Nurse Tyanne Brewer

By: Dezaray Barr

Tyanne Brewer

Tyanne Brewer graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) in 2014 with her BSN. She chose to attend IWU because it was both faith-based and close to her home.

As a student, she spent a lot of time studying, but she also built many friendships. “I also grew spiritually at IWU as I learned to become a nurse,” she said.

Brewer is now a registered nurse at Marion General Hospital in Telemtry. IWU inspired her to be the best nurse she could ever be. She said, “IWU taught me to never forget where I came from, and I try to inspire others because of that.”

Because of her education at IWU, when patients ask Brewer to pray for or with them, she does, and that’s how she said her faith impacts her work as a nurse.

Brewer would encourage IWU students to never give up on their dreams. “If nursing is truly your passion, stick with it and God will place you where you need to be,” she said. Brewer is a first-generation college graduate, and she worked full-time as a CNA while going to nursing school. She is now working on her Masters while working full-time as an RN.

 

 

Written by Dezaray Barr, PR Specialist for the Alumni Office. Dezaray is a senior Strategic Communication, Journalism and Honors Humanities triple major at Indiana Wesleyan University in the John Wesley Honors College. Visit Dez’s website at www.dezaraybarr.weebly.com.

Nicole Trexler: Marion General Hospital

By: Dezaray Barr

Nicole Trexler and her husband
Nicole Trexler and her husband

Nicole Trexler graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2014 with her BSN. She attended the university earlier, in 1996, pursuing social work for three years. But after getting married, she chose to put school on hold.

Trexler, originally from Traverse City, Michigan, lived in Shatford Hall and recalls many memories in the hall with her peers.

Trexler’s parents were in ministry, and she remembers hosting IWU ministry teams. “Our family would host many of the teams in our home, and I was always drawn to IWU,” she shared. “As I got older, I would come to IWU for youth conferences and ‘Teens and Talent Competitions.’  I think this helped me become more familiar with the University.  When it came time to choose a University to attend, IWU was my very first choice.  I loved the campus, and I felt comfortable there.”

Trexler is now a Clinical Nurse Manager at Marion General Hospital just down the street from the university. “I have the responsibility of managing the nursing staff in eight of our physician practices for Marion General Hospital,” she explained. “I oversee nurses and help with education, training and developing both Licensed Practical Nurses and Medical assistants.  One of my favorite rolls of being a nurse is to mentor and learn new things daily.”

She continued, “My time at IWU influenced who I am today in many ways.  When I originally came to IWU as a freshman, I would have never imagined myself in a leadership role.  IWU gave me so many friendships, wonderful mentors and skills that I can lead with confidence today.”

During her first semester at IWU, Trexler experienced a time of spiritual growth. “It was the first time in my life that I could ‘choose’ if I wanted to go to church or not.  It was the first time that I was on my own.  IWU provided so many opportunities for me in spiritual growth.  My roommate was solid in her walk with God, and I would see her in the word daily.  I met my husband my first week of college.  He was a spiritual leader to me and would do devotions with me.  I had professors that invested in me and truly cared for me.”

Trexler encourages IWU students to enjoy their experience. “Many of my friendships still today are from my days at IWU,” she said. “Also, remember that life changes and that the Adult Professional Program is so accommodating.  It worked perfectly for me!”

Nicole Trexler and her family
Nicole Trexler and her family

Trexler has been married for almost 20 years to her freshman sweetheart, Matthew Trexler.  They have three children and live in Marion Indiana.  Ten years ago, they planted a church called “The River,” and they just celebrated the church’s tenth birthday!

 

 

 

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Written by Dezaray Barr, PR Specialist for the Alumni Office. Dezaray is a junior Strategic Communication and Honors Humanities double major at Indiana Wesleyan University in the John Wesley Honors College. At IWU, Dezaray runs both the JWHC Blog and her own blog. Visit Dez’s website at www.dezaraybarr.weebly.com.

Miracle Baby: Grant County’s First Birth in the New Year

By: Katherine Arch

On January 1st, 2016 IWU alumni Nathan (’05, Social/Behavioral Sciences, Business Administration) and Kim (’04, Elementary Education) Cromer welcomed Caleb Jonathan Cromer into the world. Caleb was Grant County’s first birth of the year, born at Marion General Hospital. Many people herald the birth of a child with comments about the miraculous nature of new life, Grant County’s first baby of the new year, however, cannot be described as anything short of a miracle.

Chronicle-Tribune source

When the two married ten years ago, doctors told Kim and Nathan that they would never have children. Coming from a family of twelve children, Kim especially was very upset by this news.

“We were told it would be a miracle to have a baby,” Kim recalls. Upon hearing this news, the couple felt called by God not to pursue fertility treatments. Instead, they chose to wait patiently and hope that God would grant them their desire to have children.

“There’s a verse in Psalm 113 that says “He gives the childless woman a family, making her a happy mother” (Psalm 113:9 a) I clung to that verse at that time,” Kim recalled. “I felt as though God gave me that verse as a promise. I needed to wait.”

During this period of waiting, Kim recalls that she was working at McCullough Junior high as a teacher. Many of McCullough’s students are from poor socioeconomic backgrounds, every day Kim faced the struggles of poverty. Her heart was heavy with the struggles these students faced.

“I wanted to help children who were hurting,” Kim remembers. “So Nathan and I decided that we wanted to pursue doing foster care and in-home childcare.” After making this decision, Kim stepped down from her position at McCullough and the couple began the journey of foster care.

“We had groups of siblings several times; sometimes we just had individual kids,” stated Kim. “At one point we had a five-year-old, a three-year-old, and a one-year-old in our house at the same time!” About two years ago, the Cromers took in a young boy named Isaiah; this child they were able to adopt. Kim commented on the significant difference between adopting and doing foster care. She mentioned how difficult it is to give children back when their time as foster parents ends.

Looking back on the series of kids that came and left their home, Kim recalls that the process of doing foster care was “emotionally and physically exhausting.” The Cromers, however, sensed strongly that this was something to which God had called them. So they continued volunteering to take children through the foster care system. At the same time, they finalized adoption for Isaiah. After successfully adopting him, the Cromers found out they were pregnant.

“We were thrilled,” Kim stated. “We felt as though God had promised us this child, and now we were being given him.” The pregnancy was without complication, and on January 1st, the couple welcomed Caleb to their family.

“His name has special meaning,” explained Kim of her son. “Caleb means “faithful”, and Jonathan means “gift from God.” We really felt that both of those names were fitting.”

Five days before Caleb’s birth, their last foster care child left their home. The family plans to take a year off of foster care to adjust to their new family dynamics and resume care next year.

“We have no promise that we’ll have a child again,” Kim emphasized, “and his birth doesn’t change our desire to do foster care. This is something we still feel called to do. Caleb was simply our miracle baby.”

The Indiana Wesleyan Alumni family is excited to celebrate the birth of Caleb Jonathan with the Cromers!

 

Written by Katherine Arch, Story Teller for Alumni Relations. Katherine Arch is a Senior English major at Indiana Wesleyan, and a member of the Track and Cross Country teams. She is passionate about sharing people’s stories and celebrating their unique divine potential in written form. Katherine also operates a website called “Join the Ranch” at jointheranch.weebly.com. It is about pursuing God’s purpose for her life and vocation.