DEFYING THE ODDS
A NURSING STUDENT’S INSPIRING STORY By Maggie Aime, RN
TALES OF TRIUMPH often arise from adversity, and Jasmine Schultz’ story is a shining example. She’s a remarkable person whose life is a testament to courage, perseverance, and an unyielding passion for nursing. Despite a genetic mutation leading to chronic conditions, such as gastroparesis and heart failure, Jasmine not only navigated the challenges of nursing school but also worked part-time as an ER tech. Her dream? Becoming a bedside ICU nurse.
A FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL But Jasmine’s health took a dramatic turn. In May 2023, she was rushed to the hospital with sepsis. Jasmine’s organs began failing, requiring ECMO and dialysis. She coded multiple times. Her prognosis was grim, and doctors encouraged her family to say their goodbyes. Not one to give up, Jasmine defied the odds and began responding to treatment. Still, the battle was far from over. Weeks of surgeries followed, resulting in the amputation of her lower legs, her hands, and part of her arms due to extensive necrosis. This left her as a quadruple amputee. In the subsequent months, Jasmine faced even more challenges with urosepsis and meningitis. Despite it all, her strong spirit persisted.
FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND FURRY COMPANION Throughout this challenging time, Jasmine found strength from various sources. Beyond an exceptional medical team treating her as their own, Jasmine’s family,
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“Even though you’re different, it doesn’t mean that you can’t achieve your goals. Even in a wheelchair, I could get my doctorate. Being sick, being different, makes things harder, but it doesn’t mean you can’t achieve your goals and be whatever you want to be.” — JASMINE
friends, and Duchess — her loyal Chihuahua — played crucial roles. Jasmine spoke of her grandmother, whose daily hourlong drives to the hospital to sit at her bedside provided comfort amidst the storm. The hospital bent the rules to allow Duchess to visit. “For hours, she would just come lay with me because she’s quiet and she just likes to snuggle,” Jasmine recalled.
UNIQUE INSIGHTS FROM HER JOURNEY Jasmine — on the verge of completing nursing school — reflected on how her journey influenced her perspective on nursing. She said, “As a patient, it’s very different. It’s not fun to be on the other side.” She described feeling excluded at times from conversations between healthcare professionals.
