By Alison Votaw, Red Cross Communications Volunteer
Elvia Pacheco-Reyna hasn’t left her nursing days behind; they just look a little different now. From a young age, she knew she wanted to be a nurse, a sentiment reflected in her carefully curated collection of photos, including one of her holding a stethoscope.
“I always said I’d become a nurse, but I didn’t believe it.”
At 21, she became a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), with aspirations of becoming a Registered Nurse (RN). For 35 years, she worked in the labor and delivery unit in Fresno. Now, over 40 years after donning her first scrubs, she continues to use those skills to help people.
Elvia’s first experience with the American Red Cross is preserved in her detailed scrapbook from 1994. She reminisces about her time at Fresno Community Hospital when nurses were asked to volunteer after the Northridge earthquake. Although she didn’t know what to expect, she stepped forward and was chosen to be part of a team of Fresno nurses who partnered with the Red Cross to aid families affected by the disaster.
Her scrapbook includes newspaper clippings, photos, and the awards she received for her commitment to helping those in need.
“What keeps me going is that I love helping people,” she says. “It has a lot to do with being a nurse because you always give of yourself.”
Elvia Pacheco-Reyna
The impact of her first deployment stayed with her. As retirement approached, her son reminded her of her long-held desire to join the Red Cross, and she realized that now was her chance. Shortly after retiring, Elvia applied to join the AmeriCorps team at the Red Cross.
“I feel so good if I can just get a smile out of one individual.”
While she enjoys participating in recruitment and education, her true passion lies in deployment. She strives to form connections with everyone she meets in shelters, whether it’s a family seeking refuge or fellow volunteers.
After her first deployment to Houston, Elvia felt a deep sadness leaving the Red Cross family she had formed over the two weeks. This feeling has accompanied her every time she’s deployed and driving her back to volunteer, even when challenges arise or fatigue sets in.
“I am going to do it as long as I have the energy to do it.”
Elvia plans to keep using her nursing skills to aid others in crisis and hopes to inspire other nurses and retirees to join her. “It’s an opportunity to make a different kind of impact, and if I could just get one nurse to sign up, I’d be happy!” she adds.
In celebration of National Nurses Week, the Red Cross is highlighting the tireless efforts of nurses across the country who dedicate themselves to helping those in need. Elvia is just one of many Red Cross nurses who continue to make a difference, proving that while the job may be over, the calling never ends.
Fay is one of the many people that Elvia has helped during disasters across the country. Elvia carries on the proud tradition of Red Cross nursing and will answer this call to serve in future disasters.
Red Cross Central California Blog 