CU Nursing - Fall/Winter 2020 - 29

G R A D U AT I O N

perspective and decided to pursue a PhD in Caring
Science. Johnson is the first interdisciplinary graduate
of the program. " For years I didn't think it a possibility, but then a friend asked 'why?' " Reflecting on that
question, Johnson realized she had to be the change
she wanted to be and not rely on others.
Knowing she needed a supportive environment to lift
her up, she chose CU College of Nursing for her degree.
" I felt an immediate connection. I could reconnect to
the child I was to develop into the research and interdisciplinary thinker I am, " said Johnson.
Today, Johnson is a full-time researcher in the VA.
She bridges a variety of departments including suicide prevention, opioid abuse, and care coordination.
" Unitary Caring Science teaches that everything is interconnected. It never made sense to me to treat mental
health without considering physical conditions, " said
Johnson. With a goal of improving health care by shaping and guiding it to be more caring focused and holistic, Johnson proves that she cannot be " pigeon-holed. "
Looking back to where she's come from, " I wouldn't
choose to not go through the pain I did as a young
adult. It made me who I am. "

Adoption
Leads to
a Calling
By Dana Brandorff

ll he wanted was a
plastic toy car. At 4
years old, that was
what Josh Harrington
wanted and he was
going to get it.
Wandering off to the local grocery
store with pennies in his pocket,
Harrington had no idea what he
had done.
For him and his two sisters (ages
7 and 1), it was the end of a rough
" first few years of life. And the
beginning of something good. "
After the store clerk called the
police - they went to his home,

According to the Adoption
Network, adoption rates of foster
children began improving in the
late 2000s. By 2014, 50% of children
in foster care were adopted, nearly
30% spent at least three years in
the system, and the average age
of a waiting child before adoption
was 7.7 years old. " It was rare to be
pulled out of CPS - especially three
siblings. For whatever reason, they
made a recommendation to my
parents and we spent negligible
time in the system. "
Now one of five children,
Harrington was the only boy in a
sea of girls. " I was the pesky little
brother, " he said with a grin.
After graduating from high
school, he signed up for the
Marine Corps Reserves where he
has served for the past 10 years.
In addition to the Reserves,
Harrington stepped into a certified nurse assistant role in an
assisted living facility. " I didn't

Josh Harrington
surrounded by
his sisters.

Rachel with
her husband
and daughter
Chris and
Luna Koenke

removed his sisters, and placed all
three of them into the foster care
system. Deemed unfit because
of behavioral health issues and
drug problems by Child Protective
Services, Harrington's biological
parents faded from the picture.
" We got lucky, " said Harrington.
" We were adopted by the most
awesome family and had a normal
childhood. "

know something was missing
until I stepped up into that role.
There's something fulfilling
about caretaking. " After community college and one semester at
Metropolitan State College, he
applied to CU College of Nursing
and was accepted. " Nursing is a
profession of compassion. I see it
as a way to give back because of
what I've been given. "

CU Nursing - Fall/Winter 2020

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