The Chosen Path of a Caregiving Family

By Sunni Zemblowski

Following the Path of Our Mother

Most people fear that they will grow up to become their parents. However, this was, and is, not the case for Derrick and Mitchell Easom. For them, following the path of their mother, the path of a nurse, has always been a dream and aspiration. And the path their mother, Dr. Leisa Easom, has taken is one of great caring, ambition, and hope.

Over the past four decades, Leisa Easom has devoted her life to nursing, caring for others, and educating future caregivers. Leisa earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from Valdosta State University before going to the Medical College of Georgia for her PhD. After spending eight years working for a hospital, Leisa pursued her interest in becoming an educator. When she moved to Americus with her husband in the late 1980s, she applied for a teaching position in the School of Nursing at Georgia Southwestern. Since that time, Leisa has occupied a variety of roles, including her eight years as the executive director of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI) and her most recent appointment as the associate dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at GSW and the lead developer of a new four-year degree, the Bachelor of Science in Long-Term Care Management (LTCM).

Leisa’s work as a caregiver and educator followed her home, where it left a lasting impression on her children. Leisa reflected on how they may have been impacted by her occupation: “They have always had a ‘nurse’ in the home and I have always tried to explain what was happening whenever they were ill ... Perhaps a good role model? Hard to say.”

Sharing the same career with my mother and brother has made our bond even stronger.

However, it is not hard to say according to her daughter, Derrick: “Growing up, I always saw my role model, my mom, as a nurse. Naturally, I wanted to be just like her when I grew up, so I decided at a very early age that I wanted to be a nurse.” And, making that dream a reality, Derrick attended her mother’s alma mater, Valdosta State University, for two years before transferring to GSW, where she earned her BSN in 2015. She recently returned to GSW and completed the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program this past May. Now, Derrick works at Aesthetic Specialty Centre - Plastic Surgery and Dermatology as a cosmetic and aesthetic nurse practitioner. Mitchell, Derrick’s younger brother, also graduated this May alongside his sister, earning his BSN. Mitchell has started his career in nursing working at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in the intensive care unit.

“Sharing the same career with my mother and brother has made our bond even stronger,” says Derrick.

Having a mother who was also an educator has had an impact on Leisa’s children as well. Derrick reflects back to her school work at GSW: “My mom definitely was able to help me with my studies in nursing school. [She] is so patient and truly loves to teach so she was always willing to help.”

Leisa, who has inspired and impacted so many future and current caregivers, hopes that she has influenced Derrick and Mitchell in a lasting way: “I hope that I inspired them to care for others, that care requires that one has the knowledge and critical thinking skills to provide the best for the care recipient.” Based on the evidence, this hope has been fulfilled. For Derrick, the influence of her mother and of nursing goes much further than one generation: “I would love to see the cycle of nursing continue through the family legacy.”

Dr. Leisa Easom had the privilege of awarding two of her children, Derrick and Mitch, their diplomas at the 2018 Spring Commencement Ceremony.