Abigail Rakos’ path to become a registerd nurse at St. Luke’s Miners Campus was determined even before she was born.

It all started when her pregnant mother was told that there was nothing more they could do to help her unborn child. Those discouraging words led her parents to consult with St. Luke’s maternal fetal medicine specialists who helped bring her safely into the world.

Rakos, of Lehighton, was born on May 13, 1999 at St. Luke’s University Hospital Bethlehem. She weighed 1 pound, 5 ounces, and spent the first four months of her life in the St. Luke’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

At one point, Rakos contracted sepsis, and it was not likely that she would ever leave the NICU with her parents. Even if she did, Rakos’ parents were told that she may have limited brain capacity and only partial use of her limbs.

But she defied the odds and eventually, was strong enough to leave the hospital. By the time she was a teenager, she was strong, healthy and by all accounts, a miracle.

Fast forward to her graduation from Marian Catholic High School in Hometown and it became clear to Rakos that a career in nursing was what she wanted.

“Spending time in doctors’ offices and hospitals is how my life went,” Rakos said. “I was inspired by all these people who helped me, so I wanted to help people too. And that hasn’t changed to this day.”

Thanks to a full scholarship from St. Luke’s University Health Network, she attended Lehigh Carbon Community College and then St. Luke’s School of Nursing.

During nursing school, she had the unique opportunity to speak with a few NICU nurses who took care of her all those years ago. “During my pediatric rotation in nursing school, I spent a few shifts in the NICU and two of the nurses who took care of me were present during my shift,” Rakos said.

“It was a really emotional experience because they were so excited to see me. They remembered my nickname when I was in the NICU and were able to pinpoint where my Isolette had been for most of my NICU stay.”

The NICU nurses introduced Rakos to parents with newborns in the NICU to offer hope and inspiration to those parents who desperately needed it.

This past summer, Rakos graduated from St. Luke’s School of Nursing and in the fall, she started her full time, registered nurse position at St. Luke’s Miners, working in the medical surgical unit.

Bill Moyer, former president of St. Luke’s Miners Campus and current president of St. Luke’s Allentown Campus and West Region, wanted to do everything he could to support her education.

“It seems like yesterday when we offered Abigail the scholarship to support her dream of becoming a nurse,” Moyer said. “Now she is officially a member of the team, working for our hospital and helping us continue our mission of providing excellent health care for the community. We look forward to her future success with St. Luke’s.”

“As our network expands to meet the ever-growing needs of our community, so does our need for dedicated, strong nurses. Abigail’s local ties and personal connection to St. Luke’s makes her a perfect fit,” says Wendy Lazo, president of St. Luke’s Miners Campus.

“It’s an honor to have been a part of Abigail’s journey and we are grateful that she has chosen to share her talents and passion for patient care with us.”

Rakos plans to pursue her bachelor’s degree and eventually become a nurse practitioner. “Obviously, the scholarship I received lessened the financial burden for my family, but having the opportunity to work for the same hospital network that saved my life is also incredibly special. It’s like coming full circle,” she said.