“This is the best job I could have ever found!”

Sarah Eckenrode’s long road toward a medical career took a huge step last week. She started full-time as a Certified Medical Assistant at Anschutz Medical Campus College of Nursing, Belleview Point Clinic. “I’m really excited,” says Sarah. “It’s a nurse-led clinic, and the nurse who is my supervisor is wonderful. She has a beautiful, friendly personality, and will be supportive as I learn.” Sarah is a trained phlebotomist, so she’ll be drawing blood—along with welcoming patients and taking their vital signs and weight.

Sarah finally has a foot in the door of the field she’s passionate about. She’s set her sights on becoming a nurse.

Huge obstacles have marked Sarah’s path. When she arrived at Joshua Station in 2019 after a period of homelessness, her confidence was at the bottom. “I was living in fear, about everything. Everything worried me. Especially with my baby son Josh, who is the world to me. I worried about parenting him and raising him, and I simply didn’t know what to do.

People at Joshua Station—the staff, the volunteers, and other residents—became my second family. Actually, in truth, they became my first family. Being with them, I’ve definitely calmed down and focused my energy into making something positive in my life. They all helped me through so much. The staff was amazing all through the pandemic. They helped me fight through a huge setback in school, due to an administrative error. My Family Advocate Ana [Reyes] has been fantastic through it all. I’ve learned a lot here in the time management classes, budgeting classes, housing workshops.”

Last fall, Sarah had acute heart failure and spent five days at Lutheran Hospital, followed by weeks of recovery. “My Joshua Station family rallied around in that crisis, like they did other times. I have built a support system that will carry forward with me even after I graduate from the program.”

Sarah is nervous about her next steps, but at the same time feels eager and ready. “I have SO much more confidence now,” she says. “I’m ready to make the life I’ve dreamed of for me and my son Josh, who is now three years old.” She will be looking for an apartment near work. A first order of business is pets! First a cat. Josh also wants a dog, a fish, and a frog. In time, travel. With her employment benefits, Sarah dreams of vacations with Josh in the USA and even abroad.

What a joy for our Joshua Station community, Sarah, to experience all that is rising in your life!