Everybody has a story: Dara Kelley

Editor’s note: This is a series of stories that will spotlight Maize students chosen at random. The idea comes from reporter Steve Hartman’s series formerly broadcast on CBS News.  

Senior Dara Kelley was just in the third grade when she was inspired to become an anesthesiologist after accompanying her dad to his many hospital visit.

Kelley’s father was playing softball when he suddenly tore his Achilles tendon. While attempting to repair the tendon, the doctor made a mistake, resulting in a staph infection.

“[The staph infection] ate away at some of his leg,” Kelley said, “then 9 doctors came after that and tried to fix it.”

The efforts to heal the tendon failed. After many staph infections, a hole developed in her father’s leg. Kelley, who was only 8 at the time, remembers the toll it took on her family.

“It was a struggle and I had just broken my arm so there was a lot of medical cost when it happened,” Kelley said.

To help her father, Kelley’s mother would spend time at the hospital. Learning how to dress wounds and use IVs so the he was able to make less trips to the hospital.

Being in the hospital, around public health workers, Kelley gained inspiration.  She decided she wanted to become an anesthesiologist.

“I thought it was really cool,” Kelley said, “I just picked something that was in the doctor field.”

Although it was a stressful experience, Kelley said it has helped helped her family bond.

“We all had to deal with it together,” Kelly said, “It was really hard for my parents, but my brother and I just kept smiles on our faces.”