NINA, WISCONSIN, USA: In the heart of Wisconsin, a family’s courageous battle illuminates the profound challenges faced due to a nationwide nursing shortage. Mindy and Mark Peski of Nina are navigating the trials of raising five children, four of whom have special needs. Their fight is intensified by the severe shortage of nursing care, which leaves their family in a constant struggle to secure essential assistance.
Their one-year-old son, Levon, born with Golden heart Syndrome, relies on round-the-clock supervision and a tracheostomy for breathing. As Mindy dedicates her life to managing the needs of their children, their situation becomes increasingly dire. Four-year-old Isaac, battling kidney failure, remains hospitalized at Milwaukee’s children‘s Hospital, awaiting a life-saving transplant. The Peskis hold on to hope for a kidney match before dialysis becomes an inescapable reality.
Despite being approved for over 20 hours of daily nursing care, Mindy’s pleas for help are met with silence. Statewide, Wisconsin’s nursing workforce is stretched thin, with a staggering shortage projected to reach 14,000 by 2030. The lack of available nurses results from inadequate pay, benefits, and training—a grim reality underscored by the Department of Health Services.
The Peskis’ plight is lightened somewhat by Aaron Harris, a newly recruited respite worker from Nina, who steps in to provide invaluable overnight support. Yet, Mindy’s daily demands remain overwhelming as she juggles care responsibilities without consistent nursing support. Amidst these challenges, the family clings to the possibility of finding a matching kidney donor for Isaac, a beacon of hope in their tumultuous journey. As the Peskis’ story unravels, it serves not only as a poignant testament to their resilience but also as a clarion call to address critical healthcare staffing shortages affecting families nationwide.
