A Lifelong Connection to Care: Mya’s Story

A Lifelong Connection to Care: Mya's Story

Before she joined Valley Medical Transport as an EMT, Mya's connection to Valley Health began as one of the tiniest patients in our care.

Mya was born at 28 weeks in June 2003 after her mother developed preeclampsia.

Physicians determined that an emergency cesarean section was necessary and Valley Medical Transport (VMT) transferred Mya's mother to a hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia, where Mya was delivered and began her stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Because the commute from their home in West Virginia to Morgantown was difficult for the family, Mya and her mother were transferred to Winchester Medical Center (WMC).

"My family always shared stories about how well we were cared for at WMC," Mya said. "Being transferred closer to home made a difficult situation much easier on my family."

Those stories stayed with her and helped shape a future she would not fully recognize until years later.

A Family Tradition of Caring

Mya's interest in healthcare began at an early age. Inspired by her mother's nursing career, she dual enrolled in James Rumsey Technical Institute's Therapeutic Services program in Martinsburg, WV, while attending Musselman High School in Inwood, WV. During that time, she gained hands-on experience as a nursing aide in a local long-term care facility, an opportunity that strengthened her interest in patient care. She earned her Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification in June 2024 and joined Valley Medical Transport as an EMT that October.

Through her role with Valley Medical Transport, an inter-facility and critical care transport service, Mya travels throughout the Shenandoah Valley and sees firsthand the challenges many patients face throughout their health care journey. From limited resources and transportation barriers to complex family and caregiving situations, these experiences have given her a deeper appreciation for the social, environmental, and personal factors that affect health and well-being.

Her desire to care for others became even more personal when she and her mother helped care for her great-grandparents during hospice care.

"Experiences are much different when it's your family," Mya shared. "When you're on the other side of care, you gain a deeper understanding of what patients and their loved ones are going through emotionally, and how important compassion and support can be during difficult times."

Mya has also developed a passion for educating patients and families about hospice care. While hospice is often associated with the end of life, she believes many people misunderstand the support, comfort and resources it can provide. Drawing from her family's own experience, Mya enjoys helping others better understand hospice services and the role they can play in improving quality of life for both patients and their loved ones.

"From the beginning of life to the end of life, I've seen how meaningful compassionate care can be, not only for patients but for the families who are walking alongside them."

A Future in Nursing

In August 2026, Mya began the next chapter of her healthcare journey by starting nursing school at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College in Martinsburg.

"When I first became interested in healthcare, I wanted to work in the NICU so I could better understand what my mom and I experienced and support families facing similar situations."

After nursing school, she hopes to remain with Valley Health and continue growing her career.

"I'd love to continue serving the community I proudly call home. My goal is to grow my career with Valley Health, transition into a bedside nursing role, and eventually provide care across our hospitals as part of the Valley Health travel nurse/float team, which travels to all 6-hospitals providing care as needed."

For Mya, healthcare is more than a profession. It is a journey that began with the care she received as a newborn and continues today as she helps care for others across the region.