05/07/2026California,Clarion,Edinboro,Global OnlineWhen Alexis Parks, DNP, reflects on what first drew her to nursing, she returns to a moment marked by both heartbreak and humanity. She was just 11 years old when her grandmother, Wanda, was diagnosed with cancer. The weeks that followed were a blur of hospital stays and, eventually, home hospice care. Wanda’s battle was brief – only six weeks – but its impact on Parks would last a lifetime.