Parkside: Jewel of the East

By John Patrick Diaz, PT, DPT, DOR, Parkside Health & Wellness, El Cajon, CA

The month of May at Parkside was a time of reflection and celebration, honoring Nurses Week and Nursing Home Week. The month’s events culminated in the proud raising of our second flag, symbolizing a decade of dedication, growth, and achievement.

Standing here today, looking around … there’s a feeling that’s hard to put into words. It’s a mix of pride, exhaustion, and overwhelming gratitude. I see familiar faces — the warriors who first lifted the flag with us — and new ones who joined the fight and brought strength, passion, and fresh courage. Together, we carried something heavy … and made it shine.

This flag isn’t just a symbol of success. It’s soaked in stories — stories of so much heartache, countless tears, and days that felt like we were running on empty. It’s a reminder of the weight we all carried and how we chose, every single day, not to give up.

This year challenged us in ways we never imagined. We faced doubt, pressure, setbacks — but through it all, we kept going. What held us together was a quiet, steady belief that this was possible. That we were shaping something extraordinary. Because we knew … a jewel doesn’t begin as something beautiful. It begins rough — uncut, unrefined. And only through fire, pressure, and time does it reveal its brilliance.

Parkside is that jewel. And this year, we were the fire.

But as we celebrate, and as this achievement slowly sinks in, I ask you to do one thing. When you go home, look your family in the eye. Hug them tight. And thank them. Because while we were here, giving every ounce of our energy, they were quietly making a sacrifice, too. They missed us at dinner tables. They waited up on late nights. They carried us with silent strength. They allowed us to pour ourselves into this mission — and without even standing in the spotlight, they gave just as much. We could not have done this without them. Parkside may be the jewel of the East, but the true strength behind it was built in our homes.

So as we celebrate this flag, remember what it cost. The long hours. The tears behind closed doors. The moments we almost gave up. But we didn’t — because we had each other.

To those who were here from the beginning — thank you for building the foundation. To the new partners — thank you for believing in what we started and pushing it further. And to every person who stood by us — even outside these walls — this victory belongs to you, too.

This isn’t just a win. It’s proof of who we are when we choose each other, despite the pain.

Parkside is more than a place. It’s a legacy. And we are its heart. Thank you — truly, deeply — for every sacrifice, every ounce of belief, and every step of this unforgettable journey.