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For eight years, Deborah “Debbie” Jenkins has served as a compass for aspiring nurses at NTCC—helping them navigate the rigorous journey of nursing education with clarity, purpose, and heart. Drawing from her 26-year career as a labor and delivery nurse, Debbie has guided students through both the expertise and humanity of caregiving.
But one day, the roles reversed.
When Debbie’s husband, David, faced a life-threatening complication after heart surgery, the world seemed to spin out of control. He was rushed back into surgery three times due to internal bleeding. The fear was overwhelming.
And then, in the midst of chaos, a familiar face appeared.
Standing at his ICU bedside was Hannah Byron, one of Debbie’s former students—now a skilled and compassionate nurse. Calm, confident, and deeply empathetic, Hannah became a lifeline not only for Debbie’s husband, but for Debbie herself. She explained procedures, offered reassurance, and delivered care with a grace that left Debbie in awe.
“This was the same student who once sat in my classroom,” Debbie recalls. “Now she was holding our world together. In those long, uncertain days, she became my hero.”
This powerful moment reminded Debbie why she teaches. Nursing is more than a profession—it’s a calling built on heart, skill, and resilience. And sometimes, the seeds educators plant return to them in the most life-affirming ways.
“I will forever be grateful to Hannah,” Debbie says, “not just as a nurse, but as a former student who became family in a moment we’ll never forget.”
David made a full recovery, and a year later he, Debbie, their first grandbaby, and two of their five children-along with their spouses-traveled to Italy to visit their daughter and son-in-law. The trip also marked Debbie and David’s 37th wedding anniversary
