Adventist Health Bakersfield | You + Us | Spring 2019

4 Living God’s love by inspiring health, wholeness and hope. Love turns a life around Inspiring Wholeness Four years ago, Christina Ricco found herself homeless and without hope. That’s when a pizza and a diet soda changed her life. “I was sitting by myself on a sidewalk—the lowest point in my life—when a woman walked up to me and asked my name,” Christina says. “No one had asked my name in years. She offered to buy me food.” When the woman returned with the pizza and soda, Christina saw there was hope in the world. “I realized that I did matter and I wanted to change my life.” From homeless to helping others Despite the considerable hurdles she faced, Christina began going to church and committed to a life-changing program at The Mission at Kern County. It took her a year. She gained work experience through The Mission and found a job at Adventist Health Bakersfield in patient transportation where she takes patients around the hospital for services and helps wheel them out when they are discharged. “It was like a dream. I just love working at the hospital,” Christina says. “The hospital mission of living God’s love by inspiring health, wholeness and hope means a lot to me. It’s my own personal mission in life now,” she says. “The people are also so wonderful. My co- workers are amazing.” Christina also loves giving back and volunteering her time at The Mission. “I know what they are going through. I was once there. I’m just happy to work for an organization that cares so much about the homeless and our community,” Christina says. “Today, I’m no longer homeless. I’m so blessed and so thankful to have everything I do, including a job that gives my life so much meaning.” YOU + US : Together i nsp i red ™ Once homeless, one of our own is paying it forward Christina Ricco (right) finds joy in living out the Adventist Health mission.