When Nurse Stacey Boatswain lost her husband in an accident in April 2025, she was left to confront a reality she had never imagined. She was grieving the man who had supported her dreams, trying to hold her family together and struggling to find the strength to continue the university degree programme she had started with his encouragement.
There were days when she wanted to walk away from university altogether. But she persevered, even when continuing felt harder than she could explain.
On Tuesday, November 17, 2026, Stacey will walk across the University of Guyana’s graduation stage to receive her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from the College of Medical Sciences (CMS), Department of Nursing. Her husband will not be there to witness the milestone, but she is certain he would have been proud.
Stacey’s husband, who worked as a driver with the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), died while returning from Ituni, where he had travelled with a team to assess soil conditions for cotton planting. His death occurred during the second semester of Stacey’s final year at the University of Guyana.
Her immediate concern was their two children, Sarah, 11, and Simeon, 22. At the time, Sarah was preparing for the National Grade Six Assessment (Common Entrance), and Stacey felt compelled to put her own grief aside to focus on her children.
“I had to be a mother. I was not focused on me. My daughter was in Common Entrance class, and I had to focus on her. I had to forget about me and how I felt. I had to focus on the children,” she recalled.
Rather than confronting her grief, Stacey threw herself into work and suppressed her feelings, believing that keeping busy would make the pain easier to bear. Eventually, however, she began noticing changes in her behaviour, including becoming increasingly aggressive towards her children and colleagues.
It took someone asking whether she needed to speak to someone for her to recognise that she needed help. She subsequently sought professional support from a psychologist.
“I tried to drown myself in work so I wouldn’t have to face it. I am not functioning normally again, as yet, but every day it gets better,” she shared.
She also became concerned about how the loss was affecting Sarah, who had become more introverted. Recognising that her daughter was also struggling with grief, Stacey sought help for her, understanding that she could not replace the special relationship Sarah shared with her father.
Her studies were also affected. Although she maintained good grades, Stacey believes she could have performed better had she not been dealing with so much emotionally. She remains grateful to her university group members, who stepped in to help and took on additional responsibilities when she struggled.
“My group members really filled in the gap. They picked up the slack and really supported me. I am surprised I got some As,” she admitted.
At one point, Stacey considered taking a year off and did not want to attend classes. However, her friend, Charie Marcus, who will also be graduating, encouraged her not to abandon her studies.
“My friend said, ‘You will not leave me; you will overcome this. You will go through.’”
That encouragement was part of a wider support system Stacey says she did not even realise she needed. At the University of Guyana, Sir Ross from the Berbice Campus consistently checked on her, while Dr Holder also reached out on several occasions. Their concern meant a great deal to her, particularly as many had expected her to take time away from her studies.
She also credits her colleagues and supervisors at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, particularly Sister Dublin and Sister Knocks, for helping shape the nurse and professional she is today.
During a period when she was paying for her university education out of pocket, she received financial assistance, which eased a significant burden.
“At that time, UG was not free and I had to pay out of pocket. It was hard, but imagine how I felt when I no longer had to pay,” Stacey said.
Her best friend, Kevita Chase, was another constant source of strength. Stacey describes Kevita’s support as “holistic and unwavering”.
“She was there for me 100 per cent, mentally, physically, emotionally…in every way possible,” Stacey said.
Kevita would call, send messages and share inspirational material she found on social media, continually reminding Stacey of her strength and encouraging her to keep going.
Throughout it all, Stacey’s faith in God remained central to her life. She said she never worried about where her next meal would come from or how she would pay her bills because God continued to provide for her.
The Scripture that sustained her was Matthew 6:26:
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
“If God could provide for the birds of the air, why would He not provide for me? God always provided for me,” she shared.
Her husband had been one of her greatest supporters throughout her university journey, and completing her degree is also a way of honouring the encouragement he gave her.
“If he was here, he would have been at my graduation. I know for sure he is very proud of me,” she said.
For others experiencing similar circumstances, Stacey advises being intentional about the people they keep close and recognising the importance of genuine support.
“Everything in life is either a lesson or a blessing. If you can’t reach for the stars, you will fall in the clouds. Aim for the stars; if you don’t get it, you will get the cloud,” she advised.
She cautions that not everyone who comes into one’s life has good intentions and encourages others to surround themselves with people who will genuinely support them.
Stacey’s degree will mark the completion of an academic journey, but her story carries a message that reaches far beyond the classroom: even when life takes an unexpected turn, there is hope, help is available, and it is possible to keep going.
Feature by the Department of Events, Conferences and Communication (DECC), University of Guyana.
