An inspiring journey of compassion, family, faith, and finding the courage to embrace life’s next chapter.
Sometimes the most remarkable stories belong to people who don’t realize just how remarkable they are. When asked to share something interesting about her life, CorrHealth’s Suzanne McCutcheon laughed and admitted she wasn’t sure she had much of a story to tell. But as our conversation unfolded, a very different picture emerged. A woman who discovered her calling on a country road one Christmas Eve. A nurse who unexpectedly delivered a baby inside a county jail. A mother who opened her heart and home to a child who was only supposed to stay for the weekend. A wife whose life was filled with laughter, adventure, and unforgettable memories. And today, a woman finding strength through faith, family, and the determination to keep moving forward. Suzanne may not realize how extraordinary her story is, but we think you will.
A Christmas Eve That Changed Everything
Long before Suzanne became a nurse, she was driving home from work on Christmas Eve near Bastrop, Texas, when she came upon a devastating accident. A vehicle had been torn in half, and passengers had been thrown from the wreckage. Suzanne was the first person on the scene. When emergency responders arrived, they needed additional help, and Suzanne stepped forward. That experience left a lasting impression. “I knew then that I wanted to do something in the medical field,” she recalls.
Although her career initially led her into accounting, where she spent 12 years, the desire to help others never disappeared. In her mid-thirties, while raising a family, Suzanne returned to school to pursue nursing. Earning her nursing license was more than a professional accomplishment. It was an opportunity to show her daughters that dreams don’t come with an expiration date. “I wanted my kids to see that it doesn’t matter how old you are. You can still go to school and pursue your dreams.” Eleven years into her nursing career, Suzanne is still dreaming. She hopes to earn her RN credential and eventually complete her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a goal that now carries a very special personal meaning.
Compassion Behind the Walls
Suzanne’s introduction to correctional healthcare began at the Hays County Juvenile Detention Center, where her husband, James, worked as a teacher. She quickly discovered that caring for individuals within the correctional system offered a unique opportunity to make a difference. “Sometimes they just feel like they’re not heard,” Suzanne explains. “I try to advocate for them because they don’t always have someone else to help them.”
For Suzanne, the most rewarding moments weren’t necessarily the dramatic ones. They were the sincere expressions of gratitude from patients who simply appreciated being treated with dignity and compassion. “When somebody thanks you for helping them, it makes you feel good knowing you made their time there a little more tolerable.”
Of course, some days were anything but ordinary. One of Suzanne’s proudest professional accomplishments came when she unexpectedly delivered a baby inside a county jail. When she and an EMT were called to assist a pregnant patient, the baby was already crowning. There was no time to wait. Drawing upon her earlier experience working in an OB/GYN practice, Suzanne stepped in and helped bring a baby girl into the world. “It was surreal,” she remembers, laughing as she describes discovering firsthand just how slippery newborn babies can be. It’s certainly not an experience every nurse can add to a resume!
A Weekend That Became Forever
While Suzanne’s professional life reflects her compassion, her family story reveals just how deeply that compassion runs. Suzanne is the proud mother of two daughters, Katy and Maddy, stepmother to Hannah, grandmother to a six-year-old grandson, and mother to Naz, a young man who entered her life in the most unexpected way.
The decision to become foster parents began with James. Having grown up in foster care himself, James understood the importance of giving children stability, belonging, and someone who would always be in their corner. As a teacher working with young people in the juvenile justice system, he had a remarkable ability to connect with children who struggled to open up to others. The kids affectionately called him “Mr. Mac,” while Suzanne was known as “Nurse Mac.” Together, they made quite a team.
James had long wanted to become a foster parent. Suzanne admits she needed a little convincing. After raising their three girls, she had imagined a quieter chapter of life. But James’s passion eventually won her over. After more than a year of preparation and certification, they received a call in July 2023 asking whether they could provide a temporary weekend home for a 12-year-old boy named Naz. They agreed. What was supposed to be a few days became weeks, then months.
Naz and James formed an extraordinary bond. James had a way of helping him open up, building trust and connection where others had struggled. And somewhere along the way, Suzanne realized their family had grown in a way she never expected. In August 2024, Naz officially became their son, proudly taking the McCutcheon family name. A little boy who came for the weekend had found his forever family.
Today, Naz is a talented teenage athlete who makes his mother proud. And like any mother raising a teenager, Suzanne laughs when describing the experience. “He’s a little pain in my butt, but I love him. I wouldn’t trade him for anything.” Sometimes life’s greatest blessings arrive when we least expect them.
The Man Behind So Many Smiles
To understand Suzanne’s story, you also have to know a little about James. The two met online in 2013 and married in 2015. James was a teacher, a devoted father, a lifelong learner, and someone Suzanne describes as having an incredible sense of humor. “He was always so funny and witty. He could make you laugh at the drop of a hat.”
He was also a passionate Texas A&M fan. Suzanne admits she knew very little about college sports before meeting him. “He made me an Aggie!” she laughs. In fact, their wedding had to be scheduled around the Aggies’ football schedule!
