By: Beverly Thomassian
When I was fourteen and a half, I found refuge in an unexpected place—a small Chinese restaurant tucked between a Kinney Shoe Store and an Italian eatery in a strip mall in the San Fernando Valley. While my home life was unraveling, I was quietly being stitched back together behind the counter at Ying’s Kitchen.
I didn’t know it then, but this restaurant would do more than offer me a paycheck. It would shape my work ethic, show me what being part of a team meant, and serve as a foundation for the healthcare professional I would one day become. In that busy kitchen filled with the scent of onions and sizzling oil, I learned the beauty of hard work—and the profound healing that comes when someone believes in you.
Finding Refuge in Ying’s Kitchen
As the latest in the long line of high school girls, my job was to answer phones, bag the food, ring up the orders, and answer customer questions for $1.25 an hour. Barely a teenager with no restaurant experience, I approached my assigned tasks with a combination of diligence and confusion.
Early on, I stumbled. Anne, a high school senior in charge of training me, told me, in no uncertain terms, that I was “not keeping pace with the training program, and they might let me go.” This awkward coaching session is seared into my brain. It pushed me into high gear, and I became determined to be the best Ying’s Kitchen employee ever! That moment lit a fire in me. I doubled down, became the fastest phone answerer in the West Valley, and soon trained the new hires myself. It was more than pride, it was survival. A sense of belonging, and a safe place to grow.
Beyond being my employers, Alex and Ying looked out for me. Alex asked me about my day at school and practiced Chinese with me. Before closing, he would ask me if I was hungry. My favorites were the pork fried rice and the egg rolls, and on special nights, he would make me moo goo gai pan. During the summer, Alex coached me on the importance of drinking hot water to cool down. He asked me about my boyfriends and made sure I was keeping up with my homework. Best of all, he always smiled, showing his one gold tooth when I walked through the door.
His wife, Ying, only spoke a few words of English, but she had a way of letting me know she saw me. During springtime, she would call me over and take one strand of my hair, wrapping it carefully around a Jasmine flower from her yard. As I walked through my work shift, I could smell the scent of jasmine and know that I had a found family who treasured me.
Post-Traumatic Growth in Practice
In their book What Happened to You, Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce Perry describe how post-traumatic growth can emerge when safe adults and healing relationships interrupt a cycle of pain. I am living proof of that truth.
Working at Ying’s Kitchen didn’t erase the pain of my past, but it gave me the structure, accountability, and connection I needed to believe in a future beyond it. It became the cornerstone of how I eventually built Diabetes Education Services—a company whose mission is rooted in decreasing shame and blame in diabetes care. The resilience, empathy, and grit that carried me through adolescence now fuel my passion for advocating person-centered, trauma-informed healthcare.
What This Means for Healthcare Professionals
As healthcare professionals, we may look for sophisticated solutions to complex human problems. But sometimes, the most transformative interventions are also the simplest: a steady routine, a safe space, and someone who believes in you.
This is especially true for people living with diabetes and other chronic conditions. Many carry unspoken histories of trauma. When we show up with kindness, curiosity, and consistency, we’re not just delivering care—we’re becoming part of someone’s healing journey.
Whether you’re precepting a student, mentoring a colleague, or counseling a patient, consider the ripple effect of your presence. Like Alex and Ying, you might be offering more than a service—you could be anchoring someone in a storm.
From Survival to Service
Looking back, I see how Alex and Ying laid the groundwork for how I lead today. Those years at Ying’s Kitchen profoundly shaped how I built and now manage my company. The lessons of diligence and love became my guiding light, helping me navigate even the roughest waters and steer my ship toward calmer horizons. The discipline I learned behind that counter still guides how I show up—whether teaching a course, writing a book, or sitting with someone in their hardest moment.
While my early life was shaped by adversity, the safe haven of Ying’s Kitchen taught me that healing often begins with being seen. That’s something we can all offer, no matter our title or training.
Sometimes, the most profound lessons in healing don’t come from textbooks—they come from trusted adults, jasmine flowers, and the quiet grace of being loved into wholeness.
What About You? We want to hear your story too!
Who was your Alex or Ying?
Whose kitchen, clinic, or classroom helped shape the professional you are today?
Please share you story in our Healing Through Connection Facebook Group!
Coach Beverly is kicking off the launch of her first book, “Healing Through Connection for Health Care Professionals.”
This deeply personal book invites you into the pivotal moments that shaped her career and calling. She will post a new story each month so you can access the behind-the-scenes stories of struggle, growth, and hope that fueled her passion for transforming diabetes care.
Coach Beverly’s book is scheduled for release in August, 2025. You can sign up for priority notification here .
You’ll get an exclusive update straight to your inbox, so you won’t miss out. Initial purchasers will receive a signed copy of the book and our Medication PocketCards mailed directly from Coach Bev.
Join Our New Facebook Group: Healing Through Connection
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new Facebook group, Healing Through Connection — a heartfelt space created especially for healthcare professionals.
In the demanding world of caregiving, it’s easy to feel like you have to keep going no matter what — often at the expense of your own well-being. But the truth is, you don’t have to do it alone. This group was born out of a deep understanding that healing doesn’t happen in isolation — it happens in community. 💖
What Is Healing Through Connection All About?
🌱 Healing Through Connection is a safe, supportive space for healthcare professionals from all backgrounds to come together, share their authentic experiences, and talk about the emotional side of caregiving.
This is more than just a group — it’s a community where your voice matters. Whether you’re looking for advice, support, or simply a place to be heard and understood, you’re welcome here.
Here’s what you can expect:
🗣️ Open, judgment-free conversations
💬 A place to share stories, challenges, and victories
🤝 Support from others who get it
🌟 Uplifting content and empowering discussions
💡 Opportunities for connection, growth, and healing
Why Join?
Because you deserve a space to rest, reflect, and reconnect — not just with others, but with yourself. Together, we can remind one another of the humanity behind the healthcare, and rediscover the power of connection in healing.
Your presence matters. Your story matters. And we’re honored to walk this journey with you.
💖 Thank you for being a part of Healing Through Connection.
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