Friday, April 29, 2005 | 4:27 a.m.
WEEKEND EDITION
April 30 - May 1, 2005
A raffle will be held May 12 for dinner and gift certificates. Tickets cost $2. Winners need not be present. Call Jaemee Wenthe at 480-5007.
An account to benefit the family has been established at Washington Mutual, account number 1851161744.
Call Bob Bardsley at 566-6381.
Nick's Account, an account to benefit the family, has been established at Silver State Schools Credit Union, account number 53184-02.
For more information about the Nevada State College nursing program, visit www.nsc.nevada.edu, or call 992-2000.
Senior nursing students at Nevada State College have a not-so-academic prerequisite to graduation -- helping people.
The community nursing capstone course requires students to perform a public service or help a family struggling with medical hardships.
"You write so many papers and you spend so much time studying, it's great to do a project to help the community and see the results of your efforts," nursing student Jaemee Wenthe said.
She is among a group of students holding a raffle and fundraising drive to benefit 14-year-old Ibriana Alvies.
Ibriana is recovering from her second kidney transplant, Wenthe said. Ibriana uses a wheelchair and is cared for by her grandmother, who struggles with expenses.
Wenthe said she hopes providing the family even a little financial assistance will help ease Ibriana's recovery.
"It would take one stress off their life. It's a nice way to let her know that the community cares for her," Wenthe said. "And it's one thing we can do."
The capstone requirement fits the program's emphasis on community nursing, she said.
"They're trying to get us out there to see what role nursing plays in the community besides at the hospital," Wenthe said. "It's a great perspective- builder."
The students were introduced to Ibriana through clinical nursing instructor Michelle Ingram.
"I try to let them do all the planning and everything on their own," Ingram said. "I just kind of gave them the idea and they're running with it."
Ingram said there are eight groups of students at the college conducting community nursing projects. They are running a blood drive, holding a health fair, and have produced instructional videos.
The projects, she said, benefit the community and are invaluable experiences for the students.
"It's the sense of accomplishment that the students gain by getting out in the community and doing something," Ingram said.
"I am extremely proud of the students. They are really getting out there and doing a wonderful job."
The projects are graded based in part upon a summary evaluation the groups write at the end of their projects.
To the Grayson family, the student effort already is a comfort.
"It's really wonderful that they would try to help out. Wow, it just floors you," Tureasia Grayson said.
Her son Nick Grayson, 15, is recovering from surgery to remove a brain tumor. He is beginning radiation treatment.
Adding to the family's medical ordeal, his sister Jaimie Grayson, 12, has a heart condition that will eventually require surgery.
Tureasia Grayson said the family is more than $200,000 in medical debt after Nick's surgery and are now navigating the channels of public assistance. Her husband, James Grayson, works days with auto supplies and nights delivering pizzas to provide for his family.
Nick said his family of six -- five of whom share share one vehicle -- is close and supporting, which has helped him recover.
"It has been a big strength. It's been very nice to have all my family backing me and supportive and caring," he said.
Nick said he feels much better and is eager to return to Basic High School as soon as he is able. He misses playing football at the school.
He and his mother are thankful to the school and the Positive Impact campus school clinic program that led to his diagnosis. They said the students and other groups have assisted them.
"It's also great to have other people who aren't family and actually care," Nick said.
"It's all just so great and almost overwhelming. Without it this would be so much harder," he said. "It keeps your spirits up."
Bob Bardsley, 55, is among the nursing students working to help the Grayson family. He said they are exploring every avenue of fundraising, even requesting donations instead of presents at an upcoming party.
"This is the first time I've ever done anything like this. I'm trying to figure out where to begin," Bardsley said.
"We'll just try to do whatever we can do to help the family out."
Bardsley entered the nursing program as a career change and said it has opened his eyes to the community need.
"We have such a tremendous need here with our diverse population," he said. "They really need nurses who are willing to donate their time and are dedicated."
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