My name is Christina Howe. I have been a nurse for 10 years. unlike most kids who want to be a firefighter, police officer or astronaut; I have known I wanted to be a pediatric special needs nurse since the third grade; there's a beautiful but bittersweet story behind this. I grew up in a small town where everybody knew everybody. My best friend in second grade was Josephine, she was incredibly special and had a smile that would light up the classroom. When she was an infant she had tragically suffered a traumatic brain injury that left her with only partial brain function and confined to a wheelchair. She couldn't speak but would often hum and smile to music and her favorite song was you are my sunshine. I got to work alongside her and her special needs nurse every single day at school, and thoroughly enjoyed it. We would read books, sing songs and practice range of motion with stretching. One of her favorite activities was playing with spray foam. Josephine mostly had good days but on some of her tougher days I could always find a way to make her smile as she could do for me on my tougher days. Unfortunately Josephine passed away in third grade and I made a promise to her then that I would become a nurse so I could help more children like her. After years in various positions in the nursing field, I am very proud to say that I have finally kept my promise to Josephine, and I owe it all to Aveanna for giving me the opportunity to do so. Josephine has and always will be my motivation to give exceptional and quality care to each and every one of my patients.