Author: Pete Smith

When Charissa and I decided to move to Sacramento, we knew we were stepping into the unknown. Transitioning to a new city always comes with a mix of excitement and uncertainty, but Sacramento quickly started to feel like the right place for us. Its tree-lined streets, vibrant farmer’s markets, and welcoming people made it easy to settle in. Every day brought something new—a walk along the American River, discovering a great little coffee shop, or catching a live concert downtown.

For us, though, it wasn’t just about the new surroundings. It was about building a life and finding meaning in our work. Joining the team at UC Davis Medical Center turned out to be a pivotal part of that journey.

Finding Our Place at UC Davis Medical Center

UC Davis Medical Center offered us the chance to do what we love—help people recover and thrive. Charissa focused on post-operative rehabilitation, while I specialised in musculoskeletal injuries. As we drove to work each morning, we felt a real sense of purpose.

The diversity of patients we met was remarkable. Being such a dynamic city, Sacramento brought in people from all walks of life. Some were young athletes nursing sports injuries; others were older adults recovering from surgeries. We also saw patients who had been through traumatic car accidents and needed comprehensive rehabilitation to rebuild their lives. Every case reminded us how important our work was—not just in a physical sense but also in giving people hope.

Supporting Accident Recovery Patients

One of our work’s most challenging yet rewarding parts has been helping people recover after accidents. Many patients came to us at their lowest, facing pain and uncertainty about their futures. Our job wasn’t just about therapy but about helping them see what was possible.

One story that stands out is of a young mother named Elena. She had multiple fractures from a car crash and was determined to recover for her two kids. Together, we built a step-by-step rehabilitation plan, celebrating small victories. Watching her walk unaided into the clinic months later, smiling and confident, was a moment that stayed with me. It reminded me of why we chose this line of work.

Working with Sports Injuries

Sacramento’s love of sports means we see a steady flow of athletes in our clinic. Sports injuries are common, from high school basketball players to weekend warriors training for marathons. We focus on treatment and prevention, teaching patients how to care for their bodies better and avoid reinjury.

One high school wrestler I worked with had dislocated his shoulder just before his senior season. He was devastated. He fully recovered through months of focused rehabilitation and won the state championship. Seeing that kind of determination and resilience is always inspiring.

Helping Patients Recover After Surgery

Post-surgical recovery is another cornerstone of our work. Whether it’s a knee replacement, a spinal surgery, or a rotator cuff repair, no two recovery journeys are the same. Some patients progress quickly, while others face setbacks that require patience and encouragement.

I remember working with a retired teacher named George, who was recovering from a hip replacement. He was hesitant and worried about the pain therapy might involve. By building trust, tailoring exercises to his needs, and injecting a bit of humour into our sessions, we helped him regain his mobility. A few months later, he proudly showed me a video of himself dancing at his granddaughter’s wedding.

Discovering Veteran Organizations in Sacramento

Outside of work, I was drawn to Sacramento’s strong network of veteran organisations. I hadn’t fully appreciated the city’s commitment to supporting veterans until I got involved. From the Sacramento Stand Down Association to local events for veterans, there’s a genuine and widespread sense of gratitude here.

Volunteering with these groups has been deeply rewarding. Many veterans are dealing with chronic pain or old injuries from their service, and offering physiotherapy to help them improve their quality of life has been an incredible experience. It’s also taught me a lot about resilience and community.

Physiotherapy with Veterans: A Unique Challenge

Working with veterans comes with its own set of challenges. Some injuries are decades old, while conditions like PTSD complicate others. It’s about treating the whole person, not just their physical pain.

One veteran I worked with, a former Marine named Joe, had lost part of his leg in combat. His determination to regain mobility and confidence was inspiring. Through advanced prosthetics and targeted therapy, we worked together to help him achieve goals he hadn’t thought possible. The day Joe ran for the first time since his injury was unforgettable.

Reflecting on the Cultural Differences

My time with veteran organisations has also highlighted the differences between American and British attitudes toward the military. In the U.S., respect for service members is deeply ingrained. Veterans are celebrated and supported in far more visible ways than I experienced growing up in the UK.

There’s respect for the armed forces in Britain, but public displays of gratitude and extensive support systems are less common. Seeing how much communities here rally around veterans and their families has been eye-opening. It’s something I think we could learn from back home.

