Heart of our mission: Jessica Kelley

Many people who choose to work in healthcare feel it is a calling. Jessica Kelley, BSN, RN, manager of surgical services at TriStar Hendersonville Medical Center, always believed she was meant to be a nurse, but her “why” wasn’t fully revealed until she experienced her own healthcare journey 11 years ago. Her experience allows her to care for patients and support colleagues in a more meaningful way because she can relate to many of their stories.

“I can relate with the emotions and heaviness of diagnoses and health challenges,” said Jessica. “I have also been able to share my story with patients that come through TriStar Hendersonville and connect with colleagues and patients on a personal level.”

Eleven years ago, Jessica developed bronchitis and couldn’t seem to get well. She was active and healthy with two young kids. After several rounds of antibiotics, inhalers and steroids, her primary care provider decided to do a chest x-ray, which revealed that her heart was triple the size it should be. As a 19-year-old, Jessica was diagnosed with a small congenital anomaly of an atrial septal defect, but there was no treatment needed at the time.

“I will never forget Dr. Donald Russo, one of the cardiologists at Tennessee Heart and Vascular, stopping me in the hallway and asking me to come to his office after he had reviewed my results,” said Jessica. “He and Dr. Muhammad Asad went over my scans with me, showing me the one-inch hole in my heart. It was mind-boggling.”

By the end of that week, Jessica was at TriStar Centennial Medical Center receiving additional tests to determine the course of action to repair her heart. Physicians determined that Jessica would need to have open heart surgery to make her heart whole again. She spent five days at TriStar Centennial after the surgery.

“Word spread quickly within the surgical services team once I began to share my diagnosis and upcoming surgery,” said Jessica. “The immediate support I received from the team at TriStar Hendersonville was incredible. Dr. Russo called and checked on me, and he worked with the cardiology team at TriStar Centennial throughout the surgical journey. I was enveloped with support, concern and love from day one.”

Jessica says the support she and her family felt during one of the scariest times of her life is one of the reasons she pays it forward through giving back to patients, colleagues and the community. From spearheading fundraising for the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk, serving as chair for the Employee Advisory Group (EAG), and supporting fellow colleagues and patients who are facing their own challenges, Jessica is always one of the first to show up and make a difference.

“There is nothing more humbling than having everything taken away from you, even your strength to walk,” said Jessica. “It fills my cup up to serve in this way. I always want to take care of our people first so they can take care of our patients and their families.”