When Lily Saini moved to Seattle 33 years ago, the nursing degrees she earned in India were not transferable. Instead of giving up, she worked hard and eventually became a Licensed Practical Nurse at Swedish Medical Center in Ballard.

"I heard America had a lot of opportunities for registered nurses. It was very hard. I was a big shot in my country," she said.

Saini went to work for various agencies as a Certified Nursing Assistant before finally being recognized as an LPN. Saini joined the staff of Swedish in 1980. She works in the Addiction Recovery Services unit where she helps patients overcome heroin, cocaine and alcohol dependency.

Nurses at Swedish Medical Center's four facilities celebrated National Nurses Week this month. Saini is just one of 33 LPN's in the Swedish system, which includes 1,696 Licensed Registered Nurses.

Working with patients getting over substance abuse is rewarding for Saini. "This job gives me a good feeling. I just don't want to leave this place," Saini said.

Saini would not reveal her age, but she is old enough for retirement. She wants to continue working.

"I love my job, that's one reason I did not want to retire," said Saini, a West Seattle resident.

She had planned on becoming a missionary after her career was over, but those plans have been put on hold.

Saini was born and raised in New Dehli, India at a time when educational opportunities for women were limited or not encouraged.

Her father wanted his three daughters to go to school, along with their brother.

At the age of 15, Saini went to nursing school. She left after two years because she hated it. Her father convinced her to return, she began enjoying the work and graduated with a nursing degree in 1967.

Saini then moved to the small town of Orissa, India. "I was always curious to do something different. My father did not want me out of his sight," said Saini.

Only 22 years old at the time, Saini helped start a hospital for Tibetan refugees.

She and another nurse, worked without the benefit of a doctor. They had 2,000 patients to treat, most did not speak her language. The work was intense, with 18 to 24 hour shifts.

"I was very nervous. I did not know what to expect. I was asked to start a hospital from scratch with no doctors. Just me and a nurse," said Saini.

Saini's husband, a laboratory technician helped out where he could. They began in an empty building then added 22 beds.

They had sick refugees with diseases like leprosy, tuberculosis and other ailments. "I learned how to treat them with medications," said Saini.

Some were from broken families. Many were young women about to have babies.

Saini says she helped give birth to ten babies a day on the average. In two years, 2,000 babies were born.

"I did not have experience. That's where my experience came from. I learned a lot from the camp. It was a 24-hour job. I had to be on call," said Saini.

One time she heard a voice outside her window. A man was calling her "goddess," because she helped people.

"His arms were chewed by a bear. I fainted from the blood. I woke up and he was still standing there," she said.

The man was a tree cutter. Three bear cubs came up to the base of the tree and he went down to pet them. The mother bear attacked.

After bandaging the and applying a tourniquet, Saini and her husband drove the man to the nearest hospital 80 miles away to get his arms amputated.

Assisting people with substance abuse is now Saini's job.

"I talk to them, counsel them and give them hope to live a better life. I love this. This is what I enjoy. I have so many letters from patients, success stories," said Saini.

"I get notes from patients regularly on how much they appreciate her. She's an excellent nurse," said Carol Lund, the clinical supervisor in Addiction Recovery Services.

Saini has four grown children. One was born in the U.S. Her husband passed away when the kids were still young.

"The kids were still little. I had to survive for my children," said Saini.

With a son working in the airline industry, Saini has opportunities to enjoy traveling. She has visited countries like Brazil, Korea and Argentina. Saini goes back to India every two to three years.