At Parkland, care runs in the family
More than just a workplace, mothers and daughters find a purpose at Parkland
For employees of Parkland Health, the idea of “family” often extends beyond home and into the halls where they care for others.
For two mother-daughter pairs, that connection is deeply personal.
For Miriam Gomez-Wakeling and her daughter, Lauren Wakeling, Parkland is where a lifetime of experiences unfolded. It is where Miriam built a 30-year career, where Lauren grew up listening for the sound of a pager in the middle of the night, and where their family found support in moments that would have been impossible to navigate alone. Today, it is where they walk the halls together, not just as mother and daughter, but as colleagues united by a shared purpose.
“Parkland is my second home,” Lauren said. “I’ve grown up in the halls of Parkland. I’ve had my children here. This is where I learned how to make a difference.”
Long before she became an employee, Lauren knew Parkland through her mother’s life and work. She remembers the long hours, the unpredictability and the pager that could go off at any time.
“My sister and I knew,” Lauren said. “If that pager went off, mom had to go.”
Across campus, another mother and daughter share a different, but equally meaningful journey.
Alonda Searcy and her mother, Alonza Malena, did not start their Parkland story at the same time. Alonda built her career first, working in housekeeping before moving into radiology, where she now transports patients to surgery. For years, she encouraged her mother to join her.
At first, Alonza resisted. “I didn’t want to work in a hospital,” she said with a smile. But after losing her previous job and briefly working elsewhere, she decided to try Parkland. Five years later, she says it is one of the best decisions she has made.
“I love it,” Alonza said. “I love people. I love helping them and making them feel better, especially when they’re having a hard day.”
Now working in Guest Services, she greets patients and families as they arrive, often during some of their most stressful moments.
“You can show kindness, even if someone is having a bad day,” she said. “Sometimes they come back and say thank you.”
For Alonda, bringing her mother to Parkland was a point of pride. “She told everybody, ‘That’s my mom. My mom works here,’” Alonza said, laughing.
Their days begin and end together, riding to work and talking through everything from busy shifts to simple moments.
“We talk about how our day went,” Alonda said. “And when we get home, we leave work at work.”
That sense of connection mirrors what Miriam experienced years earlier.
After starting her career in the emergency department, Miriam went on to help build programs that continue to shape care across the system. But what has stayed with her most is not just the work. It is the people.
When Lauren was 9 years old, her father passed away suddenly. In the midst of grief, Miriam said it was her Parkland family that carried them through.
“People across this hospital came together,” she said. “They helped pay for my husband’s funeral. They took care of us. That’s when I knew Parkland is a family.”
For Lauren, following her mother into healthcare was not always the plan. In fact, she once avoided anything clinical altogether. But life and loss shifted her perspective. After stepping away from Parkland, she returned in 2024 with a renewed sense of purpose.
Today, she works in the Employee Health Center, helping employees navigate complex processes like FMLA and medical leave, often during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
“I love coming to work,” she said. “It’s still care. It’s just a different kind of care, helping people when they’re already going through something difficult.”
In many ways, both families share the same belief about what it means to work at Parkland.
Care comes first.
“We don’t balance business over patients,” Miriam said. “We balance patients over business.”
That mindset shows up in different ways.For Miriam and Lauren, it is reflected in leadership, advocacy and navigating complex systems. For Alonda and Alonza, it is seen in everyday interactions, guiding patients through the hospital, offering a smile or simply helping someone find their way.
“I always tell her, we’re here for the patients,” Alonda said. “We make sure they’re taken care of and that we treat them with kindness.”
Both daughters say working alongside their mothers has deepened their understanding of what care truly means.
“I’ve always admired my mom,” Lauren said. “But now I respect what she does on a whole different level. It’s not just what you do, it’s how you treat people.”
For Alonda, that influence shows up in quieter ways. “I learned to speak up, but to do it kindly,” she said. “That came from my mom.”
For both families, the connection extends beyond the workplace.
Miriam and Lauren share moments between meetings, arriving at the same time and occasionally crossing paths during the day. Alonda and Alonza share rides to and from work, checking in on each other and offering support in small but meaningful ways.
“My daughter always checks on me,” Alonza said. “She’ll call and ask if I need anything. I love that.”
Despite different roles and different journeys, the feeling is the same. Parkland is more than a workplace. It is where purpose is shaped, tested and passed down.
“Parkland has given our family so much,” Miriam said. “Through everything we’ve been through, we were never alone.”
For Lauren, that legacy continues in the people she serves every day. “It’s not the paycheck that brings you back,” she said. “It’s the impact.”
Alonza sees it in the simplest moments. “I should have come here sooner,” she said. “I love it here.”
As Mother’s Day approaches, both families reflect on what it means to support, guide and learn from one another.
“Enjoy every moment, the good, the bad, the ugly,” Miriam said. “Because what you do today shapes who they become tomorrow.”
Alonza offers a similar message. “Love your kids. Appreciate them. Tell them you love them every day,” she said.
At Parkland, those lessons are not only shared at home but carried into the care they provide every day.
If you would like to join the Parkland family, please visit www.parklandcareers.com. For information on services at Parkland, visit www.parklandhealth.org.
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