What began as a frightening medical emergency on her birthday quickly became a testimony to the compassion of the two Gordon State College employees Jessica Valoren now calls her “campus angels.”
Jessica Valoren, a Gordon State nursing student from Spalding County, experienced a hypoglycemic episode after a Verizon service outage left her unable to use GPS on her phone to navigate home. Still unfamiliar with navigating Barnesville on her own, she returned to campus seeking help.
As she approached the Nursing and Allied Health Sciences Building, GSC Public Safety Officer J. Little was securing the building when Valoren began to lose consciousness. Little recognized the seriousness of the situation and responded immediately, purchasing a Coke from a vending machine and acquiring orange juice and honey from the cafeteria to help raise her blood sugar. He also allowed her to use his phone to contact family members and stayed with her until additional help arrived.
Assistant professor of nursing Nancy Walraven arrived shortly afterward and helped assess Valoren’s condition. She provided peanut butter crackers and remained with her until Valoren’s family arrived safely.
Valoren later expressed gratitude for the care she received during the incident.
“Their compassion, attentiveness, and calm presence made a profound difference in a vulnerable moment,” she said. “I am still learning to manage these hypoglycemic episodes and working each day on stronger prevention strategies.”
For Valoren, the moment carried deeper meaning.
Exactly one year earlier, she had stopped at Gordon State’s Nursing and Allied Health Sciences Building while passing through Barnesville. At the time, she was enrolled in a nursing program at another university, but felt uncertain about her future.
During that visit, she met several Gordon State faculty members, including interim dean Dr. Samantha Bishop and assistant professor Amie Johnson, who took time to speak with her and answer questions about the program. This encouraging interaction helped lead to her decision to apply to Gordon, and she began her first semester at GSC this spring.
The timing of the medical emergency added another layer of significance. Walraven was not originally expected to be on campus at that time, but happened to still be there when Valoren needed help. Little also quickly recognized the signs of a diabetic emergency, later explaining that he learned how to respond through personal experience with a family member.
Valoren said the experience strengthened her confidence in her decision to attend Gordon State. As she continues her nursing education, she hopes one day to provide the same kind of calm and compassionate care that helped her through a frightening moment.
This article is based on information provided by Gordon State College.
Grant Turner is the editor of the Barnesville Buzz and an educator, coach, and writer based in Barnesville, Georgia. He shares stories that bridge community, faith, and personal growth. In addition to teaching and coaching, Grant is Director of Musical Worship and a Sunday School teacher at New Hope Baptist Church in Zebulon, Georgia. He lives in Barnesville with his wife, Haley.
