Weast Family

Melissa Weast has been a great friend to many in the nursing community, the following was written by another faculty member and speaks to her contributions over the years and current need:

We can all remember a person who has helped us navigate our life, helping us move towards our goals and supported us when the burden got too heavy. Hundreds of nurses in our valley have been touched by the RCC Nursing Program’s administrative assistant, Melissa Weast.

For the past 37 years Melissa has worked tirelessly to help nursing students navigate the world of a nursing school. She has touched so many and helped them all.

Now she needs our help. Melissa’s husband, Brad has been diagnosed with head and neck cancer and will be requiring both extensive radiation and chemotherapy treatment. His recovery will be long and hard and will place financial strains on the family.

Brad’s daughter described her dad, “my dad has always been the handyman, the main provider and our go to man”. He has always worked full time, been a 4H volunteer and supported his family.

I saw a Facebook post from Melissa and thought it said all that needed to be said to exemplify her contributions to our graduates and faculty.

“ I am overly protective of my students and faculty because I am both on the lines with them and behind the scenes keeping the ball rolling when things change and evil seeks us.”

Once again, I will be greeting 2nd years student who survived first year and be excited to meet the “deer in the headlights” first year students who have no idea what they are in for. Again, I will be their biggest cheerleader and do everything in my power to make nursing school as tolerable as possible and pep talks when they doubt themselves.

This year will be my 37th year serving nursing students and faculty and I am excited as if this was the first year. I’ve seen way over 1400 nursing students cross the nurse pinning stage- each with a story I’ve learned along their way.”

Melissa has worked with us to begin our careers bringing compassion and healing to our clients. Please take a moment and donate to Melissa and her family. Let’s remind her how that friendly shoulder, the email response the assurance that all will be okay meant to us and let her and her family know- We got this.