Looking Ahead: Exploring Home Care Options in Sacramento

As much as I enjoy my work in physiotherapy, I’ve developed a growing interest in the broader landscape of home care options around Sacramento. This city has a wealth of services aimed at helping older adults maintain their independence and quality of life, and I’ve had the privilege of seeing many of them in action.

Through my experiences, I’ve understood home care’s vital role in bridging the gap between medical treatment and day-to-day living. From professional caregiving services to community programs, Sacramento offers a range of resources that help families navigate the challenges of ageing.

In future articles, I plan to explore this topic more deeply. I’ll share insights into the various home care options available, highlight some of the incredible organisations doing this work, and provide practical advice for families considering these services. I aim to make this blog a resource for anyone looking to understand and navigate the world of home care in Sacramento. Stay tuned for more stories and recommendations.

Greetings, my new UK and US readers! I guess introductions are in order, and then I will quickly (or not so quickly, depending on how things turn out) try to explain what gave me the idea to start this blog. My name is Pete Smith, born and bred in jolly old Putney, London. Up until my 28th birthday, I firmly believed I would spend my life in London, with the occasional excursion abroad. Unlike many people, I love London and Putney overall. But then, life happened – and it was about to take me to a place I never expected to call home for almost ten years.

How It All Started

I graduated summa cum laude from King’s College with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and specialised further in kinesiotherapy. My first job was at the physiotherapy clinics at Charing Cross Hospital, where I mainly worked with older patients recovering from severe cardiac problems. It was an incredibly rewarding experience, helping people in the same age group as my parents literally get back on their feet and rediscover the joy of life. It also kept me grounded and gave me a totally different perspective on life that very few of my friends had. It would have been preposterous to feel down and whiny when every day I meet people who had had near-death experiences and had to grapple their way back to normalcy.

However, the most important thing that happened to me while I worked at CCH was meeting someone who would turn my world upside down. Charissa was two years older, a travelling nurse from Sacramento, California. A fierce, independent workaholic with inexhaustible energy, Charissa was the most amazing nurse I had met so far in my life. When it came to motivating the patients, she was like a bulldog who would not let them despair or procrastinate. She knew when to push and when to ease up, how to talk to patients of different ages, cultures, and ethnic backgrounds, and how to deal with their overprotective or demanding relatives. She swept me off my feet, and I fell head over heels in love with her a few weeks after we started working together.

As I mentioned, Charissa was the consummate professional and workaholic, and her job was above all else. But when I started taking extra shifts just so we could spend more time together, she finally realised there wasn’t an ounce of quitting in me and agreed to have a cuppa outside the ward.

Our romance hit off instantly because we shared a similar life perspective, goals, and almost identical value systems. There was, however, one glaring difference – Charissa had absolutely no intention to settle in London. “Don’t get me wrong, I can tolerate the place”, she once said during our shared lunch break. “But the weather is miserable, the traffic is even worse, and I miss home. It was a place I’ve always wanted to visit and take a stab at the NHS to see if I can work in such a system. But I’ll head home sooner than later.”

By this time, I knew her well enough to understand that there was no changing her mind. The only alternative was to change mine—about never leaving London. I started looking for options in California, not sure whether I would find the guts to pull it off if push came to shove. Then, serendipity intervened.

How Did I End Up Nursing In Sacramento

During a chaotic, aimless browsing for job openings in the Golden State, I stumbled upon a postgrad scholarship for international students and registered nurses at the US Davis Medical Center, Sacramento. My antennas peaked, and I feverishly started reading through the requirements. Bachelor in Nursing or 18 months of experience as a registered nurse—check; a certificate for proficiency in English or being a native English speaker—check; cover letter and letters of recommendation from your medical university or previous places of employment—easy to obtain.

When I told Charissa the news, her eyes got as big as saucers. “Oh my God, you really plan to do this, don’t you?!” I am not going to lie, the undertones of unrestrained joy and surprise were music to my ears. A week later, I applied for the scholarship, and a month or so afterwards, I got approved. Long story short, the scholarship was a breeze. I think it was intended for a bit younger guys and girls than myself, but surprisingly few people had applied. Ten days into my work at UC Davis, the staff treated me as one of their own, mostly because Charissa’s mom was the head nurse, and she had the place running like a drill sergeant.

Even before the end of the scholarship term, I knew I would be offered a permanent position as a senior physiotherapy assistant at the Rehabilitation Center. Ironically, the decision was not mine to make—sort of. It depended on the answer to a question I asked on a bended knee, and when Carissa said yes, I knew Sacramento would be my new home for a while.