!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Anticonvulsant medication was prescribed for the purpose of managing and controlling my seizure activity, which began after sustaining a brain concussion. The cause of my seizures was unknown, as diagnostic tests did not reveal it. After a substantial period of time without seizures, the neurologist felt comfortable discontinuing my medication.
Several major operations were performed in a very short period of time, due to complications following a hysterectomy in 1996. Shortly after a colostomy was surgically created, an intestinal obstruction caused by adhesions occurred. Surgery was again required to remove the adhesions and resolve the obstruction.
Upon waking up after surgery, I was experiencing severe pain, which is to be expected. I wasn’t in the recovery room, but a man was present and applying something on my head. He let me know that he was performing an electroencephalogram as ordered. Suddenly, a nurse appeared in the cubicle and asked if I needed pain medication. Before I could ask her where I was, she left. When she returned, I was informed that I was in the intensive care unit. The nurse declined to provide further information, stating that my doctor would explain everything.
Hearing my name being called, I opened my eyes. There was my doctor, with a look of great concern on his face. He said that the surgery was successful in eliminating the scar tissue and resolving the obstruction. Unfortunately, his follow-up news brief was mind-blowing. According to him, I was moved to this critical care unit after suffering a grand mal seizure postoperatively in the recovery room. Although shocking, that wasn’t nearly as shocking as the next bit of information.
Postictal paralysis arose on my left side due to this seizure, and the EEG confirmed a loss of brain activity on the right side. He had to be joking me!! I was determined to demonstrate that he was lying, but I could not move my left arm or leg. During that moment, a neurologist appeared and introduced himself. He made an effort to reduce my anxiety and ease my mind, by telling me that textbooks indicate that this paralysis only lasts for a few minutes, hours, or days.
I complied with the daily exercise regimen as instructed by the physical therapists. Upon being transferred back to the surgical floor, I had regained some strength and motion in my left leg. A major challenge remained: an active colostomy and an inoperable left arm. Because of my inability to manage, I was obliged to depend on the nurses for this job. They were happy to help me, but I was thoroughly humiliated.
The strength in my left leg continually increased with therapy, but my arm remained a swollen dead weight. I was taken for an MRI to rule out a stroke, after the textbook time frame elapsed. With a stroke ruled out, the neurologist was unable to offer an explanation for my lingering upper extremity paralysis. This was a first for him!
When the time came for me to leave the hospital, it was bittersweet. I was grateful to have survived this journey and was delighted to be returning home to my children. Still, an active colostomy and one functional arm do not go well together, just like oil and vinegar. Somehow, someway, things would work out for me. I’d weathered many storms before and bounced back, and I was determined to do it again!
An occupational and physical therapist from my former employer, visited me at home for exercise sessions. With their care, support, and encouragement, my left arm paralysis resolved after three months. My arm has lingering tremors, and as I walk, my arm no longer naturally swings. NO BIG DEAL!!!

So many people take so many things for granted, as if that’s the way it is supposed to be. Believe you me, one doesn’t realize the true value of what you had, until it is gone!

Always have a grateful heart and give thanks.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

‘Sickness knows no prejudice or borders’

If I were younger and in good health, I would definitely return to work as a registered nurse. Since passing the state board examination and receiving my license in 1979, I have renewed it every four years. It goes without saying that I would be required to take continuing education courses, since my departure from this profession was decades ago.
Since my teenage years, nursing has been my only career consideration, despite my mother’s desire for me to pursue teaching. Caring for the sick appealed to me far more than a classroom did. The average person holds nurses in high regard and has admiration for the profession.
This particular occupation is not meant for everyone, but it was meant for me! Nurses should be mentally, physically, emotionally, and psychologically suited to care for the sick. I was born on a Friday, and the phrase ‘Friday’s child’ is often associated with love and generosity. In addition, I am passionate about nursing, and my persona exudes empathy, caring, compassion, commitment, and an openness for patient communication. Being an advocate for patients is vital, as they may be too ill, or timid to assert themselves.
Over the years, dramatic changes have occurred in the nursing profession as well as other professions. Nurses are no longer receiving unfair pay but continue to be overworked. The quality of nursing care that was once prioritized, has been impacted greatly by this. The staff is inevitably affected, as they must meet demands, deadlines, and daily documentation requirements. Very often, the remaining time in a shift is inadequate, to provide the nursing care that was provided in the past. What about those patients?
Many years ago, I was frequently admitted into a nearby hospital. During my illness, I would usually be transported to the same floor where I once had a two-month hospital stay on, and the nursing care provided was exceptional. After fracturing four ribs three years ago, I was admitted to this same hospital, to a unit where I had previously recuperated following abdominal surgery. Based on the severity of my pain, I assumed that the excellent care I had received in the past, would be the norm. My assumption was incorrect, and a rude awakening caused me to feel upset and sad.
During this three-day admission for pain management, the only time I encountered a nurse, was to administer the pain medication that I requested. Since the bedside commode that was promised never arrived, I was forced to painfully arise from the bed and independently make my way to the bathroom. There was no provision of a basin or the items necessary for morning care. The patient gown given in the emergency room was the same gown that I took off three days later when I was discharged. Needless to say, this was my worst hospital experience of all time!
Nevertheless, one bad apple or experience doesn’t spoil the bunch. For every occasional misfortune that I’ve encountered, it pales in comparison to the overall exceptional care that I’ve received throughout the years.
 
‘Treat others with the same level of concern and kindness that you would like them to show towards you.’

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sherichlyspeaks.com
• Instagram: @sheilalovesplants
• Facebook: sheila.brooks.79069
• Linkedin: @sheilabrooks
• Twitter: @broo55106
• Other: -Pinterest@sheils5755

  -TikTok@getright13

  -Medium@sheilabrooks_28406

Image Credits

RealDepthPhotography