We are IH: Mariah Perry

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. 

To help us celebrate National Nursing Students Week, we met with Mariah Perry, a recent 2019 graduate from the Practical Nursing Program at Okanagan College. As part of the incredible team at Kelowna General Hospital, Mariah stands out for her big heart, her desire to spread kindness, and her positive attitude. At first, Mariah may be shy but before you know it she is filling the room with her radiating energy!

Inspired by her desire to make a difference in the lives of others by working closely with them, she pursued a rewarding career as a Licensed Practical Nurse. As she was starting her career, the COVID-19 pandemic began, creating completely new challenges for everyone to navigate. We are so proud to see all of our health-care heroes rise to the occasion and continue to provide the best possible care amidst the pandemic.

Mariah Perry in PPE

Mariah reflects on the growth she has experienced throughout the pandemic.

“I feel for the patients in the hospital, especially with visitor restrictions, but it has been something special to me, as I have had the opportunity to be there for my patients. It’s been inspiring to see us come together to get through this pandemic. Everyone motivates me, and it shows how we are stronger together and we’re not alone.”

In the dynamic field of nursing, some days are better than others, but at the end of the day, you can end your shift with a sense of pride. Mariah shares one of her proudest moments at IH as she comforted a palliative patient. They shared meaningful conversation about life and he told her she was the nicest nurse he has ever had, really touching Mariah's heart. It's moments like these that make it all worth it. 

“I love nursing because there is so much room to grow in this career. Right now, I do really love bedside nursing and the medical floors I work on, but I have the option to expand my knowledge in so many ways when I want to and I think that's amazing!”

 Mariah Perry and her Grandfather

From a young age, her family has been extremely influential in her life. Mariah’s grandfather ingrained in her his favourite quote as a child: “Always forward, never back.” These words have helped propel her forward during tough times and encourage her to persevere towards a solution. She fondly remembers her grandfather’s quote regularly to quickly move from worry to action forward.

Young Mariah and her sibling

Surrounded by the natural beauty of the four seasons, Mariah feels extremely grateful to be born and raised in Kelowna, her forever home. Growing up as “Mariah Perry” she was surprisingly asked if she was named after the famous, Mariah Carey, and also blessed with her vocals. Despite a short stint in singing lessons, Mariah has concluded it did not help her singing abilities and no one wants to hear her sing.

You can find Mariah out shooting hoops playing basketball with her friends or taking on a DIY craft. Mariah knows how important self-care is, especially during these times in her career, so makes time to incorporate physical activity into her crafts to keep her mind in the right place.

The pandemic has shown us what's important and not to take anything for granted. Mariah looks forward to a time where hugs can be given out freely, quality time can be spent with family and friends, and all of the added stress can be removed from everyone’s life. Thank you for all that you do, Mariah! You have a very successful career ahead of you and we are honoured to have you at Interior Health. 

Check back each Friday for the next We are IH feature.

For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca.

Mariah's nomination of Mary Lynn Pallett keeps the We Are IH loop going:

Mary is an LPN on 6 West and she is the absolute best! Her nickname is Mamma Lynn, she has such a big heart and really looks out for everyone on the unit!