A Nurse's Quest To Cure Leprosy Made Her Some Vicious Enemies

"Kate Marsden" might not be a familiar name, but the legendary nurse deserves some time in the spotlight, in spite of what her critics may say. Her relentless compassion led her into the heart of a raging war, where she would chase the defining quest of her life. But all of her hard work was put in jeopardy once a scandal blew Marsden's inner life wide open.

Starting From Nothing

Born in London in 1859, Kate had an average life for a little girl, with a loving father, mother, and sister, but that sadly wouldn't last. After her father passed away when she was only 14, the Marsden women lived in poverty for some time — that is, until Kate was old enough to start a remarkable career.

Tough Nurse

When she was 17 years old, Kate began training as a nurse at Tottenham Hospital. Though she was a natural in the field, her bitter life left Kate with a temperamental attitude that her colleagues found difficult to work with. Her personality wouldn't matter, however, when she was saving the lives of soldiers at war.

Wartime Volunteer

It was around this time, in the late 1870s, that England began looking for volunteers to support Russia in the Russo-Turkish War. Kate stepped forward to volunteer as a nurse for the Red Cross, a mission that would bring her to Bulgaria and introduce her to her life's work.

Dealing With Pain

Her support as a wartime nurse in Bulgaria taught her the toughest lessons in her field. It wasn't always easy to see people suffering in pain, but Kate maintained her composure in tending to each and every patient that came her way — even if they didn't survive. Then, one group really affected her, breaking through her emotional armor.