Sheila Rene Martinka, APRN, FNP-C

My favorite animated movie is Lilo & Stitch (original movie).

Cheaper by the Dozen. My 7th grade reading teacher read it to us as “bonus time” and it was awesome. Great family values.

Barbies. My sisters and I had quite the collection and would play for days on end making each of our own rooms our Barbies homes. We had Barbie’s cars and campers and “drove” them in the house and outside to take our Barbie’s camping.

My mom. She was the strongest person I knew. Widowed at age 27 raising three girls, 5, 3 1/2, and 2 years old Her faith and courage was incredible. And it shows in all three of us girls and our families.

Kayaking! Pickleball! Hiking and biking; playing guitar and piano (some) and oil painting. (Since 2nd grade). I also enjoy gardening and traveling, especially to Italy!

I have always wanted to work in pediatrics, especially chronic illness. I was able to do my clinicals at Texas Children’s Hospital where I always wanted to work. I really wanted oncology but during my rotation fell in love with pulmonary patients and ended up on the pedi pulmonary floor with asthmatics, cystic fibrosis patients and other pulmonary diseases. Found out some of the adult CF patients knew my second cousin who had CF. I had the privilege to work side by side with her first pulmonologist, Dr. Gunyon Harrison. He was a very awesome doc! Actually remembered specific details about my cousin and family!

I believe that by working with chronic illness when I first started as a nurse prepared me very well regarding not only sympathy but empathy for the patient and the parent relationship—not only the physical aspect of the disease but the emotional and spiritual aspect of the patient and their family. As difficult as it was at times to work with children with chronic illness for which there is still today no cure, the patient and their family taught me more then any education out of a book. And it made me so much stronger in my faith. It also helped me realize that it is ok if I can’t “save” or “fix” everyone; and made me realize what can I do to ease the pain and how can I comfort and support them.

I take whatever time is needed for the patient and parent. I try to answer all their questions and if I don’t know the answer, I do my best to find it or direct them accordingly.