As a child in the village of Yariguá, Amarilis La Rosa González could hardly have imagined that she would be forever linked to the profession through which she discovered her first role-playing games. Today, the nurse with more than 23 years of experience speaks with 26 about the twists of fate and the dedication that led her to wear her white uniform.

In her small rural village, there weren't many opportunities to look beyond her immediate surroundings. Her farmer father and her homemaker mother shaped a reality that, for a long time, she believed would also define her destiny. But a vocation was quietly developing, fueled by the strength of someone who knows she will go far.

“From a young age, I loved nursing, not because I had any relatives in the profession; it was something that fascinated me. I even played with dolls, pretending to be the nurse, giving them vaccines, and hours would fly by.

I was never afraid of syringes or blood. I was terrified of animals —cows, turkeys, frogs, all those— but not of wounds or needles. And I had a difficult childhood! I was a sickly child, asthmatic. I couldn't play in the rain or walk barefoot; dust and smoke made me sick. I couldn't enjoy my childhood, as I used to tell my mother.

My older brother suffered from frequent seizures when he was little. That condition limited his neurodevelopment, and somehow, I developed that desire to help, to know what to do in an emergency. Those were small moments that awakened my calling.”

THE DAWN OF SACRIFICE

Amarilis recounts that deciding to study and pursue a profession, in her case, demanded twice the sacrifice. In Yariguá, there was only one primary school, so she had to move to the city and live with some of her father's cousins to complete her junior high education.
“Leaving such a small house was a complex process. I worked hard in junior high and university preparatory school, and even then, I didn't get a Bachelor's degree in Nursing, but rather a teaching degree. However, I was sure of what I wanted. After many efforts, I finally began the mid-level technical program.

I started my studies in 1999 at the Polytechnic Institute of Health. There, they only offered a three-year mid-level technical program. It was very demanding. I continued living in the countryside, staying with relatives, and had both practical and theoretical lessons.

“I remember that the first time I gave a patient an injection, I was terrified.” He was a frail old man with hardly any muscle mass, and when I gave him the injection, I was scared because I felt the needle touch his bone, and I thought, 'Oh my God! What have I done?' But no, the old man was overjoyed and even thanked me.” Amarilis fondly remembers when she was assigned to the Ernesto Guevara Hospital, to ward A4, in Internal Medicine. She still remembers the nerves of being left alone, having just graduated from that department.

“I was always on top of everything, down to the smallest detail; I was terrified of losing a patient. Those were intense years, full of learning, of truly understanding what patient care is like, of living with the pain of others. Those moments shape you as a professional and as a human being.”

“Then my first daughter arrived, and it became very difficult for me to do on-call shifts. I had to transfer, and they assigned me to the Ministry of the Interior (MININT). I didn't really like the job, the temperament required, or the rules we had to follow. I left even before they officially discharged me.”

She recounts that she started working in a medical office belonging to the Manuel (Piti) Fajardo Polyclinic, in Primary Health Care, and she immediately felt comfortable. “You learn a lot; you have to make decisions and have a lot of knowledge because sometimes the doctor isn't there, and you have to stay and look after the patient.”

“I really enjoy informing patients and also the educational aspect of preventing illnesses. It requires a lot of conversation and human contact. It's about educating the patient, changing their habits, their bad habits, and it's gratifying when you see the results."

A PROFESSION INSIDE...

Talking to Amarilis is like weaving a tangled web of endeavors. Between the demands of home and her practice, she set out to earn her degree and achieved her goal. She has countless anecdotes of sacrifice, of being exhausted, of balancing work and studies, of feeling like she was leaving a void at home. But the most remarkable thing was yet to come.

"When COVID-19 hit, I was assigned to the Respiratory ward; a space was set up where we treated all the patients with symptoms. We administered rapid antigen and PCR tests. It was quite demanding work, and as soon as the situation worsened, we were moved to a primary school, where we had more and more patients every day.”

“Whenever I think about that time, I remember that if we could overcome it, we can overcome anything. There was a moment when we ran out of oxygen, and that was very difficult. We had to prioritize the most critically ill patients and give them the medications they needed; they became very ill and had to be transferred. That period left its mark on all the healthcare staff.”

“I practically never went home and had to protect the girls. We could barely eat; there was no time. I assure you that the patients were the priority, and no one stood aside, even when we knew we could get sick. Being a nurse was then doubly a source of pride.”
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Now, Amarilis reigns from her vaccination center, where she says she also experiences memorable days. “It was new for me, but I enjoyed working with the children and their families. I feel I've become much more empathetic because the world I serve revolves around little ones.”

“Mothers arrive nervous; you have to talk to them, explain things, make them feel safe because it’s normal to have doubts about what adverse reaction their baby might have. Here, we do a lot of health promotion and give comprehensive talks with accurate information. It’s a very beautiful profession.”

“Every day is filled with love and responsibility. We have to keep an eye on the refrigerator temperature to protect the vaccines. We know we’re dealing with children, the most precious treasure in every family. Here, the work is intense, without weekends, and with very strict protocols.”

“My profession has brought me much joy. It has made me study and prepare myself to be able to perform my job to the fullest. It has doubled my sensitivity, and that’s essential for a nurse. Responsibility and humanism must go hand in hand, and in these complex times, they are a shield that allows us to work out of love and vocation.”