Rose Petra

Student

“When patients see that something traumatic has happened to me, then they know that I can be more empathetic and accepting of their situation.”

Twenty years ago, Rose Petra lost a leg to cancer. She was only 19 at the time and unsure what to do with herself. After a series of jobs she came to SMC to start a new career in nursing. Last year, she won a scholarship at SMC for women returning to education.

Rose’s zest for life goes beyond her nursing. She sings jazz and easy listening music with a band, and is an avid scuba diver. Her photographs of an undersea excursion with Jean-Michel Cousteau were displayed in the Science building last year. And she swims a half mile daily, four days a week, at the SMC pool.

On Sundays, Rose visits patients without her prosthesis so they can see that she is one legged. “I’m not allowed to go to the hospital on crutches the other days,” says Rose. “And that’s unfortunate because I’ve seen how patients relate better to me then,” says Rose of her work with male amputees at the Veterans Administration Hospital.

“I have wonderful parents to thank for my great outlook on life,” says Rose. “And I have the Disabled Students Center at SMC for helping me get into the nursing program in the first place.” When she graduates she wants to work in the intensive care ward for premature babies. In the meantime, she keeps inspiring herself—and others.

“I want to show people that they can accept and handle anything that is dealt to them.”

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