Family First, Always

For Elizabeth Harper, family is everything–not only her biological family, but also the work family she has built over her 10 years as a night shift registered nurse at Siskin Hospital. It’s the philosophy that guides how she cares for each and every patient.

“I always tell people–if you can’t treat these patients like they’re your own family, then this isn’t the career for you,” said Elizabeth.

In early 2024, Elizabeth found herself on the other side of a medical crisis when her younger brother, Jacob, was hit head-on by a drunk driver.

In an instant, Jacob went from being an active, physically fit 23-year-old to fighting for his life.  He went into cardiac arrest twice, and suffered extensive injuries, including fractures to his femur, both knees, wrist, ribs, and more.  

“You can’t help with being in the medical field thinking of all the long-term effects­–what if he doesn’t make it?” Elizabeth recalled.

As if Jacob’s accident wasn’t enough heartache, the family suffered another devastating blow when their mother unexpectedly passed away just a month later. Through it all, Elizabeth found strength in the unwavering support of her coworkers at Siskin Hospital.  

After multiple surgeries and a medically induced coma, Jacob was ready to start the next phase of his journey to recovery, but faced significant obstacles. Due to the extent of his injuries, doctors required him to remain non-weight-bearing on all four limbs for three months, delaying his physical rehabilitation. He also had no health insurance, a challenge faced by thousands of young Americans. Without help, Jacob would have gone home with little hope of returning to the life he once knew.

Thankfully, Elizabeth knew exactly where he needed to go to get his quality of life back. She knew Siskin Hospital has a scholarship fund which provides care for uninsured individuals, made possible in part through the generous support of donors who believe in the power of physical rehabilitation.

“Getting the opportunity to recover there was such an honor and it helped me so much. I’m still so grateful,” Jacob said.

Once cleared by his doctors, Jacob spent the next 14 days at Siskin Hospital, taking his first steps and working to rebuild his strength and balance after losing nearly 30-pounds of muscle after the accident. For Elizabeth, it was reassuring to know that people she trusted were caring for her brother–and that she could visit during her breaks to see his progress.

 The trauma of the accident and the loss of their mother brought Elizabeth, Jacob, and their entire family even closer, strengthening their determination see Jacob return to his best life.

After his inpatient stay, Jacob continued his recovery through Siskin Outpatient Therapy for several months. Now, a year after his accident, Jacob is close to making a full recovery. He is back in college, working, exercising, and recently had surgery to remove hardware that he no longer needs. His girlfriend Legacy, who was also injured in the wreck and never left his side during his recovery, is proud of his continued optimism.

“He’s always been a light in everyone’s life, and because of Siskin Hospital he is shining even brighter.”

Elizabeth remains deeply grateful for her work family, not just for caring for her but also her little brother. Since experiencing the “family-side” of a serious medical situation, she has an even deeper appreciation for what her patients’ loved ones are going through.

“I always take care of my patients like they’re my own family, but this experience just made me even more committed to doing so,” said Elizabeth.

Because of Siskin Hospital, Jacob’s future is brighter than ever–and so is the bond they share. Thank you Elizabeth for always giving your absolute best to every patient!

You can be the reason someone just like Jacob can learn to walk again. Give today to the Siskin Hospital Patient Scholarship Fund and help someone take their first steps toward a new life. Click the button below to give to the Patient Scholarship Fund.