Virginia Kay Desmond Schuster

Virginia Kay Desmond was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on June 15, 1944, the 4th of 6 daughters to Wayne and Lois Desmond. She always hoped and prayed she would have a brother, but it was not to be. The closest she got to a brother was Michael, the family dog.

Virginia attended St. Bridgett’s Academy for her primary education. She graduated from St. Margaret’s, an all-girl high school, in 1962. In 1963, she married Ronald Schuster, then in pharmacy school. After Ronald completed his education, and three children were born to them, they moved to California. There two more children were born to them. Virginia desired a large family, and was very proud of her children. She says to this day that she would still be having more babies if she could. She was devastated by an emergency hysterectomy after the birth of her youngest son in 1974. At that time, she dedicated herself to the cause of helping new mothers with breastfeeding, long before the advent of the doula and the lactation consultant. She began a chapter of La Leche League because she believed that many mothers were discouraged and prevented from breastfeeding their babies by the wrong information and lack of support from the medical community and society at large.

Virginia was also a passionate pro-life advocate. She started a chapter of the Right to Life League in Hemet and was very active in taking a stand to see that all human life is revered and protected.

In 1976, Virginia began nursing school at San Jacinto Valley College, fueled by her desire to promote life. She graduated as an RN from College of the Desert in 1978. Not long after this, her marriage ended, and Virginia was a single mother with 5 children to feed and clothe. Nevertheless, she put the children on the waiting list for the local Catholic schools, and put an offer on a new house, in faith that God would provide for their education and livelihood. She worked long hours and graveyard shifts to support her family. At this time, she worked in the NICU at Loma Linda University Hospital. She loved the babies she cared for as true gifts from God. She was an innovator of procedure and devices to help make caring for them more efficient. Her work there was a source of great joy.

When the long hours and night work began to take its toll, she left the hospital to do registry work. She worked out of several agencies at a time as a visiting nurse. This is where she found her true calling. She was in-home support and care for families with children with severe medical disabilities. She cared for patients with HIV/AIDS when the agencies were challenged to find nurses willing to go to their homes. Virginia cared for all of her patients, and many of them considered her to be a part of the family. Nursing was her life, and she loved it.

At the end of her nursing career, Virginia worked 12-hour days as an administrator for Mobile Nursing Agency. It was at this time she discovered a lump in her breast. In October 2005, she was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer, with a very poor prognosis. She went overnight from 12-hour work days, to a state of fighting for her life, many days being unable to get out of bed. But she kept fighting, and is with us still, even 6 ½ years later.

Virginia’s great faith has kept her fighting for life. She is strengthened by God’s promise of a place He has prepared for her. She believes with all of her heart that her faithfulness in this time of suffering will yield a great reward in the life soon to come.

Virginia is the mom of 5 children: 3 daughters and 2 sons. She has 19 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild!