Family photo
Delma Kerley
Delma Kerley joined the United States Cadet Nurse Corps through Grace Hospital in Banner Elk, N.C. in 1944.
In 1944, at age 17, my grandmother, Delma Kerley, joined the United States Cadet Nurse Corps through Grace Hospital in Banner Elk, N.C. The U.S. government established the program in 1943 to ensure that the country had enough nurses to care for patients both on the home front and at war. The Cadet Nurse Corps greatly increased our country’s number of nursing students, led to greater public recognition for nurses, and changed how nurses were educated and trained.
Delma only spent a year in Corps, but it was a year that shaped her future goals. My mother remembers the distinctive grey and white striped cotton of the summer uniform tucked away in a drawer. Delma’s Cadet Nurse shoulder patch always remained with her New Testament.
{module Share this!|none}Delma refused to let her dream of being a nurse die. She worked full-time as a licensed practical nurse while attending Mayland Technical College and Caldwell Community College, finally earning her Associate Degree of Nursing in 1976—31 years after leaving the Corps.
Perhaps then it is no coincidence that at age 31, I have discovered my own passion for healthcare. Upon being diagnosed with a rare type of a rare vascular disease (intimal fibromuscular dysplasia), I began writing about my own health experiences and working to both raise awareness of my disease and improve communications between patients and doctors. This type of writing falls within the realm of narrative medicine—combining the humanities and scientific thought, breaking down barriers, and providing a different medium through which to discuss the medical profession.
My interest in the human side of medicine provided the inspiration for this edition of Smoky Mountain Living dedicated to healers and healing. The concept is applied with care and creativity, as our writers explore traditional Appalachian herbal remedies; animal-facilitated therapy; invasive species threatening our local landscape; outdoor recreation for those with disabilities; and, of course, writing as remedy. Our hope is that this issue is as educational as it is meaningful.
Editor’s Note: The October/November edition of Smoky Mountain Living featured the renowned woodcarver Phillip Brown on its cover. Brown, a member of the Southern Highlands Craft Guild, passed away in December at age 55. Photographer Tim Barnwell captured the indelible image of Brown at work used on the cover of Smoky Mountain Living. “It was always a pleasure to talk with Phil, as he had a very down to earth view of the world and was happy with his life choices and career,” Barnwell said. “His wife was a ceramic artist so they were able to work together and travel to art fairs to sell their work, and his family was a great source of pride for him. He was thrilled to have been able to make a modest living doing what he enjoyed, and being able to work in his shop at home, a small space that he had appointed with the tools and comforts he needed to carve his wonderful birds. His was a unique talent that allowed him to produce superior work that expressed his love of nature.”
Memorials may be sent to Brown’s family at 44 Lee Road, Swannanoa, NC 28778.