But perhaps nothing captures James’s playful personality better than the nickname he gave his wife. After one particularly entertaining evening with friends, Suzanne announced that she had Native American ancestry. James, never one to miss an opportunity for a joke, combined that declaration with Suzanne’s tendency to snore. And just like that, “Snoring Bull” was born. The nickname stuck, and whenever the couple encountered a Native American statue during their travels, James insisted Suzanne pose for a photograph with her “ancestors.” It’s a memory that still makes her laugh.
Beyond the jokes and football games, some of their happiest moments were spent camping along the Frio River, swimming, listening to music, and enjoying time with their children. “The Frio was our happy place,” Suzanne shares. Those simple family adventures became some of her most treasured memories.
Finding Strength Through Life’s Hardest Season
In August 2024, Suzanne and James celebrated the adoption of Naz, a beautiful new beginning for their family. Only weeks later, James was diagnosed with cancer. What followed was a chapter no family is ever fully prepared to face.
Suzanne had previously experienced the heartbreak of caring for her father during his final months of life. Her nursing background helped her understand the medical challenges James faced, but nothing could fully prepare her for losing the person who had shared so much of her life. Today, Suzanne speaks openly about how different life feels without him. The traditions they once shared remain precious, even as she learns to navigate a new chapter.
Through it all, she has found renewed strength in her Christian faith. Since James’s passing, Suzanne has been baptized and become actively involved in her church. “God has been there for me in more ways than one over the last year and a half,” she shares. “I don’t know where I would be without my faith.”
Her faith doesn’t erase the sadness or replace the life she shared with James. But it provides strength as she continues moving forward. And James’s influence remains part of her future. A lifelong learner who earned three master’s degrees, James believed deeply in education. Suzanne hopes to honor him by continuing her own educational journey and eventually earning her bachelor’s degree. It’s one more way his love and encouragement continue to shape her life.
Making a Difference in a New Way
Suzanne’s journey at CorrHealth has included three different positions, each bringing new experiences and opportunities for growth. Today, as CorrHealth’s EMR and Accreditation Specialist, Suzanne has transitioned from hands-on patient care into a role focused on supporting colleagues, navigating new technology and systems, and helping the organization maintain its accreditation standards.
She readily admits the transition has been challenging. “It’s like I’ve started a whole brand-new career,” she says with a laugh. Although she misses the personal connections that came with direct patient care, Suzanne is discovering that making a difference doesn’t always require standing beside a patient’s bed. Sometimes it means helping a coworker solve a problem, answering a question, or simply being someone others know they can depend on.
She speaks appreciatively of her colleague, Joel Gould, who has been instrumental in helping her navigate the responsibilities of her new role. Suzanne is also deeply grateful for the kindness and support she has received from Todd Murphy, CorrHealth’s Founder and CEO, and from leadership and team members during one of the most difficult chapters of her life.
When colleagues reach out for assistance, she wants them to know she genuinely cares. “I’m here for them. That’s my job, and that’s what I do. I just try to get up every day with a smile on my face and do the best I can.” And perhaps that is the thread connecting every chapter of Suzanne’s story. No matter what role she holds, she wants to be someone who helps.
There’s Still So Much Life to Live
Outside of work, Suzanne enjoys cross-stitching, antiquing, spending time outdoors, and listening to live music. Among her favorite antique treasures is a working cash register dating back to the 1800s. Her household also includes three very spoiled dogs: Scrappy, her beloved Jack Russell; a German Shorthaired Pointer who belonged to James; and a Rhodesian Ridgeback who originally belonged to her stepdaughter. Suzanne laughs that even the largest dogs seem convinced they’re lap dogs.
And while she may not know exactly what the next chapter of life will look like, she still has dreams waiting to be explored. She would love to ride a train through Colorado’s snow-covered mountains, explore Ireland’s rolling green countryside and historic castles, or escape to an exotic island with crystal-clear water, a good book, and someone bringing her a cold drink. Preferably a good-looking someone! That familiar sense of humor is never far away.
For now, her greatest priorities are helping Naz graduate from high school, continuing her education, and discovering what new adventures life may have in store.
At the Heart of It All
Toward the end of our conversation, I asked Suzanne a simple but meaningful question. With all the roles she has held throughout her life, what does she most want people to know about her?
She paused. And then, with a sincerity that seemed to capture everything she had shared, she answered: “I hope they know that I have a good heart.”
She went on to explain that although she enjoys laughing and joking with her coworkers, she genuinely wants the best for everyone around her. It was a simple answer. But after hearing her story, it was also the perfect one.
Because a good heart is exactly what led a young woman to stop and help strangers on a country road. It’s what led a nurse to advocate for patients who felt unheard. It’s what helped a family open their home to a young boy who needed one. And it’s what continues to guide Suzanne as she navigates a life that looks different from the one she once imagined.
Her story reminds us that strength isn’t always loud. Sometimes it looks like showing up, even on difficult days. Sometimes it looks like pursuing a dream later in life. Sometimes it looks like finding a reason to laugh when your heart still aches. And sometimes it looks like simply choosing to keep loving, caring, and believing in tomorrow.
Suzanne, you said you weren’t sure you had an interesting story to tell. We couldn’t disagree more. Thank you for opening your heart, sharing your journey, and reminding us that some of the most extraordinary people are the ones who quietly make life better for everyone around them.
CorrHealth is fortunate to have you as part of our family, and we are genuinely grateful for you, your heart, and all the important things you do for so many.