What began as an ordinary school day in January 2023 took an unexpected turn for Paulette. As she was walking to her classroom, a wave of white blurred her vision in her left eye — like a veil had suddenly been pulled over it. “I can’t see,” she told her colleague. At that moment, everything stopped. A student helped her to the nurse’s office, and the nurse promptly called for an ambulance.
Emergency responders rushed Paulette to Holy Name Medical Center, where the medical team moved quickly, compassionately, and thoroughly. She met with several specialists including Dr. Marissa Oller, a Holy Name neurologist, to determine the cause of her blindness. Initial scans were unclear, but Dr. Oller scheduled further testing in the emergency department. With contrast imaging, she discovered that Paulette had suffered a rare ocular stroke.
Through it all, Paulette felt seen and supported. “The doctors never dismissed me,” she said. “They listened, they asked questions, and they moved fast. I was scared, but I knew I was in the right place.”
For Paulette, care at Holy Name went beyond medicine. A hospital chaplain came to her bedside, offering prayer and spiritual support. Moments later, something miraculous happened: her vision began to return.
“I felt like God was answering my prayers,” she said. “It was like the veil just lifted.”
Paulette also believes her 100-pound weight loss the year before played a vital role in her recovery. “Had I not been living the way I was, this might have ended very differently,” she said.
Today, Paulette is continuing to heal — and inspire. She’s writing a book and sharing her journey to encourage others to listen to their bodies and embrace healthy living.
“I want people to know that what Holy Name gave me was more than medical care — they gave me hope, and they treated me like a whole person,” Paulette said. “That kind of care changes everything.”
