A Southern California nurse is ending her career on a bittersweet note after an accident left her paralyzed from the chest down.

Deanne Niedziela was a nurse director at Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo who oversaw the Spine and Neuroscience Institute and Acute Care Service. She has worked for over 30 years in healthcare, dedicating her life to saving others.

She was on a dream vacation visiting waterfalls in Costa Rica that turned into tragedy after a tree limb fell down and crushed her spinal cord. 

After a nine-hour life-saving surgery, Niedziela survived but she was paralyzed from the chest down.

“This is a tragic accident that happened to me, but it’s outside of my control,” Niedziela said. “I can’t turn back the calendar.”

Niedziela flew back home and for months, she spent her time recovering in the same hospital she dedicated her career to.

“I just really appreciate the caregivers who took care of me,” Niedziela said.

She said being cared for by her colleagues has been fulfilling in many ways.

“The patients come and go, but it’s the coworkers that make this workplace so special, and this is a special place at Mission Viejo Hospital,” she said.

On Friday, Niedziela was surrounded by her colleagues at the hospital for an honorary farewell.

Coworkers said Niedziela has always been a guiding light to others and remains so after working decades in the industry.

“To have taken care of patients and to have led the Spine Institute and to have been a patient participating in that is really just an extraordinary triumph of courage and strength,” said Cherri Fox, a nursing director and Niedziela’s colleague. 

Niedziela will now be shifting her focus to the next chapter of her life as she works on regaining her independence.

“Nobody gets a [farewell] reception in the lobby, so having them to do that and have such a special reception for me, I just know my coworkers are just amazing people,” Niedziela said.

While making her final rounds at the hospital, she reflects on her time spent there, recalling all the happy memories spent in a rewarding career she adored. 

“I’m just so blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life,” Niedziela said tearfully. 

A GoFundMe page to help Niedziela cover medical expenses and costs to make her home ADA-compliant can be found here.